Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-21
TIE PRISON DIRECTORS AND LABOR
UNIONS.

Certain labor associations have charged
the Board of State Prison Directors with
violating the law for5idding the employ
mcnt 0f convicts at certain labor. A hear
ing was ordered by the Governor, and the
defense made, that so far from violating
the law, the Board has been following its
express commands, and doing its utmost to
fulfill its requirements. Fifteen days have
been given by the Executive for the filing
OF briefs. 1t appears that the whole ques-
ton hinges upon the construction Of writ
ten law. 1t did not appear at the examin-
alton that the Directors have manifested
any wllltuliness in the matter, have been
guilty of any corruption, or have purpose
fully run counter to laws of the State.
While the case is pending, and when pub
lie Judgment should be suspended, the
Federated Trades, by their Council, pre-
pare to petition the Executive for the re-
moval of the Directors. To this end cir
culars have been printed, and were sent
out on Wednesday to all labor organiza-
lions, urging them to send up to the Gov
ernor such petitions. If the Directors are
found to have misconstrued the law-which
clearly is ambiguous and confused-it
ought to satisfy the Trades Unions to have
the error corrected and the Board set right
by the Executive. What they have to
gain by upsetting the present Board it is
impossible TO discover 1t is alwas detri-
mental to public interests to have such
Boards wear the robes of newness. 1t
means increased taxation every time, and
an every case means retrogresSion in prison
Ieiorm. Our Prison Boards have of re-
cent years become something more than
political bodies and mere administrators of
routlne-they are developing as penolog-
zeal students. Prison government is a
science. The inexperienced called to it
have to lie educated at the expense of the
State and the reformatory processes every
citizen desires to have applied. Our pres
ent Board is now, under statute, also a
pathological commission, with power to col
late information and avail of the expe-
rience Of others, and we happen to know
that it has given a great deal of hard
study to the important subject of penologv,
and has collected information and COM
pared systems throughout the world, and
that it is devoting more time and thought to
the results of the experience of the best
penologists Of the day and their applica-
iility to the prison system of California.
than has been possible to any previous
Board. We are the more free to say this
since the Directory is not of our political
faith, and because previous Boards were
not given the advantages and power this
one possesses. Circumstances permitted us
recently 10 examine somewhat into the
work OF the commission as Board of
Penoiogy in relation to reformatory sys-
tens, and especially the duty of society to
youthful criminals, and we confess to the
surprise and qualification we experienced
in discovering how far the Board has pro-
gressed in the important work of pre-
pairing the public mind for such amend
ment to our prison laws as will permit
California 20 avail Of the best results that
have been attained in pathological science
Throughout the world. 1t is long and
tedious labor, and can only be well con-
Quoted when inspired in large degree by
philanthropic motive In view of the
work the Commission is now engaged in,
OF the value to the State of the experience
At has gained, We say that its disruption
would lie calamity, and we would NOT
condone At even to see the Board made up
wholly Of Republicans We are unw;II-
Ing TO entertain the thought for a mope,,
that there is present seeking to ous,
in order 10 give some one, as vet undiscov-
cred, State position. The truth is the Board
ought to be cut loose from all political
surroundings it ought to be capacitated to
rise superior TO them, for we will never
attain to the best systems in our prisons,
re'ormatories and semi-penal institutions
It'll the Boards of Control are made alb
.solutely independent of political inhu-
enceS. This is truth admitted in all the
older States and in foreign countries, and
born OF bitter experiences, and it cannot
be too soon accepted here. If we had to-
dav a Board in office with ten years ex-
perience and study, we would be greatly
farther advanced upon the road toward the
most economic and best administration Of
cur prisons, the best methods of preventing