Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-07
STATE PRISON INVESTIGATION.

STATE FRIoON lNtEeTlGAT1ON.
The investigation of the affairs of San Quentir
Prison was resumed last evening by the Joint
Committee of the Legislature, Senator White
presiding. Ex-Director ]. J. Scrivener was the
first witness, and was examined in relation to
the letters written By him to Captain Ben
Chambers, and published with the McComt
letters. The portion which referred to what he
could do for the boys if this scheme of his sue
ceeded," he said had reference entirely to a
private enterprise OF his, and nothing to do with
the prison. He acknowledged, however that
the appointments to which he referred in the
same connection, had reference to prison ap-
pointments, but if these were secured, he said,
then he would have room for some Others in q
private way, who were pressing him for ap-
pOintments.
When he begged Captain Chambers to put on
half dozen guards for him, it was Gone be-
cause number of friends importuned him for
places. THAT letter business" which had such
a sensational smack in it, as indicating some
thing inquest onably crooked, the witness said
referred solely to private matter" Another
letter OF witness, which the reporters expected
would pan out Iieh, was also consigned at
wholly relating to private affair.""
He declined to state what the private affair
was, but a sured the committee it was such.
The syndicate F" referred to IN one of his let
tiers as having been formed, was not intended to
indicate that anything improper or corrupt ex.
listed. There had been considerable talk that
the Governors policy of the prison manage
Luttrell, sonntag and myself came to an
understandings did not rise to the dignity of
an agreement-that we would sustain the GOV
ernors policy and stand by General McComb
in any suggestion he might make We intended
to stand together and run the affairs OF the
prison, If necessary, whatever might be the
opposition of other members of the Board
Captain Chambers understood about this ar
rangement between us, and the Governor un-
derstood it. 1t was also understood between
us and the Governor that whenever our
views od a 1ae, not concur na, with his
way of the manner he desired to run the
prisons. In other words, that he should really
be the manager of the prisons and we were to
carry out his will. This was the intention of
Luttrell, Sonntag and myself 1 don't know
that Devlin and DePue had any such views
General McComb expressed the view that Mr..
Devlln was very ind pendent aud rather set up
IN opposition, often, to the views of the Gov
ernor and himself. My opinion is that there
was no ground for such a suspicion or feeling
about the attitude of Devlin and DePue. Nc
Comb very frequently talked with us of the
necessity OF our working together-us three TO
carry out the policy of the Governor and Nc
Comb.
When spoke in my published letter of hav-
ing Higgins let into the matter" and my
reference to ellis. it was about private mat.
ter, and not state Prison affairs. / did not
know Higgins. but had a little private affair
in which wanted his aid While was a
Director, during the last month, was with Mr..
Sonntag on jute committee. ! considered as
to the matter of running the night shift of the
mill. obtained my information from General
McComb: The establishing the night shift was
part of the policy adopted by the Governor.
While no one can contend that jute bags can be
made as cheaply at night as during the day /
cannot see why bags cannot be profitably made
at night, or, rather, why it may not be proper
TO do SO, as the question of making profit is
not the principal one in running the prison. |
understand that profit has been made in some
OF the manufacturing departments in San
ht1fT n,11xr l-y,nx II,
lished statements or reports.
1t would be simply impossible for the Board
OF Directors to examine the bills of the prison
each month and know anything about them.
1t " u.d take one or two We eks of the Boards
time each month to do so. We have to take the
word of the Warden and Clerk about it and
pass them without knowing anything as TO
whether they are actually correct or not
think the plan of prison management in this
regard Is all wrong.
Director Sonntag was called and testified as to
the arrangement to carry out the Governor S
policy, and McCOmb's method of conducting
the prison. Scrivener remarked to me that
Luttrell would act with us, and as we were
friends of the administration, it would be well
for US to carry out the plans adopted by the
Governor. 1t was quite well understood that
Devlin and De Pue were not over friendly to
the Governors policy / was warm friend OF
Cap ain Thomas, and thought Devlin and De
Pue wanted to throw him out OF his position.
| never made any agreement to resign,
nor said would. If my views did not
agree with those of the Governor | never
heard of such d thing till this evening
l have tried TO understand the result OF
running the jute work. at night. found that
under Shirley's administration about $50 or 500
yards were turned out in day; while under
General McCOmb, under the night shift and
full day force, it run something like ], 400 or
1,5c0 Yards, from which | regarded the
night shift successful. From what was told M
at the prison. thought the night work is profit
able. | made comparison of cost of produc-
ton between day and night, and found that il
cost 10 cents per bag in the daytime and
5 40 at night.
