Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-22

The state Prison-Meeting OF she Dl-
rectors.
SAN Francisco, July 2lst-The Board of
State Prison DIRE ctors held their quartz rly
meeting yesterday morning at San Quentin.
Present-Directors Chapman (Chairmanl,
Netf, Schell and McNutt. The first business
considered was the recommendation of par
dons and communication of sentences TO the
Governor.
INSANE coNyIcTs.
The Warden reported that he had com
mitted John Kelly and Frederick Milliken to
the Insane Asylum, they having been ad.
judged insane by the examining doctors. Both
prisoners had nearly completed their terms.
JUrE MACHINERY.
Director Neff reported that he had made q
personal examination of the engine boilers
for the jute mandatory and had found that
those which it was proposed to purchase were
too small, and that it was deemed advisable to
increase the capacity from 250-horse power to
4So. The cost of the 250 horse power engine
would have been $1,000, and the one it is
proposed to purchase would cost IS coo.
Prescott, Scott & Co, the contractors,
agreed to furnish the fixtures for S17, 200. a
large cylinder and condensiDg apparatus for
So 800, shaft and other fixtures for 81 400.
and they further agreed to put the same in
position, the total cost amounting to S22 100.
The report was received as progressive
Warden Ames reported that he had paid
81, 500 duty on the first shipment of the ma
chinery from Liverpool.
CHAIR MAKING MACHINERY,
MIR. Chapman stated that he consulted
with the California Furniture Company in
relation to the purchase of their machinery,
with a view OF utilizing it in the manufacture
of chairs. The company valued their prop.
erty at $4,000. He did not, however, come
to terms with them. and thought the State
ought not to pay more than about s., 600 for
the machinery.
The Warden presented his report of the
disbursements and receipts for the past quar-.
ter also. his report f, the north Of June.
A CONTRACTORS BLUSDFR.
w. J.. Merry, of Merry, Fault & Co, ap-
peared before the Board and petitioned for
release from their contract to furnish the
prison with fresh beef for the next year at
50 63 the hundred pounds. lie presented an
affidavit, in " hieh he deposed that to bind the
tirm to their contract would work upon them
great hardship, as the bid was made under
misspprehension in not understanding the
specifications. 1t was the opinion of the
contractors that they were TO retain the hides,
taliow and offal, whereas the specifications
pIo'iuCu tHab eucJ were 10 SO Win the Dee1.
DE admitted, as a business transaction, that
it was as stupid a blunder as he had ever
made in his life.
Mr.. Chapman said if there was any legal
way in which the Board could act for the
rehef of the parties he, for one, would be glad
to do so, but the question was one in which
the Board were TO be governed solely by the
construction of the law. He read section
OF the Code, specifying how and under what
circumstances the Board could reject bid.
MIR. Merry forwarded notice Of the with.
drawal of the bid the day after the bids were
opened, but at that time the contract was not
awarded.
Mr.. Schell said it would undoubtedly be
hardship to hold the parties to their con-
tract under the circumstances, and have them
lose money on the contract for year, but
there was a question in his mind whether
their notice of withdrawal of the bid before
the contract was awarded would not relieve
the firm.
Mr.. Merry said that the offal, in his opin-
ion, was worth about cent pound, and in
this connection the Warden stated that he
had agreed to allow them that amount until
meeting of the Board.
Mr.. Schell thought that the firm had per-
feet right to Withdraw their bid at any time
before the contract was awarded. and he was
willing to do whatever was right and equ-
table in the matter.
On motion the Warden was instructed to
transmit all the papers in relation to the mat
ter to the Attorney. General for mis- opinion
The Board then examined the prison and
books and accounts, and transacted such other
executive business as came before i.