Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-19
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
TcoxrISuEp FROM FIRST rAGE.l

TcoNTINuED FROM FIRST PAGE.
win enable your honorable body to Judge of the
detailed work of this department during the
past two years
THE VETERANS HOME
Af1cr four years of constant labor. the Direct
ors of the Veterans Home Association have Sc
cured an extensive tract of land in Napa coun-
IN, and have built thereon asylum for dis
abled soldiers and sailors. The land and the
improvements have cost about $4,000 and the
Association is now PRACTICAL DUTY of debt. The
amount appropriated at the last session OF the
Legislature is not adequate for the proper sup
port of the inmates of the Home. The mana
gers have therefore relied to great extent upon
private donations and subscriptions 10 supply
the deficiency. This support they have found
10 be precarious and uncertain, and II mas been
with much difficulty that the institution has
been maintained up TO the present time
proposition has been advanced to- and has been
favorably considered by the Board of Directors,
10 the effect that the institution be turned
over to and adopted by the Federal Gov
eminent is Il Branch Home for disabled
soldiers and sailors, such Homes being
at the present time maintained by that
Government in other States of the Union.
Ii is most fitting that such Home be so main-
tanned on the Pacific coast. The soldiers OF the
Mexican war, rapidly diminishing band,
whose forms are bowed with age and conflicts,
should be permitted to pass their declining
years in this State and be buried under the soil
they helped to win. | therefore recommend
that your honorable body present such facts and
W
to adopt our Veterans Home as Branch Asy
luin for disabled soldiers and sailors similar in
tanned by the Federal Government in various
localities i'll the Eastern States
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The condition of the Orphan Asylums is
generally speaking, satisfactory. The amount
expended during the tRirty-fourth fiscal year
for the support of orphans; halEorphanS and
abandoned children was SOL 37 Il. During the
thirty fifth fiscal year there was expended on
the same class 500, 81 40. The other eXpend-
lures for charitable purposes comprise the sum
of $40 81 paid for the support of Old Peoples
Homes. and S2.112 ~ expended upon the Vet
Grams Home, making a total of Sil6,l57 y paid
out by the State i'll charity to persons in private
institutions during the two fiscal years men
toned.
INSANE AsYLUNIs
The new asylum building at stockton. pro-
vidcd for by the last Legislature, has been com
pleted and viii be occupied by insane patients
as soon as furnished. 1he appropriation made
by the last Legislature, nj its regular session.
provided only for the erection of the building
making no allowance for the furnishing thereof
Ofthe twelve hundred and fifty patients now i'll
the institution. one hundred and thirty-four are
domiciled in an old wooden structure unfit for
the purpose, and one hundred and sixty others
are. compelled, from lack of accommodations
to sleep on the corridor floors III wards of the
main building. / would, therefore, recommend
that, from simple humanity, this building be
furnished at the earliest possible moment, and
that an appropriation for that purpose be early
made by your honorable body, in order that no
time may he lost i'll providing those two hun
dred and ninety-four uniortuuateS with com
Portable quarters. The same asylum asks that
certain alterations and repairs be made in the
main building, to place 1t i'll good sanitary
condition. Both institutions are filled to reple-
ton. The report of the Superintendent of the
Napa Asylum for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1881, shows "a net increase i'll the number of pa
tents during that period of one hundred and
fOrty-scycn The report of the Superintendent
OF the Stockton Asylum shows net increase,
during the same period, of one hundred and
twenty. The last ramed official, speaking Of
the new building and the number now waiting
10 be accommodated therein, says; This num-
Der Is nearly or quite equal to the full capacity
and the rate OF Increase will very soon again fill
the asylum To its present crowded condition
unless some provision for its relief is made hy
the Legislature" The Superintendent of the
Napa Asylum says in his report The crowded
condition of the asylum is a growing evil Of
alarming magnitude. which cannot be longer
tolerated without dishonor to the state This
is strong language. but it is no doubt truthful.
The necessity. therefore. forces itself upon us
for either additional buildings more stringent
laws concerning the admission OF patients
STATE prisons.