The door, sash and blind factory has been
run at profit. as l understand of from $4,000
TO $4,000. This is as understand it. The fac
tory is now closed down, however, since the
first of this month.
quently scrutinize the bills and inquire as to
items. Sometimes we would cut them down
1t takes us from an hour to an hour and q hall
to audit the bills. There would probably be 15C
bills or so. The way We do is to have our clerk
who is independent of the Warden, examine all
the hills before we meet, and satisfy himself o.
their accuracy.
/ know nothing about the building of the an
mex to the Wardens house at San Quentin.
understand from the Warden that it cost abou,
$500. never knew anything about any account
being kept OF made of the cost OF the building
assume that the annual report of the Warden
| is correct. cannot say perhaps that ever read
II through-pretty dry reading pick it up occa
sionally and look 1t over some.
AN OH6lrI1du OF the Jute COnm1Ltee ana nave
been TOR several years. never made any com
mission on jute. / heard that it has been said
that made commission of SfG0 on jute pur
chased from one nrm, but it is absolutely false
never made a cent on jute purchases. Jute
prices fuctuate greatly, often 5 per cent. in &
day or two. The average profit of those firms
| from whom we purchase our jute supplies i:
about % per cent.
Mr.. Shanahan read to witness the testimony
of Captain Thomas. in which the latter gave cir
cumstances under which the commission Of
500 was made by Director Sonntag on a jutt
purchase, as he claimed was indirectly admit
/, ted by Lichtenberg, from whom the purchase
| was made. Sonntag stoutly denied the state
ment.
| r. Lichtenberg was placed upon the stand
and denied that there was any truth In the
statement that any commission had been al
lowed or paid to director Sonntag, and ex
planned the transaction upon which he said
he presumed the rumor had been based. Al
| the conclusion he claimed that Captain
Thomas, in a conversation upon the subject
| wanted TO know why he did not charge
enough to make his full commission.
and intimated that he might as well have done
| so, as the State paid Tor it, Witness waxed
warm about Captain Thomas statement, and
| said the Captain had insinuated to him that
any commission had been paid he would have
struck him in the mouth.
Captain Thomas was recalled, and testified
He was requested by Warden McComb to write
to the various jute factories to obtain prices
He read copy of the letter sent to them fol
| this purpose, and related concerning further
correspondence and purchases made, in which
he claimed the 500 commission transaction
took place.
Mr.. Sonntag stated at the close of the testimony
of Captain Thomas that he was not Chairman O.
the Committee on Jute at that time.
X. I. Devlln, President of the Board of Prison
Directors. testified He knew that Director.
Scrivener, Luttrell and Sonntag generally voted
together. or very frequently did, but he did moi
know that they had any arrangement to act in
dependent OF the rest of the Board. Think
remarked to Director Luttrell at one time thai
there seemed to be q combination existing, bu
| did not remark further about it. Sometime.
Mr.. Luttrell acted with Mr.. DePue and myself
know that General McComb said that he thought
Mr.. DePue and myself were not cordial toward:
| him, AID told McComb SO. / have no ap
/ pointees at San Quentin Prison. / know moth
| ing personally about Buckley or Higgins con
| trolling appointments at the prison. l know
| that there are appointees there from San Fran
cisco, but don't know personally at whose in
stance they secured their places.
| The matter of the building of the addition OF
annex to the Warden's residence was gone over
He said the cost, said to be 81 500. was charged
on the Commissary' s books as general repairs
| He objected to putting II under this head, bu
his objection was disregarded.
| without completing the examination of wit
ness, the committee adjourned to this evening
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