The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-15
HEADS OFF.
San Quentin Contracts Guards
TO Be Reduced.

The meeting of the Board of State Prison
Directors at San Quentin last Saturday to
make the awards of contracts for the ensu-
ing years supplies extended during morn
ing, afternoon and evening sessions and
over until yesterday. when the board re-
assembled. There were present Directors
Sonntag, Craig, Stump ana Deylin. De Pue
was absent
1t was decided to pay $500 to James Gro
noQue for a small house he erected a dozen
years since on Government land. The Leg
islature appropriated $500 at its last session
for that purpose, but the building had fallen
into decay. and the board thought $500 was
ample. This amount was agreed upon by
the owner, and the transfer will soon be
made.
The question Of awards was then taken
up. Several hours had been spent the day
be fore making awards and examining SAM
pies. but the work had not been finished.
Where two builders quoted the same prices
it was not an uncommon thing for them to
call "headS" and tails" while one of the
Directors tossed the coin. Director SOnntag
objected 10 this method Of ef1erting a COM
promise, but he was oYerruled in numbers,
though the matter was not put to vote.
However, to make the method less conspic-
uuuS, and, therefore, less Objectionable, ID i
rector DeYlln would luggle his pocket pieces
while the bidders guessed at their dates.
Neither Of these methods were resOrted TO
yesterday.
The following are the contracts awarded {;
Hardware divided about equally between W.
W. Montague x Co, Huntington, Hopkins & Co.,
Baker & Hamilton. HOlDrOOk. Merrill SJetsOn
and Durham, Carrlgan Hayden Company.
The stationery cont actS Went 10 Ii. ). Croker
& Co., PayOt, Upham Co.
There was only one bid for lumber, and it
being UnTeaSOnaby high was not considered
The boards action last SATURDAY., decid-
Ing TO close down work in the jute-milS on
the night-shift after July 1St, made it posi-
| bic for the number Of guards TO be reduced
from slXty-thTee, its present number. Di-
rector SOnntag advocated the reduction on
the grounds of economy, and presented the
following resolution:
Resolved, That on and after July l, 1891, the
number Of guards be and is hereby fixed at fifty
ana The following positions are hereby abolished:
one engineer one Spinn /, one weaver aud one
foreman OF the night shift. The position OF out
side foreman, with salary of 500 month, is
he eby created. The salary OF the SupeTutend-
ent OF The iute mill is hereby fixed at $40
month; one Skinner at S125 a mouth, aud one
weaver al Sl15 mOnlh-all without board and
lodging
Director Stump favored a reduction, but
Thought Ii should be done in patches.
Warden Hale also favored the compromise
quota.
Sonntag, when called to account for his
re sons for wishing the salary of the
superintendent reduced, said that the jute-
mill IS not very paying institution" and
that for years he has thought the salary
too liberal one. Craig wanted the salary
left as it Is, and Stump favored the payment
Of good salary 10 a good mechanic man
ager The resolution was adopted as read.
1t was resolved to close the road running
through the States grounds unless the
AttcTney-GeneTal shall give it as his opin ion
that the Stale haSnO such right The road is
claimed as a thOroughfare by Marin County,
which contests the STATES claim of right of
COnirnl