The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-28
OPPOSES GIVING JAIL LABOR OUT
 TO CONTRACTOR County Commissioner Bal lard Wants Different Sys-
 tenn Adopted Here.
COUNTY MEETING TO
 BE HELD NEXT WEEK
Addition to County Home, and Acceptance of Court
 House to be Considered.

Many matters of importance are to pc discussed at a meeting of the coun- ty senators and representatives to be called probably next Thursday. One of the chief matters is labor of the prisoners at the jail Others are alterations and additions to the Coun- ty home, turning over of the county building to the commissioners by Justice George w. Wheeler, heads of the building committee, and laying a county tax to meet the expenses of the county. The commissioners are preparing a budget of expenses for guidance of the county meeting.
 Labor of the prisoners at the jail is one of the chief matters This has been under consideration by d commiteee since April last, and a report of the recommendations is ex- pected at the meeting. It is under stood that this committee will report in favor of doing away with any con- tract for the prisoners labor, and will place the matter of keeping the pris- oners employed in the hands of the county commissioners. Whether the report will be adopted is uncertain. but there is a strong sentiment in favor of using the labor in the rais- ing of food, especially during the con- oitions which now exist. This is op- posed by some, but County Comnais- sioner F. E. Ballard is fiatly in favor of doing away with the contract, and employing the prisoners for the best interests of the state.
 The nraSanf ot for io held by Frank D. Clark, expires July 1, having a four year term. The net proceeds to the county for the labor of about 125- prisoners, after the necessary extra expense has been de- ducted, is about $1,3OO. It is be- heved better results may be obtained under another system.
 Some action toward remedying the crowded conditions at the County Home in Norwalk is necessary. There are about 100 children there at pres ent in quarters intended to accommo- adte only about 75, and the number IS constantly increasing. The State Board of Charities has made recom- mendations which if carried out would cost about $1O0,0 900. Some action must be taken, and an appropriation of about $25,000 will probably be asked to make the most necessary changes. Justice George W. Wheeler, head of the building committee which made the additions to the County Court house, is ready to report and to turn the building over to the county. The original estimate for the work was about S275,00O, and / it is understood that there will be a small surplus from that sum to be turned back to the county.
 The tax to meet the expenses of the county will be considered. It is un- derstood a larger tax than usual will be asked for this year. but the exact amount cannot be fixed until the bud get which the commissioners are pre- pairing is completed.
 In relation to the labor of prisoners Commissioner Ballard said today he is opposed to any renewal of the con- tract, or any contract, for jail labor. He is supported by Commissioner Crawford. Many of the senators and representatives also oppose the con- traset SnEtem