The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21
HALE RECHOSEN WARDEN
The Friendly Effort in Behalf
of Senator Seymour
Failed.
FITZGERALD SUCCEEDS IVORY.
Cooperation of the Board Asked
by the Good Roads
Bureau.

DOllIlCdl
plum which Governor Budd promised him.
4 Warden should have been elected at
San Quentin at the March meeting of the
directors. That no such election took place
was due to the fact that Governor Budd
asked for postpOnement, for the purpose
OF giving him time to investigate the
affairs of the institution. A showing of
extravagant management was to be made
and Seymour elected to succeed Hale. 1t
looked easy enough.
The original plan was to throw out
Hayes, DePue and Ivory, giving their
places TO Democrats, and thus insuring the
election of a Democratic Warden When
this was abandoned for obvious reasons,
with the exception OF Director ivory, the
Seymour boom took definite form and
waxed warm.
Ivory could be put out of the way and
Devlin could be converted, but this would
not give Seymour majority. The days
passed, but no investigation was made.
Fitzgerald was appointed to succeed
Ivory and the latter, after loud threats of
a contest, dropped into oblivion.
When the board met yesterday the
newly appointed director, Fitzgerald, an
swered to the rollcall. Ivory was not
present. After the transaction of Consid-
cradle routine business the directors went
into executive session.
Devlin and Fitzgerald had received their
instructions from the Governor, who knew
that Nef and Hayes would urge an cleo
ton for Warden. As matter Of fact, these
two gentlemen would defer the matter no
longer. Opposing them stood Devlin and
Fitzgerald, pledged to fight for postpone
ment for another month.
This would afford time for the long
promised investigation OF the charges of
extravaganza, the downfall Of Hale and the
succession of Senator Seymour.
When Neff brought up the matter of
electing a Warden in executive session
Devlin arose and said that In his opinion
the election should be postponed until the
next meeting OF the board. This was in
Difference to the wishes of the Governor,
who had requested that no Warden be
chosen until after an inquiry into the
affairs of the institution. OF course, FitZ-
gerald was of the same opinion.
Neff, however, did not coincide with the
Budd-Seymour faction. He pointed out
that the election had already been deferred
at the Governors request, to the detriment
of prison discipline, which had necessarily
become lax by reason of the uncertain con-
dition of things. Men living under daily
expectation of the ak could not be ex-
pected TO take that degree of interest in
the performance OF their duty that would
be looked for and demanded under a
settled condition of affairs" said he.
Then there were the executions soon to
take place Who would attend to this E?
Certainly Warden Hale, whose term has
expired, wo3lld not, as acting Warden, dare
TO perform this service IN clear violation
of the law. II not Warden Hale, who p?
Complications following the postponement
would be almost certain to afford con-
demned criminals loophoIe for escape. |
They would be quick to take advantage of
the opportunity, and get clear on technical |
grounds.
Director Hayes agreed with Neff that |
the election ought to take place at once.
DePue said not word, while Devlin !
scowled. He saw that the game was up, |
Tor DePue's sentiments were known, and
Neff was immovable.
After some further discussion, in which
Devlin reiterated his plea for postpone
ment, Hayes moved to proceed with the
election OF Warden.
Neff nominated Hale and his nominal
ton was seconded by Hayes.
There being no further nominations
ballot was taken, which resulted in the
unanimous reelection of Hale, Devlin and
Fitzgerald swinging into line. Warden
Hale was then called in and notified of his
election, whereupon he said:
I thank you for the honor bestowed in elect
ing me Tor another term.
On the 14th of February, 1891, your honor
able board elected me warden of this prison
q y L.
1891, and that term has expired. From the
first moment that l assumed charge of this in
sttutiOn until the present time it has been
my only thought TO so conduct the affairs of
the prison as 10 merit your appreciation and to
save the State in every way possible, at the
same time giving the inmates such care as to
insure their good health, giving them whole
some food and comfortable clothing.
Il is with pride that point to the fact that
in over period OF four years not a single pris-
Oner has escaped, and l take this opportunity
% q 81 T6 thcIF 6pyTn
ton TO their duties and to say that our success
in cutting down expenses and keeping the dis |
cipline OF the prison up to the high standard to
which 1t has attained is largely due TO their
strict attention to their respective duties.
And to you, gentlemen, can only say that I |
most heartily thank you for your cooperation !
IN the management OF this great institution, |
for your kind consideration and for the conf |
dence that you have reposed in me. If any !
mistakes have been made they have been OF
the head, not OF the heart.
At the forenoon session of the directors
Messrs. Manson and Irvine of the new
State Bureau of Highways appeared before |
the board and asked for the cooperation of |
a committee In securing reasonable trans |
portatiOn rates for rock from Folsom. to be |
used In the construction of roads at va |
rious points in the State. Until the mat
ter of transportation is settled the rocI, |
crushers provided for will not be located.
Mr.. Irvine stated that Sacramento was /
ready at the present time to use over |
1000 cubic yards of this rock. Six or |
eight thousand cubic yards will also be I
required for a new boulevard to be built |
around the Capitol grounds.
Directors Neff and Hayes were ap- |
pointed by Chairman De Pue to work |
with the new bureau for reasonable trans
portaton.
Warden Hale's report of the jute mill |
showed that there were 1854, $50 grain
bags on hand and ALA bales of iute. This |
viii last, at an average daily consumption |
of three bales, 139 working days, or until
October l. 1895. In addition there are con-
tracted for and now en- route from Cal |
cutta 2570 bales, which, at the same average |
daily consumption, will run the mill |
eighty-six working days, or until January |
10 1856
Warden Hale reported that he had seen
the Attorney General relative TO telephone |
service, recently cut off by the State Board |
OF Examiners in all State institutions.
Fitzgerald was convinced upon proper |
showing that at least two lines were neces-
sarY at San Quentin-one between the |
lower gate and the Office of the captain OF
the guard, and the other connecting the |
main Office at San Quentin and the gas
works at San Rafael. The former will be |
maintained by the State and the latter by
the gas company.