The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-15
STATE PRISON DIRECTORS,
They Wrestle With the Cues
ton of the Tiburon
County Road.
WHY IT IS NOT FINISHED.
II. wilkins That Offended
the Board.

The Board of State Prison Directors met
yesterday at San Quentin, there being
present Du Pue, Hayes and Fitzgerald
Warden Hale is now at Denver, Colo, at
tending the National Convention OF State
Prison Wardens, so the business was con-
fined principally TO routine matters. Be-
fore departing the Warden made out his
regular report. In it he stated that all of
the departments of the prison are in good
condition The jute department is MAX
ing 1900 bags day, and consumes
twenty eight to thirty bales of jute. There
are 1903 bales of jute on hand, which will
run the mill until January. The entire
yard around the cell buildings has been
laid with bituminous rock. Carpenters
and painters are now repairing floors,
roofs and other woodwork in some of the
buildings. He recommends that the
buildings occupied by the officers be re-
paired, and the directors ordered the work
done at once
In his report the Warden said that
committee of citizens of Marin County
called upon him with reference to the
work on Tiburon road, across the marsh
from Greenbrae being discontinued. He
informed them that the reason the work
was stopped was because of the great ex-
pense of carving on the work. Extra
guards have to be employed to look after
the convict laborers engaged in the work,
and wheelbarrows, tools and rubber boots,
etc., have to be purchased. There was no
clause in the act, he believed. which en-
powered the employment of convicts in
this work that made provision for the ex-
penditure of money, and until some ar
10 To 1afr
| penses the work would have to be discon-
tinued. He was perfectly willing to do
the work with the prisoners if the means
were provided.
| District Attorney E. B. Martinelli of
Marin County appeared with Attorney
| Henry Eickhoff to represent a committee
citizens who are protesting against the
| work being discontinued They presented
petition setting forth that under special
act of the Legislature the Warden was au-
| thorized to employ at least twenty persons
daily on the road that the Warden prom
ised the Board of Supervisors to build the
road if the Supervisors would bridge the
creek. The bridge had been built, but for
the past year or so the work had been at a
standstill. The Board of Prison Directors
was requested to see that the work was re-
sumed at once. There were other petit
tons sent in from citizens of surrounding
counties that the work be completed. They
stated that such a highway was an abso-
lutte necessity to them in order to reach
tide water. The noncompliance of the
Warden with the agreement was working
great hardship upon them, as there was
now no good road beyond San Rafael.
The attorney who represented the petit
TONERS presented a communication from
| Assemblyman James II. Wilkins, in which
the latter bitterly assailed Warden Hale
for not continuing the work, and asserted
4ha@ tHa 10 II
| interest in the matter was when he@was
aspiring for gubernatoriai honors. The
| letter was very long, and the directors lis
| tened to its reading with manifest dis
| pleasure. Director Fitzgerald stated that
it was altogether too personal to receive
| the attention the board would ordinarily
| give to a business communication. Di-
rector Hayes added that the Warden
should have an opportunity to reply to the
| letter before the matter could be acted
upon.
Director du Pue stated that it is not fair
to the Warden to assail him during his alb
sence, and make charges that he has not
acted in good faith, when the writer knew
Mr.. Hale was not present to reply. He
! said the question to DE decided was if, I'M
der the act. the work can be resumed, and
| by what means. t. B. Valentine of San
Rafael told the board that the prisoners
had used too much earth from the marsh,
OUTSIDE OF the roadway.
| Mr.. du Pue stated that several of the
bills for goods had been presented to the
| Board of Examiners, which had refused to
| give it's Endorsement. After this decision
the Warden and the directors did not see
| their way clear to continue the work.
| Director Fitzgerald. suggested that the
matter be referred to the Attorney-Gen-
eral to see if he is of the opinion that the
| act provides for the prison directors to
stand the expense for tools, rubber boots,
etc. If he decides that the act does not
| provide for the State to stand these ex-
| penses the directors should know it. AT
present they believe such to be the case.
| If the Acknowledgement is of the same
opinion then there is nothing they or the
| Warden can do in the premises.
| Attorney Eickhoff and District Attorney
Martinelh stated that if the Attorney Cen
eral agrees with the Warden and the board
| they know that the people of Marin County,
and possibly other localities interested in
having the road built, would stand the
expense for the transportation of convict
| laborers to and from the road the cost of
| tools, rubber boots, etc. With this under
| standing the matter was laid over until an
opinion can be obtained from the Attor-
ney-General.
| A number of people interested in obtain
| ing pardons for convicts asked for hear
| ing, as the Governor has sent all the
petitions for pardons to the board for its
| Endorsement or disapproval. While sew
eral of these were heard no action was
| taken.
| Sister Julia of the Sheltering Arms of
| San Francisco made a plea on behalf of
Mrs. Pauline Murray, who was sentenced
to four years Imprisonment for receiving
stolen goods in San Francisco. She said
that the woman's two older daughters have
become hayward, but the mother can save
the two younger ones now under Sister
Julia's charge. She added that the woman
was driven to her ruin by worthless hus-
band. Her imprisonment caused her mind
to become unbalanced, and for a time she
was kept in the Agnews Asylum. She was
now all right mentally, and to recommend
her pardon would permit her to save her
two other children.