The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-12

torial limits and gone to the country. deterrine
immigration and the influx of needed capital
to develop our latent resources. Prudent
citizens OF other States. especially OF the more
economically managed Eastern commonwealths,
naturally hesitate before determining to move to
aud settle in State whose current annual tax
rate Is equivalent TO an assessment OF be-
tween 81 and So upon every man, woman
and child OF the population. When. further
more. 1t is considered that the burden has been
permitted steadily to increase for the past ten
years, in presence of an equally steady decline
In the wages OF labor and the profits OF busi.
ness, the course OF extravaganza and prohlgacy
upon which we are entered aud which we are
pursuing as II by predetermined purpose 10 see
how far we can proceed before the crash comes
when The situation Is regarded in this light. 1t
Is discovered TO involve almost public crime.
In every avenue of Industry the wage rate
has perststently declined In conformity to the
changing conditions through which the country
as whole is passing. The farmer, too, re-
ceives less for the products of his acres than
ever before In the history OF our State. Pri-
vate business has been gradually adjusting
itself TO the new relation OF values, but the
business Of the State appears to be con.
Quoted upon the old lines, as though its man
ayers, or those responsible for its conduct,
were unaware thai any alteration of
The managers OF large corporations have
scaled salaries and eliminated every possible
expense consistent with safe and economic
administration OF their companies affairs, but
the affairs of the State are not only permitted
to move forward In the old groove of maximum
pay for minimum service, but there has devel
opod In recent years distinct tendency to go
from bad to worse. The correction OF this
enormous and overshadowing evil rests with
IA ftynH do man har fad fIoo
lative and executye) working jointly and
harmontously together for the perfection of
such legislation a. may be considered neces-
sary TO eradicate the fiscal canker that Is con-
snmlng the substance of the people. Laws
designed to bring the public expendi
lures within the limits of reason, to lop
of redundant functiOnaries TO concentrate
distributed institutions OF like character
under single management. to reduce salarie
as far as may be deemed consistent with the
efficiency Of the service, and in general to place
the affairs of the State upon the same safe busi-
ness footing as that of successful private en-
terprise, must originate with one or the other
OF the two houses The executive can only
advise, recommend or approve. and the first he
takes the liberty of now doing. In necessarily
imperfect way, but nevertheless so as, it Is
hoped, the direction may be made clear In
which the retrenchment so 1mperatively de-
ment OF any useful public institution or In any
way hampering the administration of the
States affairs.
The extraordinary increase 10 the number of
our lunatic asvlums and similar State institu-
tlons had its origin In two causes: First-Tbe
desire OF members of the Legislature from
particular sections to secure the approval Of
their constituents by comforting upon them
certain supposed benefits and the consequent
4n.r, nf
gave rise: Second - The presence In the
already existing asylnms of inmates who, under
the law, were not entitled to entrance therein
and have no right TO be retained there. 1 con-
fdently assert that large percentage of the so.
called patients confined In our lunatic asylums
are not legally entitled to a home In those in
stitutions. Yet they are, and for years have
been, admitted and cared for. Had the law
been properly compiled with in the past, three
asylums only would have been required-one
south and two north OF Tehaehapi-and these,
with slight addition to their capacity, would
have been more than ample to meet the de.
mands of the State for years to come
would recommend that bill be passed abol.
ishlng existing asylum boards and providing
for one non.partisan board OF from seven to
nine members. to control the entire system of
lunatic asylums. with power to employ one gen.
eral supervising head. who shall be an expert
In Institutions.
The re recommendation OF one board for all the |
lunatic asylums will apply with equal force to |
the other State institutions. 1t would be good |
idea TO consolidate San Quentin with Folsom, |
and the management Of Preston School with |
that OF Whittier Unless the Preston and |
Whittier reformatorles be merged into single |
institution, the former should be used as q re- |
formatory for girls and the latter for boys. |
From this change large saving OF ex-
pense would result, the estimated cost OF main.
tanning these reformatories being 100000 and |
S1oo, 900. respectively.
While all civilized countries recognize the i'm.
portance of and provide for such work as that
essayed to be performed by our various scien-
tifc commissions. they usually commit the task
10 persons skilled In the subjects investigated.
The United States years ago recognized the
necessity for some thorough scientific investi.
CATION on the lines attempted 10 be followed by |