Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-09
STATES PRISONS IN poL1r1cs,

an A'ai tiSdu poilliCS III Indt, nave lOunQ
their way into prison management" 1t
finds that the hand of the bosses is found
in more places than one, and continues,
The result of this prison investigation,
neither the accused be convicted or &C.
Quilted, should be to divorce the prisons
from politics" The existing Constitution
of California, in the formation of which
the Chronicle had so large share, designed
to remove the prisons from political infiu-
ence. The clause of the Constitution con-
cegning the prisons was borrowed from the
platform OF a Prison Reform Convention,
held in New York in the year preceding
that in which the Constitution was framed.
The words of the Constitution itself were
a literal quotation from that platform. The
Constitution provided that State Board of
Prison Directors. consisting of five persons,
should be appointed by the Governor with
the advice and consent of the Senate, who
should hold Office for ten years; that this
Board of Directors should appoint the
Warden and Clerk, and determine the
other necessary officers of the prison: that
the Board should have the power to re-
move the Wardens and Clerks for miscon-
Duct incompetency, or neglect of duty
that ali other officers and employees should
be appointed by the Warden, and be re-
moved at his pleasure. The outline
Of this system is a Board of Direct
ors appointed by the Governor, con-
frmed by the Senate, with a long
tenure ofoffice, TO w.t. ten years; the Board
10 appoint the Warden and Clerk only, and
determine the other necessary officers of
the prison; the Board to have the power to
remove the Warden and Clerk for miscon-
duct, incompetency. or neglect of duty;
and oil subordinate clerks to be appointed
by the Warden and to be removable at his
pleasure.
Ten years embraces two and half Gu
bernatorial terms. This Constitution was
adopted by the people of California in 1880,
aad went into practical effect. say in 1881,
or eight years ago. The average tenure of
office OF the Board of Directors has been
abont two years, possibly two and a half
At the very outset and under Republican
administration. a full Board of Republicans
was appointed, and those Republicans pro-
ceeded 10 displace every Democrat in
charge of the prison, with scarcely an ex-
ception. They appointed Warden, who
in turn discharged sixty-6ve guards in two
weeks from San Quentin and filled their
places with sixty-tive Republicans, selected
by members of the Senate and the party
boss, and in all other respects endeavored
10 place the prison as close to party politics
as it was possible to do. In campaign en-
suing, every person connected with the
prison was required to pay tribute to the
Republican party. That administration
lasted three years and was succeeded
by a Democratic administration. In
short time the complexion of the
Board Of Directors was changed by
q legislative investigation, a conven-
ieni and scoundrelly method of fading
an apology for political triekery. The
Democratic Board removed the Republican
Warden at SAT- Quentin, retaining a he
paoiicsn at Folsom, and under Democrat c
administration the old vices were repeated
a Democratic Governor being 10 Office, the
salaries and perquistes of the prison of.
ficials were made tributary to the Demo-
cratic party politics. Ia the following cleo
ton Democrat was elected Governor and
3 Republican Lieutenant Governor. The
otflce became vacant by death, the Lieuten-
az; Governor became Governor, and in a
very stori time two Democrats were re-
moved from the Board. Their places were
filled with men who Immediately placed
Republican in charge of the principal
prison Of the State, and a Democrat in charge
of the branch prison. The investigation
now 10 progress discloses the state of
affairs commented upon by the Chronicle,
when il says that q 1t has become apparent
that politics. and rank partisan politics at
that. have found their way into prison
management. The hand of the bosses is
seen in more places than one, and there has
been an evident desire on the part of GER
tain officials to keep on good trims with
the men who, to so great an extent, shape
the destinies of the two great political
parties IN this State" That the investiga.
ton at this stage has irretrievsbly disclosed
this state of affairs will not be denied by
any candid mind. 1t has proved that the
Constitution has been violated. or what is
the equivalent of violation, it has been
subverred. The theory OF making the
State Prisons independent of politics by
giving TO the Board ten year tenure
OF office, and by giving them the constitu-
tional prerogative of appointing the War
den, and leaving to the Warden the APP
pointment of all other officers, and the
removal of such officers at the pleasure of
the Warden, has been nullifed, grossly dis
regarded, or, in short, has been violated
and subveried. This is a sober statement
OF fact, and the constitutional outline of
penal system will go into effect just so soon
as the people elect an administration which
will manifest respect for the provisions OF
the organic law. With each recurring
CDhQSt Vi pVHtiCdl duiAluiSlrhtlOn III the
State change in the political complexion
O. the penitentiaries of the State follows.
This is not the result of accident; it is the
result of design. Under the first admins
tration after the adoption of the new Con-
stiintion the prisons were differed with
Republicans, because they were Repub-
leans; because they had performed party
service--regular campaign service upon
State and County Central Committees.
Their positions were a reward for political
fealty. Three years later, when the Demo-
crafts came into power, and supplanted
these Republicans with Democrats, that
revolution was wrought simply for party
reasons. Now that Republican admins
tration dominates the State, Republican
ascendancy is shown. and for like reasons.
The present Warden of San Quentin under
examination admits. both in the letters he
has written and in his oral testimony, that
the official patronage under him has been
controlled by the bosses. He has, therefore,
abdicated the constitutional prerogative
veste,I in him of appointing the officers of