The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-01

It's Judgment upon a record of con- | duet and disposition made apart from l the consideration of the crime itself l A confusion of ideas growing out of the absence of a, clear understanding l as to the separate functions of the 1 two courts, and the relation of the petitioner thereto, often unavoidabIy leads to what amounts to a re-trial before the parole board of a man who is supposed to have found his 1 penalty in the presence of the trial court. If this misunderstanding could be cleared away-and obviously new legislation is required to accomplish the maximum sentence was made large enough to give the parole period time to fulfill its mission, there is reason to believe that an ever increasing number of offenders would be restored to a straight life. Until the parole automatically ex- pires, the paroled man must obey the rules and regulations of his pa role or be brought back to the prison. It is the welfare of society, as well as that of the offender. which these reflections have in mind.
 The Prisoners Employment.
 We can add nothing to what we stated two years ago, which for pur- poses of emphasis we plead renewed consideration of:
 we repeat that there has been much hasty criticism of the prison management for employing prisoners in useful labor under the contract system. The answer is that the board of directors have no pride of opinion in the premises. The well-being of x .1 physically, Is their first concern; the second is due consideration for tha sound axiom that the state has Q right to demand that the prisoner shall contribute, as far as possible, to his own keep, and that the law-abid ing element of society shall be saved. as far as possible, from additional taxation to support those who have violated the law. The prevailing sys- tenn of employing inmates of the pris- on has worked to the advantage of the prisoner and the state. The board of directors feel justified in urging that, before insisting upon any substi- ute, full considerations be given the physical, mental, and moral respon- abilities involved. It is easy to make suggestions for employment, but many unsupported elements enter in to a sound cQslclusion. Connecticut should study her own needs from her own point of view and not suffer the managements of prisons in other states to influence her action. The status of the inmates of the state prison is such that experimental leg islation should be approached in the most conservative spirit. Ultimately Q wage system should be adopted and enforced"
 Should the general assembly see fit to direct the erection of new prison, it would become possible to approach the consideration of prison labor from an entirely different angle. The environment of the present in stItution makes that 8 dangerous ex- pertinent
 Women Prisoners.
 It is the belief of the directors that all women offenders, including those sentenced for life, should be removed to the Woman's Reformatory. The prison is no place for them. They are misfits in the domestic economy of the institution. In the care of fe- male offenders Connecticut can well afford to study the policy and prac- tice of the state of Indiana.
 On January lb- lSlS, " ara A. Garner resigner the wardenship of the prison after seven years of serv- ice The vacancy was filled by the appointme-t of c. c. McClaughry, at that time superintendent of the Ana mosa Refornatory in Iowa. Warden 1IcC1aughry's credentials were of the highest character. He assumed the office January IS. 1918. His report, which accompanies this, will show in detail the operation and management of the institution.
 Report of Warden.
 In his report to the prison direc- tors, Warden McClaughry says that his knowledge of the affairs of the prison covers only a little over one third of the two years ending Septem- Der 30, 1918. The warden succeeded Warden Ward A. Garner in Ran uary 1918. The population at that time was 6O7, thirteen of whom were women. The highest number of pris- oners was reached on March 15, when it was SIS, of whom twelve were women.
 Referring to this decrease in the number of inmates during the past two years, the warden says it lis very probable that the war, the higher rate of wages generally. and the cold and scarcity of fuel in New England had much to do with it.
 The earnings of the prison labor amounted to $169, ,925.3S. The total income of the prison for the two years was $1S8, ,3SS.7S.
 Prisoners Earnings.
 Prisoners earned for themselves. says the warden, 38,422.65. The in crease in the expense of the work ing force of officers at the prison was due to the competition with the outside scale of wages. The warden says he did not consider 1t desirable to use shoddy cloth in the making of clothes for prisoners and that he re- sorted to repairing of garments to meet the necessities occasioned by this decision.
 Speaking of health and discipline at the prison the warden says that there was no Spanish influenza and that the general health of the pris- oners has been good. This was due he thinks, to the promptness with which the board authorized the quar- antine asked for by Dr. Fox, the prison pI-vsician. He refers to the s,e-rara1 o71rbraaI-s of aycitaa bla