Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-14
THE REPORT OF THE PRISON coMMIs-
SIoNERS.


as was possible under the existing laws
the economic and industrial condition of the
prison has been decidedly raised. The
fact remains, however, that there is no
possibility of classification at the State
Prison, and that consequently the most
well meant efforts of its managers must be
stitutional Convention, absolutely refused
to take an intelligent view of this impor-
tant question. All the constitutional pro-
visions which have to do with the subject
are confined to weak concession to foolish
and utterly mistaken prejudice against
contract labor. The only idea of the Con-
vention seemed to be that the labor of con-
vets shouldbe prevented from entering into
competition with that of free men. No
thought was given to the obligations of
the State in regard to its criminals. No
attempt was made to provide for penal re-
form. It was evidently thought sufficient
to adopt some bungling scheme for making
the prison self-supporting, and whether the
convicts emerged better or worse was con-
sidered OF no consequence. A question of
far.reaching Importance was in fact never
more fippantly and ignorantly handled
than by the Sandlot Constitutional Con.
vention, and the result is that permanent
reform has been rendered impossible with
out amending the Constitution. It is
pointed out in the report that the prison at
San Quentin is greatly overcrowded, not
withstanding the deportation of two hun
dred cOnvicts to the Folsom Branch Prison.
A large number of the prisoners have to be
herded together in several large cells or
rooms. Here they are shut up from 4 P
liberty to indulge their inclinatlons
without restraint. The inevitable eff.
feet of this herding is that these
large cells are in effect colleges of crime, in
which the inexperienced prisoners gradu-
ate, learning all that the habitual criminals
can teach them, and becoming so saturated
with evil associations as to be incorrigble
after short time. Nothing will remedy
this evil but radical chang in the lodg-
ing of the convicts. The very first step
towards reform must consist in classical
ton. The habitual criminals, almost all of
whom must be regarded as irreclaimable,
should be kept by themselves. The imma-
! Il.
been bred among lawless associations,
should be separated out. 1t is quite use
less to talk Of prison reform until this is
done, and until it is done the public must
understand that one of the most important
uses of our State prisons will be to make
confirmed and hopeless criminals of those
who might under intelligent treatment
have been reclaimed
The Commissioners evidently do not be-
lieve in the task imposed upon them by the
Constitution, of converting the State
Prison into State Mandatory They
refer despondently to the statistics of sim
liar experiments all over the world, and
point to the monotonous record of failures
as hint to the public to be prepared for
whatever may result. They have, how
ever, proceeded in good faith with their
duty, and have made preparations for 60
ing into the business of manufacturing
jute bags. They find it necessary to state
that this undertaking will involve heavy
expenditures, and that it is in fact, very
singular new departure. For, as they say,
it means that " the State must become
g manufacturer must superintend the me.
" chanical operations of the shops invest
Its own capital purchase its own ma
" terial with which to carry on different
"branches of business, and dispose of
the manufactured goods, as well as
" suffer all the losses in machinery, stock,
land bad debts, and the expenses and
perplexities incident to the buying, man
"ufacturing and selling of goods" The
Board srbmits that it is not its province to
question or discuss the wisdom of the
system thus inaugurated by a large
majority of the people of the State, in
g the adoption of the new organic Act
But for all this the Board feels, and shows
its feeling, that the wisdom referred to
would properly be represented by minus
sign, and of this there can be no doubt
save with those whose understanding is too
limited to give their opinions any value
In truth more fatuous piece of work
was never done than that which forced
| the State into thu manufacturing
business on its own account, and more
over handcuffed it from the start by
compelling it to make the experiment
with convict labor. No such essay has
ever yet ended in anything but failure,
and that is all we have to expect in tie
present instance. We shall, however,
have a sufficiently heavy bill to pay for
our experience, and perhaps when every
wrong course has in turn been tried, as
is usual in these days of progress" and
" enlightenment, it may become possible
| to try the right course. There is no dan
ger or embarrassment apprehended by the
Board which this journal did not predict
before the new Constitution was adopted,
but the people of California evidently pre-
fer to gain all their knowledge by practical
experience, no matter at what cost, either
| to themselves or others.
!
EoITT's EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT.
Assemblyman Hoitt, of San Francisco
proposes constitutional amendment re-
moving the present provision against using
any part of the school fund for High
Schools. This is one of the questions con-
corning which great deal may be said on
both sides. Whether High Schools are
necessary or not must depend not alone
upon what special purpose they serve,