Evening journal., 1921-02-19
SENATORS ASK
FOR FIGURES
ON THIS BILL
continued from first pagel

was the HenlAhithN aAheHT 49,
tors yesterday afternoon when they /
fixed this bill as a special order for /
? O'Clock next Tuesday TO give the (,
trustees an opportunity TO present 4
figures showing that the cost OF |
maintenance is 75 cents a day.
The bill. which was introduced by
Senator Walker. had been reported !
unfavorably. II was called up for
final action yesterday afternoon and
after some discussion was fixed as a
special order for Tuesday. sena-
tor Walker explained that the bill
proposes TO increase the cost from
q 40 to 75 cents per day. the counties
pay for the board OF each prisoner
from those counties sent to the
workhouse. Senator Walker said he
was not familiar with conditions at
the institution but knew the trus-
tees and had a high regard for
them. He thought they should be
heard on the measure.
Senator Bennett said he under
stood the institution is owned by
New Castle county but that each
county pays 40 cents per day for
the board OF each prisoner from that
county. He said he understood
great majority OF the prisoners In
the workhouse are from Wilmington
and rural New Castle county and
but few from Kent and Sussex. This
he said. would show that there are
mot many crooks in Kent and Sus-
sex counties. Senator Bennett also
said he understood Il costs about
% cents day to board the pris-
/. oners and he had heard that some
OF the prisoners at times make as
thigh as 50 a day working outside OF
p the institution.
? Senator Alice. who was chairman
. OF the special legislative commit
b tee that made an investigation or
conditions at the workhouse during
o the special session OF the Legislature
last year. raid he thought IL was
o incumbent On the trustees OF the
institution 10 show that the cost OF
board is more than the counties
are paying. before tile trustees are
voted an increase
Senator Alice told OF being at the
g workhouse for about two weeks dur
r ing. the referred-to investigation
: and Of a conversation that he had
2 with Warden Plummer at that time.
- He said he remarked 20 Warden
; Plummer that the prisoners seem
b ed pleased and happy. To this Mr.
x Piummer. he said replied They
should be. We are feeding them
2 better. II cost Warden Cross 1f
r cents a day TO feed them and Il is
r now costing over 20 cents a day"
q Speaking OF the prisoners work
T. ing IN the shop and on roads. Sena'
" tor Alice said that each prisonei
probably averaged 75 cents a day
- II has been the desire. he said. o
the trustees to retire bonds and thi
Is done out OF the earnings OF III
:, prisoners and the money receive,
n from the counties. II Mr.. Plum
. mer's statement as 10 the cost o
e boarding the prisoners Is correct
o Senator Alice argued. the trustee
e with the pay received for the worl
l. OF the inmates are receiving on al
average OF about s1.15 n day 70
" each prisoner.
" 1T Is incumbent upon the trus
e tees to come and show us by an ac
10 curate system OF bookkeeping tina
Is what they are receiving " no
enough" said Senator Alice. He thei
NJ suggested that the bill be made
as special order and the trustees re
quested TO appear and show tn
=, Senate why the counties should pa
i. more.
Senator Walker said n the pris
- oners receive as much as SO a da
"A for work on the roads they are over
,e paid. as they never do a full day
work especially II employed som
50 distance from the workhouse. II
TO told OF them working on som
nj roads in his district near Hockes
IN sin and said he knew they did nc
at give full days work there.
mr. Senator Robertson remarked tha
or II the prisoners can be boarded 70
r 40 cents Kent and Sussex countie
le should not pay any more than tina
w As to Senator Benefits remark
IL Senator Robertson said the peopl
H. OF New Castle county prefer to y,
the criminals in the workhouse an
Ne pay 40 cents a day for their boar
ns but II the people OF Kent and SUI
- sex prefer to let their criminals ru
- at large and save 40 cents a da
that is their business.
or Senator Palmer remarked that
considered It presumptuous on n
at part OF the trustees to ask for a
on increase unless they can show II
llv costing more than 30 cents to boai
at the prisoners and he concluded:
re think they have got some job {
their hands when they try 70 pro-
or that"
ng BY unanimous consent, Senate
or Palmer introduced a bill TO amer
as. the charter OF Milton 20 allow W
'or men to vote at town elections.
en- EIcctrocutiOn Bill Reported.
on These Senate bills were report'
.. favorably in the Senate; To ollu
three laymen 20 be appointed
" the state Board OF Health. ins,e'
.,,, OF all seven members being ahys
he clans; appropr ating ss0ov TO q
a. State Board OF Agriculture to bl
"a hog cholera serum which will
,ut sold to farmers and veterinNria
,tv at cost and the money reinvest
in the serum; authorizing Smyri
to borrow $4,000 for public II
I. provements.
The Senate adopted a resoluti'
80 sr-a - C.,,tnr noharfaon q