Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-21
EMPLOYMENT OF STATE PRISON COY
vICTS.

EDS. RECORD UNION A recently pub
lished report on the San Quentin State Prison,
by Director ". f. McNutt, speaks encourage
i1gly of the progress and promise of the
various manufacturing enterprises which the
State is undertaking there. at the expense of
very large outlay Of capital, and recon-
mends (if rightly understand it) that por-
ton Of the prisoners which were sent to the
Folsom prison be now brought back to San
Quentin, and the Folsom prison be made q
strictly "penal institution" As taxpayer,
interested in making as light as possible the
burden of maintaining our convict establish
ments, I would like to offer the following
suggestions:
Fists il not premature to talk of bring
ing back TO San Quentin convicss from Fol
SOM until it is clearly seen how they can be
proftably employed at the former place?
Seconds it not fact that large per-
ton of the convicts nov at San Quentin are
idle? VIII there not remain many hundreds
IDLE even after the putting in operation of the
much-talked-of jute factory, which many
well-informed taxpayers regard IS of very
doubtful proGt-paying utility? Is it not
intended to operate the jute factory with
Chinese, almost exclusively, OF which class OF
conviess there are understood to be large
numbers ct San Quentin now unemployed?
Third--How would it add to the self sus-
tanning capacity of our prison system to take
away from Folsom conviets who are now
there. employed with profit to the State IN
the flashing of the prison buildings and
finished. be beuehcially employed there on
existing contracts for convict labor, wherefor
tie State would receive compensation more
than equal to their cost of maintenance
especially in view of the fact that, when 50
returned to San Quentin, they would only
add to the large number of idle convicts
which Warden Ames seems to delight in
keeping about him, at great expense to the
taxpayers Of the State?
Does not this proposed plan of handling
the convicts altogether ignore and disregard
the recent recommendations of the late COM
mission of investigation of our State Prison
system, who, if / mistake not, clearly
pointed out that under existing contracts Tor
convict labor the Folsom prison offered facil-
tiles for making self-sustaining all the con-
victs that were there, or that could be accom-
modatsd there, and this without the immense
outlay for machinery, buildings, ETC., that
seems to be necessary at San Quentin.
This Recommendation of the Commissioners
seems well entitled to consideration, in view
of the well-l1nown fact that the extensive
granite quarries owned by tie State on the
Folsom Prison grounds undoubtedly afford
means of employment TO an unlimited num-
Der Of eenyicts, at comparatively small out
lay for tools and appliances, and this employ
ment is also one whsreon can be used all abls-
bodied conyiets, and not simply the skilled
laborers, as is the case with most of the oper-
alive industries now bsing undertaken by
the State at San Qasn;in.
In the judgment of law respecting, tax
paying citizens, the proper place for our con-
victs is where they can be al worked, and made
TO pay for their own maintenance, and any
one at all familiar with the respective ad.
vantages of the two prison locations would
say that the force at Folsom might be profit
ably increased, while the number of Warden
Ames' idle inmates at San Quentin should be
correspondingly diminished until it is proved
that he has participating employment for
every convict who is enjoying his incident
leisure at the Stats's expense in the pleasant
place of resort which the taxpayers OF the
State have so long maintained OF San Quen-
tin. What taxpayers want is place OF
punishment for law-breakers, whsre they can
all be made to labor and earn their own liv-
ing, as do the industrious poor outside OF our
prisons, and I think they are tired of the
humanitarian gush about reformatories and
such kindred nonsense, that have made our
State Prison much-sought-for place of
refuge for our idle and vicious element.
TAXPAYER.
San Francisco, October 20, 1881.
RuEAwAY.-The team attached to the Cap.
ital Ice Company's truck ran away yesterday.
The driver was loading coal from car on
street. between Second and Third, when the
horses started. The truckman Immediately
stsrted after them and srlcceeded in over
taking and bringing the team to a stop at
Fourth street.
REMovED.-All the mourning insignia was
removed from the Capitol yesterday. and the
flag which has foated at half-mast for 9
month was taken down and its border Of
black stripped off
NorAR1Es PuBLc.-Governor Perkins has
lie for Yuba county, and j. G. Ball as a No.
tary Public for Yolo county, vice self.
REeIsTRY.-Up to this evening County
Clerk Berkey will place names upon the sup.
| Elemental register. which must 60 to the
printers tomorrow.
| NATURALIzED. On the testimony of c.
Lagos and A. Hebron, Carl Hermann, a ma
/ tive of Germany, was admitted to citizenship
in the Superior Court
Az Orr DAY.-Beyond admitting one per
son to citizenship, the Superior Court yester
| day had 70 business before it.
GRAND WINTER OPENING and display o.
millinery. at Mrs. C. A. Callihan's, Friday
and Saturday of this week. All are invited
No. 61S J street, bstween Sixth and Seventh.