Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-23
STATE PRISON INVESTIGATION.
Hearing of Testimony Before the way,

->s VI testimony Sefor6 the ways
and Means Assembly Committee.
The Assembly Committee on Ways and
Means met in the State Library at 1880
Yesterday morning, Messrs. Shanahan.
ostrom, Mathews, Whitehurst, Storke and
COMBS being present.
Captain G. w. Thomas, ex.iute agent
at San Quentin, continued his testimony
concerning the night SHIFT in the jute mill.
The sash and door factory employs 225
men and yields profit of S25, 900 or $780,
COO yearly. The jute factory employs 3S7
men, but the profits were small In reply
to questions by Mathews, witness stated
that Partially had been shown in selling
the sacks to consumers. The circulars
sent out by the management stated that
cash or certified check must accompany
the order, but on one occasion 20 600 sacks
had been sold to Paris Kilbourn on 80
days time. On another occasion Albert
Gallatin had bought 5000 sacks on time.
[Ostrom stated that be mad once sent an
order to San Quentin for 1000 sacks and
had to pay for them in advance, and when
they came he found that he could have
bought them cheaper in Marysvilie.]
The witness gave it as his opinion that if
a jute mill were provided at Folsom the
saving in the item of fuel alone would
| amount to $500 a month The electric
| lights at San Quentin cost $165 month,
and the gas bills are 500 to $500 month
Witness said he believed that about 200
| Of Warden McComb's letters had been sur
reptitiously put into circulation, but only a
little more than sixty had been secured by
| the committee. G. J. Walden, an ex-con-
vict of superior attainments, who had re-
| aoivQd fr.r
| and embezzlement, but whose term was
commuted to six years by Governor Stone
man, had written Warden McComb's an
nual report, Captain Chambers report, and
the comprehensive report of Director Lut-
| trell, published recently. Witness stated
that Walden is the man referred to in one
OF McComb's letters in connection with the
| 1926 600 puzzle" Witness said he thought
the committee would get possession of the
original letter of John McComb, Jr., within
a day or two.
At o'clock the committee adjourned I'M
| til 7:30 P NJ
At the evening session of the committee
N. A. Fisher took the stand and testified
that he had resided in Sacramento for fif-
| teen years. Machinist by occupation.
Stated that incessant running of machiAery
reduced its life by one-third. by reason Of
unequal wear on account of heating, spring
ing of bearings, etc. Machinery needed
regular rest to enable it to regain its nor
NAL condition. Thought machinery used
sixteen hours day would not last more
than twelve years
Peter Roberts, plasterer of San Fran
cisco, was sworn and stated that the State
Prisons had never been sustaining.
The sash, door and blind factory had run
behind 5000. The prisons of the State
he said, cost 1897 900 year. He thought
the State Printing Office and Bindery
should also be added to the industries car
ried on in the State Prisons. He thought
the Legislature should compel the Governor
TO sign the appropriation bills for addi-
tional jute machinery. He thought the
Legislature should impeach the Prison
Directors and settle their hash forever and
ever.
The committee sadly informed the gen.
tleman from San Francisco that they were
powerless to follow out his kind sugges.
tons.
Adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning
J. J. Scriyener has been subpenaed tc
appear before the committee next Monday
evening.