The record-union., 1896-12-24

Continued from Fourth Page)
offices and commissions has been large
| ly increased, and the monthly salaries
| paid from this office alone on the last
| day of each month have increased IN
round numbers from $50 $50 in Janu-
airy, 1891, to S44 700 in November, 1896
| an annual increase of nearly S95,OOO.
| The figures do not include the pay rolls
| of any of the State institutions, nor
do they convey an adequate idea of the
additional expense to the State, for the
| salaries paid these newly created OIL
| GERS and commissions is the smallest
part of the appropriations made Tor
| their use and benefit. Certainly, TINS
| does not look like economy, nor even an
approach to it.
In the same time but two commits
sions have been abolished; the Forestry
| Commission and State Board OF VIII
| culture, whose work has been turned
over to the State University, and is now
| conducted at comparatively small eX-
| pense to the State.
ESTIMATE OF EXPENDITURES.
| In the estimates of expenditures the
stitutions, such as prisons, asylums and
normal schools, in some instances snow
| an increase over the appropriations OF
two years ago. The items of salaries
| and support have been segregated,
in order that a better idea may be had
of the purposes for which the money is
| to be expended.
| Before fixing the amounts required L
wrote to the proper officer of each in
stitution, in order to ascertain what
amount was actually necessary, and
where an increased appropriation was
requested and a proper explanation Civ
en- no reduction was made. In some
cases, however, I considered the esti-
mate extravagant, and cut it down.
The Warden of San Quentin Prison
asks for an increase of S25 900, and in
| explanation it is stated that the actual
| cost of maintaining the institution IS
| about Sc, 800 year more than the ap-
pro. tation of two years ago. This de-
| ficiency has been made up out of the
prison fund, but, owing to poor prices
and small sales of grain sacks, the fund
is about exhausted and cannot be de-
| pended upon to any great extent during
| the next two years. The prison is also
put to an extra expense of about $3.50
per month by the Act of the Legislature
Of 1893, providing for the construction
| of what is known as the ''Tiburon
road" In this connection it appears
to me that the county of Marin should
| be required to pay the attendant eX-
| pense of building this road; but that
| is a matter for legislation. In the
meantime, the prison must bear this
extra expense, and the appropriation
| should be adequate.
Folsom Prison asks for an increase of
$21 600 in its appropriation. The num-
ber of convicts has increased over 100
| and the prison has no earnings with
which to help out in the expense of
| maintenance.
| 1t is a poor policy which prevents the
| magnificent water power owned by the
State at this prison from being utilized
in some manner to the pecuniary benefit
| of the taxpayers. If it cannot be used
| for the purpose of manufacturing the
articles of wearing apparel used in the
various State institutions. because of
the alleged competition with free labor
at least it could be employed in the
generation of electrical power which
could be transmitted to Sacramento and
used for power in the State Capitol,
State Printing Office and Agricultural
Pavilion, and for lighting the State
buildings and grounds. The amount
saved by this alone would pay a large
return on the investment.
Of bn
School of Industry estimates that it
will require 100000 for his institution.
This estimate is based on an increase
Of 12J in the number of boys, which
l think is improbable. There are now
but 224 inmates. Two years ago [
estimated it would require S100,0 600 to
to maintain this school, and that
amount was appropriated. The man
agement have kept within the appropri-
alton, apparently without difficulty. In
my judgment an increase Of S2o0OO VIII
be sufficient.
Whittier state School estimates that
| S230 900 is necessary to run that in
stitution for the next two years. I con-
slider this an extravagant figure. The
appropriation of 5000. 900 for the forty
seventh and fOrty-eighth fiscal years
appears to be ample. In addition to the
appropriation made by the Legislature,
this school has a fund applicable to the
expense of maintenance, in which there
now remains a balance of 5000, and
into which receipts are constantly flow
ing ! think an appropriation of 500
600 is quite sufficient, and have so
placed it in my estimate.
The Medical Director Of the Southern
California Asylum asks, for the main
tenance Of his institution for the next
biennial term S204 400 based upon an
estimate Of 700 patients at forty cents
per capita. This is an increase of SSt,-
coo over the last appropriation. For the
forty seventh fiscal year it has cost
about $50. 600 to conduct this asylum,
it having been necessary to create a de-
fciency of S12. 200 The cost for the
forty eighth fiscal year will probably be
sor. .ewhat in excess of the forty-seV
enth, and the Legislature will be called
upon 10 make n deficiency appropria-
ton Of So. 900 or $50 900. The asylum
now has about 4J0 patients in ALL which
at a per capita of forty cents per day
would require about $4,000 for the
two years, the amount L have placed in
my estimate.
To the Home Cor Feeble minded
Children l have given an increase of
SD 600. to Mendocino Asylum $4,000
and to Agnews Asylum $1,000
The Normal Schools have each asked
for an increase, and in each case i have
allowed it upon the representations
made.
,f~t.~