Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-08-26
Repor, Of she B,ase priaon Com.
InissS.n.


SAN FRANCISCO, August 25,h. -
The report of the Com mission OF
Inquiry on the State Prison was
presented to the Governor to-day
and published in the Guy
evening papers. 1t first discusses
the political aspect of the prison
management, declaring that the
Board of Directors usurped powers
belonging to the Warden IN the
appointment of officers and en-
ploS g., and that the Warden cove
nanted with the Board in violation
of Constitu .ional provisions. Much
Of the lack of harmony and insub-
ordination resulted from lutemper.
ance. TIE Comm Ission institutes
comparisons of the cost of the
prison management of California
and other States. and shows that,
to make au appearance OF ecOno-
my, things have been charged to
other accounts which should have
been charged to the maintenance
OF the prison. 1t then discusses the
character of the prl Sous of CalifOi-
MIA aud their influence on GRIM y,
and finds that they tend TO pro.
duce and increase crimes. The ex-
ercIse Of executive clemency by
the present Governor is de-
clared wise and judicious, and the
system Of legal Communication of
sentences is found TO be thorough
ly v clous in its effects The prog
osltiou to establish jute factory
is considered at leng aud is
strongly reprobated The manner
of contracting for jute machinery
is declared unbusines5.like and IL
legal ami justifying severe CEN
sure The mileage of the directors
aggregates to the present time over
$12 900 The action OF Drect-
or EyersoD Ia basiDg his mileage
charge, to Folsom from San Fran
ciscI and to San Quen III from Oak
,and, is characterized as showing q
purpose on his part to increase h s
claims for mileage. The report
GIVES the opinion of the Attorney.
General declaring the law Civ.
ing salary and mileage to
the ID Factors UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
The purchase of the brick
land Is com mended, but the meth
cd of its purchase is coudemue d.
The administration OF the Board
concerning the Folsom branch
prison is condemned. they zee
ON meHi~ that all comm mems
he IN ade to San QIeutip
and drawn to other prisons as a
proper classification may require.
The Folsom prison should be made
a penal institution anu San QueL-
tin reformaI DRY. Prisoners should
not be liable to re-ar'e5t at the gaze
of the prison on their discharge.
Recon- for the present the as.
sociate silent system instead of the
coDgagale system now practlsed,
with a view to separate the silent
sy STEM in the future. Couvicts
should learn useful trades and u
of Labor should be
appointed. Toe charges mads by
the San Jose Mercury are treated
at length and he'd not to be estab-
l'shcd, except as regards the bar
tering of constitutional rights
by the Warden and the
liberties allowed convict Deu-
son, number of Irregularities
In the management of the prison
are eoDdem ned. Then follows a
general com parative review of the
penal syste M. and institu.
ions, in which many reforms are
The existing system
md the administration of Califor.
alan prisons is strongly con.
iemned, and especially the parti-
IAN political feature. Tue general
one of the report is condem Uatory
# the prison system and its au-
by the directors and
Notwithstanding lite
ength the report is condensed aud |
!irect in style and method, and
ollews In every particular the out
inc given by the Governor in his
etter of appointment and instruc-