Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-04

From these. it will be seen that on the 30th day
Of June last there was l. 16 insane persons in the
making total of 1855.
The bare statement OF this appalling fact is
sufficient to starte the community and demands your
grave and attentive consideration.
DR.. Shurtlef, who has been for many wears in
charge of the Asy lum in Stockton, and Dr. Wilkins
| the Resident Physician and Superintendent of the
Napa Asylum. both skillful and experienced
physicians and, in the care OF the insane, have no
superiors. Aside from their annual report, desire
to call your attention tn their reports of one two
| years preceding, where they submit many valuable
recommendations which are deserving OF your
thoughtful consideration. By reason of their long
| experience, education, and special study they are
believed to be more familiar with all that pertains
to the care OF the insane than it is possible for per-
sons differently situated to be.
agree with them that relief through legislation
is necessary upon this important if not embarrass-
ing subject, and recommend au appropriation sui
ficient for the fitting up and furnishing of the two
| other improvements suggested by the Resident
Physician and Board of Trustees of that institution
| in their last report,
In no other way can an equal amount OF room for
the accommodation OF insane persons be provided at
so small outlay. believe this action is neces-
sarY from the TACT that DR.. wilkins shows in his
port in the same ratio of increase the asylum will
contain on the Both day of June, 1885, twelve hun
bred Q,2o0) patients. The Napa Asylum was
opened November 10, 1875; whole number of
patients committed to December l, 1880, 1850 !;
1 crease for five years and fifteen days am not
prepared at this time to agree with the Resident
| Physician and advise the construction of another
| asylum, as believe the object sought can be OBJ
| tanned in more equitable and economic manner
In passing through the wards OF our lums il does
not require the eye OF experience nor the knowl-
| edge of a medical expert to determine that a
| large number of the patients could be kept
at home, or, in the absence of home, in the
| county infrinares at oue-haf the cost of
State Insane Asylum, besides saving the expense
of transportation. That the class of which speak
are kept in the county hospitals in most of the
States Of the Union have every reason to believe
| and can no good reason why this system should
| not be applicable in California as in the New Eng
| land, Middle and Western States. / therefore
| recommend the passage Of a law requiring the
counties to provide for the custody, and main
tenance of the classes referred to- and that they be
| inhibited from being sent to the State Asylum
| But to make any law that may be passed, however
stringent its provisions, it viii be necessary to in
vest the officers in chargeof :he asylums with large
| discretionary powers.
| Asylums for the insane are necessarily costly
structures that should only be built for the and
| custody of acute and dangerous cases. and should
neither be crowded nor occupied by old men in their
dotage. the mbecie youth, idiotic children or per
sons afflicted with feeble minds and disagreeable
| habits Suitable buildings for such persons be
erected at comparatively small cost, and should be
provided In every county where they do not already
| exist. These unfortunate and helpless people are
certainly the wards of the State of the counties
where they reside, and humanity demands that they
shall receive such and protection their cond
| ton requires.
will be observed by the report of these institu-
lions that large numbers if not majority Of them
from foreign ports bordering on the ocean having
commercial relations with San Francisco and that
| many of these unfortunates are landed upon her
| wharves in an utterly helpless condition, or come
| from other States upon immigrant railroad trains,
| arriving in California without friends or means
They must naturally drift to our charitable instiu-
| tons largely increasing their burden and expense
| Before dsmissing this subject would respect
fully suggest that inquiry be made as TO the power
of the State to protect herself from these unfortu
nate INVADERS by charging the powers Of the Com
| missoners of Immigration, that will lead to a
marked restriction in the future, by preventing the
| landing OF such persons as are public charge, or
| their reshipment to the place from whence they
came at the expense of the transportation company
| which brought them. Having stated my views upon
this subject, which have been deeply impressed
| upon my mind by several years personal ob'erya-
ton, while acting trustee OF one OF the lnstitu
tions pamed, refer the whole question toyou, with
| confidence that whatever method you may adopt
| will be for the best interest Of the State.
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
The report of the Adjutar. General, herewith sub
| mitted deserves respectful deliberation.
| The necessity for maintaining well organized
National Guard, to aid the civil authorities in sup
pressing disorders is self evident, those States
where has been bestowed in this respect having
| reaped decided advantages in times Of tumult.
| New York and Massachusetts,, with thoroughly
| organized State troops promptly brought into ser
vice, saved their commonwealth from riot and pillage
in the same disorders in 1871 that cost Pennsyva-
MIA seven millions Of dollars.
