The record-union., 1893-03-08

become law.
GIRLS REFORM SCHOOL.
Mr.. Bennett of Santa Clara made a
gallant fight IN the Assembly yesterday
in favor of removing the Girls Reforma-
tory School from Whittier to the town of
Santa Clara. The Los Angeles delegation
were as unit, and succeeded in prevent
ing Mr.. Benefits pet bill getting sec
ond reading.
Mr.. Bennett moved to take up Senate
Bill No. 4, out of order, and to give it
second reading. The bill provides for
using the building formerly occupied as
home for feeble-minded children at
Santa Clara as a home for wayward
girls.
Mathews of Tehama said it would be
bad policy for the Legislature to remove
the girls confined in the reform school ut
| Whittier TO Santa Clara. 1t would be
better for the State to sell the building
located in the latter town for $4,000,
which it is worth. The bill provides for
appropriating S25, 600 now. but it will cost
many thousands more to put the Santa
| Clara building in shape. Naturally a
modest appropriation is first asked for.
1t would be unwise to return the girls to
so near their homes in San Francisco,
whence many of them hail.
WOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER.
Mr.. Bennett followed He claimed adj
vantages for Santa Clara not possessed
by Whittier and urged it would be much
cheaper for the Legislature to establish
the home in his town in a building
already erected than to appropriate $685.
600 for new building at Whittier. He
denied that the building is in an un-
healthy location.
Mr.. Mordecai was one of the commit
tee which visited the Whittier Reform
School. To his mind the saving of few
dollars should not be considered, but the
question which will best further the ends
for which the institution was founded.
1t would certainly be unwise to place the
girls so near to their former associations
as Santa Clara. The girls either ought to
be allowed to remain where they are or
be removed to some point remote from
San Francisco. The older girls protest
against being removed from their present
home at Whittier.
Mr.. Androus, representing the dis
trct in which Whittier is located. pro-
tested against the passage of the bill,
which proposes to take the Girls Home
from Whittier
WRETCHEDLY DEsPoNDENT.
Mir. Bulla read letter from one of the
| benevolent ladies of Los Angeles, in
which it was stated that the older girls at
Whittier are wretchedly despondent over
the idea of leaving there, while the
younger inmates are anxious to get back
to their old haunts near San Francisco.
The matter is not one of economy, bui
which place affords the best opportunities
for reforming the unfortunate girls who
are confined in the school. Whittier is
located fifteen miles from any big city
1t would be very easy matter for old
and evil associates to go from San Fran
cisco to Santa Clara and lead the girls
astray.
The State owns the building at Santa
Clara, said Mr.. Kahn, and he could see
no reason why the State should go to an
expense of S65,00 to erect new build
ing when there is now suitable one 60
ing to decay. "Is Los Angeles so pure
and good it exerts no evil at all ?'' ht
I ShtSls L ne lhotIlubiOu IL lOCdtbNl at Odilld
, Clara would have such rules and regula
tions as to keep the inmates free from al
contamination with persons of ulteriol
motives. The only expense necessary a
Santa Clara will be for furnishing Tho
building. The additional cost of trans
porting inmates to Whittier will alone
pay the salary of Superintendent for the
home. He hoped the bill would be giver
a second reading.
Mr.. Kennedy favored removing thu
girls school to Santa Clara. He said i
, was nice, clean, moral town. 1t would
be an advantage for the girls to be nea
their parents, most Of whom reside in Sa1
} Francisco.
7 OLD HAUNTs OF SIN.
Mr.. Finlayson said 90 per cent. of tn,
, girls at Whittier are from San Francisco
If they get so near to their old home they
will return to their former haunts of sin
They are not acquainted in Los Angeles
3 which is a large city, and consequent.
they have no desire to go there.
+, Mr.. Wade spoke against the bill.
Mr.. Sims said he had visited the site a
Santa Clara on which the State buildin!
1 the sewerage system is very defective
He was informed that the Home fo
D Feeble Minded Children was removed ol
+ account of the unhealthy condition of th
r building at Santa Clara. He read 1ette
from one ]. r. Peters showing that
!, would require big outlay to place tn
: building in first-class repair.
: DID NOT WANT TO LOSE HIS JOB.
o Mr. Bennett said the author of the lei
= ter which was read has charge of tn
State building at salary of $40 pc
II month He resides in it with his family
although he spends most of his time i
San Francisco. Peters simply did nc
y want to lose his commission. The pee
e pie of Santa Clara will give the buildin
n a sewerage system if it IS located there
S Mr.. Kerns said he had resided at Whit
s tier for twenty-four years and it is jus
st the place to educate and bring boys an
! girls into manhood and womanhood. II
= insinuated that the Santa Clara represent
/ ative had not acted fairly before the con
$ mittee. He admired the spirit of enter
prise of Santa Clara and thought its pee
d pie had "enterprise' enough to start
e "brass'' factory.
5, 4 vote was taken and the bill refuse
1t a second reading, which means that tt
Is reform school for girls will still |
d located at Whittier.
~ ALUMNI REGENTS.
The bill which provides that hereaft,
- University Regents shall be selected fro
= the alumni only came up for final pa
- sage in the Senate yesterday morning.
= DIR. Simpson spoke at length in favor