San Andreas independent., 1858-02-06

IHE. STATE PRISoN.-FrOm the Sacramento
correspondence of the San Francisco Times,
we take the following synopsis of the Report
of the Committee appointed by the Legislature
to examine into the Affairs of that institution.
The investigations of the committee have
brought to light abuses and delinquences on
the part ofthe original and present lessees, even
lieve really existed. The management has
been such throughout as not only to nulkfy
the objects Of prison discipline, bat to reflect
the deepest disgrace on the people of the State.
The probabilities are that the contract will be
annulled with little opposition
"The State Prison Committee reported to
the Senate at half-past IL to-day 3d. and in
favor of annulling the present contract held by
Gen. Estell. The report is quite volumnous,
and was not read to the Senate. The Com
mttee present ten points in which the lessee
has violated the contract, and each point shows
scores of instances in which the contract has
been violated. Ist. Neglect and failure to keep
the prisoners within the prison grounds. I'd
Sending convicts away from prison grounds to
ranches, etc., to act as servants. Sd. Failure
to appoint guards and overseers. 4th. Failure
to provide suitable and proper food and in
sufficient quantities. The Committee state by
evidence of guards. prisoners have been known
to become faint from want of food, and unable
to work. 5th. No clothing furnished what
ever. 9th. No medical attendance provided
rs required by contract, and one prisoner ac-
tualy died while the Committee was at the
prison, for lack of medical attendance Eth
ttar rd Of IL,
required by contract 9Th. Failure to erect
the buildings ordered by the Board of Direc-
tors, which has been wholly refused 9th. A
refusal and neglect to take any measures what
ever for the recapture of escaped convicts.-
Ninety-four prisoners have escaped within the
year, and the sub-lessee now refuses to pay
any more rewards whatever. 10th. Failure to
comply with the regulations ordered by the
State Prison Directors. There are numerous
other breaches of contract reported, and the
committee agree that there is no good and
valid contract in existence binding against the
State. The committee recommend that the
Governor appoint some proper person, H. c.
Gordon suggested by the committee,) to take
temporary charge of the prison, and that S o.
900 be appropriated for the temporary use of
the prison until better system can be per-
fected. They also recommend that new
prison building and grounds be erected else
where, and not more than one-third of the
whole number of convicts placed at San Quen-
tin ; that in whatever arrangement is made,
that the State only lease out the labor of the
convictsr but if the Legislature should deter
mine to- adhere to the present lessee system, it
is advised that the State reserve the right to
itemise and specify the food, clothing, ETC., of
prisoners nnfora ought to be provided;
small sum of money given to- each coavict on
his discharge the Executive ccmeney is in
voked for the four female convicts, sand that
the law be changed SO as to confne 1elons for
less terms tlran two years in county jails, so
as to lessen the number of persons liable to
be sent to the State Prison. The committee
state that one prisoner escaped right under
their very eyes, and has not since been heard
of"