1t Is duty that the State owes to its citizen to
maintain force sufficient to give guaranty against
the terrible scenes that have recently been enacted
in Colorado and Nebraska. But to maintain an ef-
ficient National Guard demands sympathy on the
part OF the public proper appropriations from the
public treasury sefsa,riices from the officers and
men, and constant vigilance on the part of ALL
| With properly organized National Guard, there
| 10 bnpI for anI pnnd nrla n q
event of civil tumult and internecine difficulty the
strong of the military organization is essential,
| either direct or supporting auxiliary, in order
to strengthen the hands and support the OF the
legally constituted authorities who for the time
| being have been selected to execute the laws the
| peopleshave made for their own government.
The presence of such controlling force does not
create alarm or fear in the mind OF any law-abdlng
citizens but rather them Of safety and pro-
lection they feel there is sufficient force to main
| tain the dignity and majesty of the law.
The fact is self evident to every thoughtful citizen
that it is the duty Of the Legislature TO suitably
| provide for our State National Guard.
! In this connection l desire to recommend some
more rational mode Of distributing the annual ap-
| preparation for this important branch OF the State
Government
| While in my Judgment, the amount author
lied by law is not too large for the proper mainte-
nance of the present force yet the manner in which
the State distributes the money is defective, and not
calculated to the desired return. If the State
will make sufficient appropriation to erect large
mento (where the greatest number of companies
are located furnish them quarters and all necessary
Supplies in kind, instead of allowan ces in money,
the cost of maintaining the National Guard for q
period Of ten years would be less than under the
present system, and the State would, at the end Of
that time, own the property without additional out
lay
| the system adopted by California pursued. have
no doubt but that the authorities of San Francisco
and Sacramento will encourage the State to build
| the necessary armores by providing suitable sites
for the same, providing you should deem it expedi
| ent to take any action in the matter.
The highest praise is due the Adjutant-G General for
the able and efficient manner in which the affairs of
his Office have been conducted His untring zeal in
all which tends 10 promote the success OF the Ma.
tional Guard, has induced him TO not only personal
" inspect each separate command in the State but
| he has also devised new system OF keeping ac
| counts and records of the department. which en-
ables the novice to at once gain any information
relating to the minutest detail Of the office, and in
faithful accounting for all the property OF the
| State belonging to this branch OF the Government
| The laws, rules and regulations that he has COM
| piled relating to the government of the National
Guard of California is work that has been much
! needed 1t has received the highest encomiums
from military men in our own and sister States
| YOSEMITE VALLEY.
Matters pertaining to the trusteeslip of this State
| OF the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove Of
Big Trees have acquired unusual prominence in
public attention by Of the enactment of law
at the last session of the Legislature terminating the
| tenure OF office of the Commissioners appointed
under the Act of Congress ceding the valley and
grove to this State. The law referred to made it
the duty of the Executive to appoint Board con-
sistng of eight Commissioners, and constituting the
Governor ex officio member of said Board. his
duty was discharged after the close OF the legisla-
tive session.
The Executive Committee of the Board originally
appointed under the Act of Congress declined to
vscate the Office held by them, or to surrender
the hooks documents and property belonging
to the Commission and pertaining TO the dis
charge of its duties or to recognize in any
manner the validity Of the Act of the Legislature
the legal authority Of the Commission appointed
by the Executive in pursuance of the provisions of
that Act To enforce recognition OF the enact
ment of the State suit brought in the name of
the people, which suit, by due course of legal pro-
ceedings. reached the Supreme Court OF the State
and resulted in judgment by that tribunal on the
18th day Of August $780, fully sustaining the valid
ity of the Act and cons rming the authority OF the
| Board of Commissioners appointed in accordance
with its provisions. From this decision and judg
ment an appeal was taken TO the Supreme Court of
the United States, which appeal has this date
reached decision. Pending the appeal, the newly
appointed Board entered upon its duties and is now
acting in discharge of the trust
| The high importance of all matters in this con-
necton deserves your earnest consideration. BY the
cession OF these renowned wonders Of natural
important trust In the highest and tryieet sense
| they belong to all mankind. Our honor as a State
as well as our credit among cultivated and civilized
men, are involved with the question as 70 how this
| trust shall be discharged Placing these sublime
objects Of the worlds wonder and admiration in our