Tile report of the Directors of the State prisons
and those the officers of the prisons for the
fiscal year ending June So 1881, viii be found
both interesting and instructive Upon the rc-
moyal of the former Board of Directors act
ing i'll accordance with what ! consider the
spirit of our Constitution, appointed 4 Board,
whose members belonged to both of the great
political parties. | am pleased to be able to
state that that plan has proved very successful,
and that the affairs OF the prisons have been
well administered by the Board. 1t the time
the new Board entered upon the discharge Of
its duties in the mouth OF October, ltN3, il found
that ont OF the Appropriation OF StO,pyJ Tor the
support of the State Prison III san Quentin for
the thirtytiith fiscal year. only SI6,31 remained
at its disposal, with bills amounting 10 So
095 IL and a period of nine months be
fore them which must clal!se before the
prison could draw any additional funds from the
State. The Board therefore appealed to tttt
State Board OF Examiners for authority 70 make
an expenditure exceeding the amount of the an
preparation, i'll order 10 support the prison dur
ing the remainder OF the fiscal year. Actiuej
under the authority conferred 10y Section . OF
the general appropriation law of 1853, and being
fully advised in the matter, the Board of Exam
liners including the Acknowledgement granted
permission TO the Board of Directors 70 borrow
the sum Of 10000 for the support OF the san
Quentin Prison, and $4,000 for the purchase Of
jute. The money was borrowed al TIL rate Oft
per cent per annlin and the prison WAS thus
supported during the remainder ri the tsca
year The Acknowledgement! in the latter por
ton of mis- report. is pleased to congratulate
the Administration upon its success III borrow
ing. at Il high rate OF interest, from parties
debtor 20 the state, money TO support the state
Prisons, while more than enough coin 10 meet
the obligations OF the State lies without Interest
and almost without security il his Office lie
fails to explain. however. in what manner The
apparently fabulous wealth in ms possession,
even if paid into the State Treasury. could be
drawn out for the support OF the prisons or any
other State institution, to an amount exceeding
the appropriation made by law. II the treasury
teemed with untold millions no authority. cN-
cepI the Legislature, could pay out or use, OF
authorize the payment or use, of any amount
greater than that specified in the Appropriation
Act. and no person should be more Clearly aware
of this fact than the chief law officer OF the
state.
owing to n larger number OF commitments
than was anticipated, deficiency in the sum
of $1,000 was found TO exist III the support fund
OF the Folsom Prison during the thirtyith
year. The state Board of Examiners. including
the Acknowledgement. upon like representation
from the Directors authorized the expenditure
of that sum for the purpose OF supporting the
prison during the remainder of that fiscal year.
The Prison Directors succeeded IN borrowing
the amounts authorized, but whether or not
from q party Debtor 10 the State / am NOT IN
formed Tie necessity for borrowing The money
is clearly apparent In the OF san QUEEN
tin it was Impossible TO conduct The prison
without money; and To convene the Ic@iS.a-
ture. the only other ueans-vNccpt that fol
lowed 10y the Beard of ENanincrS-Was too eN-
pensive plan. The plan adopted by the Board
of Examiners was the most wise and ccoDomi-
cal, and good faith demands that the moneys So
borrowed bc repaid by the STATE, according TO
contract.
In Che matter of the issuing of par,lon> and
combinations To the dcSerYin. inmates 81 the
state Prisons. determined, after some expert
encc. tlai tie boarI OF state PRISON directors,
being directed by law 10 report from time to
time 10 mc such prisoners as they deemed
worthy of Executive clemency. and being i'm "a
position 10 investigate and accurately deter
mine the iacts in the various eases, could more
closely and efficiently than myself canvass the
claims of tine various peilu'slerS have. there
lore, except IN cases having apparent merit ami
demanding Immediate action, referred all petit
tiOnS for pardpus 10 the Board 0i Prison bl-
r,ctorS for Investigations In nearly all cases
their presentation OF facts, and the conclusions
thcretrOm. have been thorough and satisfactory.
and have been oi great aSSl Ft.tilcc 20 The Exec
utiye III determining the de.irate problem pre-
scented o, The necessity of doing justice To the
prisoners and M the same nm" DlN duty 20 .hD