The Placer herald., 1856-04-26
From the San Francisco Sun
The Prison Contract.-.T Greatest Mon.
ster of them all"

The Prison Contract---The Greatest Mon.
ster Of them all"
We notice by advices received by the last
mail, that parties are offering bonus of
$4,000 to the State of Louisiana, for the
privilege of taking care of the prisons of that
State. In most Of the States of the Union,
this privilege is awarded to the highest re-
sponsible bidder, the State receiving the
emolur1ent, but in California it seems the
highest bidder gets the contract who charges
the State the most. This has recently been
the case in regard to the award to Gen. Es-
tell. The question has been recently settled,
and the impurtable, interchangeable hero of the
State Prison, has again become the lessee of
that institution. The prison contract, under
the act recently passed by the Legislature,
and approved by the Governor, has been
awarded-no, not osearded-but given to
Gen. Estell, and for his condescension and
patriotism in accepting the same, he is to be
paid $4,000 per annum, amounting in the
five years, to 100000.
In view of the fact that thousands of ex-
perienced business men confidently believe
that the convicts can be made not only to
support themselves, but to be source of ac-
|
prsed at the conduct of the Governor and
the Commissioners in the premises, and the
people-the generally feel dis
posed to hold them to strict account for
their action.
The bill as passed actually authorized the
payment Of $4,000 per annum, equal in
five years to 100000.
The expenditure, of this enormous sum,
however, although approved by Gov. John
son, the commissioners soon discovered could
not be allowed as originally contemplated
without exciting the Indignation Of the peo-
pie throughout the State, and they therefore
limited to the unpretending General that he
must be contented with little less, WHICH,
patriot as he is, be most gracously consented
to do. This shew Of regard for the interests
of the people by the commissioners will hard
ly save them from the Indignation Of tax pay
ers throughout the State The fact cannot
be concealed that men, fully as capable and
certainly as responsible expressed willing
ness and desire. to accept the contract on
terms much more favorable to the State.
One party stood ready to give good bond
and take the contract for $l56,00O less than
the amount allowed Estell, and another was
ready and willing to take it for $l76,000 less.
Why, then we ask did not the Commission
ers give notice and receive those bids? Why
such haste such secrecy, on the part of the
Commissioners, if they really desired to pro-
tect the interests of the State?
.., 'rho ptrl1es above referred to, we are as
sured, endeay3red for days to induce the ac-
ceptance Of their bids, so that they could not
be considered, but it was of no avail. The
fiat had gone forth, Estel was to have his
reward; to the victors belong the spoils and
the faithful must have plunder. Last fall the
General was the victor, and now come the
spols-and while the taxpayers Of the State
good natured and unsuspecting souls, conf
dently believed that the peculiar institution"
of the General had been placed even beyond
his reach, by the election of officers to con-
trol, their agents have been thrust aside Gn
the meantime drawing their salaries) to make
way for the schemes of the willy Estell,
whereby he may receive the quid pro ,quo
for nominating and electng the great reform
Governor!
Verify the General is a smart one. The
arch intriguer has etectually bagged the ad-
ministration, hood winked the dear people"
and smuggled himself nice and safely into
the public treasury.
But, seriously ly---of all transactions ever
presented for the consideration of the people,
this is the most deserving, and we shall be
much astonished if it does not receive their
unqualified condemnation.
1t was a most notorious fact, that the Con
vention which nominated the present State
officers, was controlled by Gen. Estell, and,
it was generally believed that the nominees
would be compelled to obey his wishes. 1t
was at the time predicted and asserted-and
now we have the veriication in the result.
The Governor has been obedent to the die
tation, and a pretty "kettle of fish" we have
in this last exhibition of his pliancy. The
people, last fall, were assured time and again,
that Gen. Estell would control the Treasury
if johnson were elected, and now they have
the fufllment of the prophecy to their hearts
content. Verify, our neighbor of the State
Journal was right, when he christened it the
'"'Estel Administration" and now we may
add, Of State Prison notoriety.
The Governor must have been extremely
obivious of the declarations he made a few
moments after being sworn into office, or he
never would have consented to increase the
Indebtedness of the State 100000 for five
years, and that for d single specific object.
Governor Johnson, we say, manifested his
entire willingness to saddle the people with
this increased amount of Indebtedness, and if
the amount is a little less, it is because the
Commissioners became ashamed of the trans
action, and induced Estell to slacken his
grasp upon the Treasury.
Governor Bgler refused to approve bill
giving 100000, because he did not believe
the State was indebted to Estell single cent,
and Estell finally relinquished his contract
for nothing Last year the General demand
ed for his contract 100000, which ne could
not get from Governor Bigler This wear he