The record-union., 1896-01-21
RETRENCHMENT NECESSARY.
Officers Of State Institutions Meet the
Examiners.
Committees Appointed to Examine
Into and Report on the Differ
ent Subjects.


The Governor stated the object Of
the meeting was to consider the ques-
ton of uniform system Of bookkeep-
Ing for all the institutions, as well as
a system Of uniform salaries of en-
ployes.
Secretary of State Brown said another
subject for consideration was the mat
ter OF advertising for supplies for all
the Institutions, so that there would
not be so great variance In the prices
Of articles supplied to the various places.
He believed that by a judicious sys-
tenn Of advertising for general bids,
the State could save from 100000 to
$260,000 q year. The advertising
should all be done at one time and bid
ders who will not bid on small amounts
viii come In and bid where the amount
is a large one.
DR.. Match thought it might be feas-
ible to advertise for the total amount
Of any article needed-say, -four. The
bid could be for a stated number Of bar
rels. so much to be delivered at Agnews,
so much at Stockton, etc. It might cost
Napa a little more than now and Ag-
news less, but the whole amount would
cost less than 1t does now.
that the work of retrenchment should
be relegated to different officers of the
institutions. DR. M. Gardner, who was
a medical man, should determine what
people should be maintained in the diff
ferent asylums, and who should not. He
understood from the report made a
short time ago that about 800 patients
were supported by the State who should
-, Il.
that business man should be ap-
pointed to look up and report on the
matter Of the supplies.
Secretary Of State Brown cited a case
where a man worth $780, had never
contributed a cent toward the support
Of his wife, although she had been in
the asylum for years. and the Gov
ernor said that there were many such
cases.
DR.. Gardner said that it was a very
delicate question to decide as to who
should go and who should stay. He
would prefer to have a Superintend-
ent and member of the board with him
in considering the question. He advo-
Gated that the Superior Judges collect
the amount necessary for sustenance
when they make out their commit
the institutions to sue relatives in or
der to make them pay for maintenance
of inmates. He thought, also, that the
counties should be compelled to pay
80 per cent. of the amount needed for
the maintenance Of patients sent from
them. His asylum had made a general
reduction of salaries Of employees all
along the line, and equalizing those
n f1,a- ~ rrr~Ir
The difference in prices for the
same article was spoken of, and Secre-
tary of State Brown said that flour was
So 40 a barrel at San Quentin and 81 90
at Agnews and Stockton. Eggs at diff
ferent Institutions ranged from 1S to
% cents at the same time; potatoes
ranged from 80 cents to 81 10, and
there were many other differences.
Some OF the contracts had never been
sent to him, although the institutions
have been repeatedly asked for them.
He would hereafter refuse to allow bills
for such institutions until the contracts
were sent to the board.
The price of kerosene coming up DR..
Gardner stated, in response to a ques-
ton by the Governor, that the Mendo-
cino Asylum could be lighted by cleo
of 275 feet in the water supply.
He moved that the Governor appoint
a committee to investigate the matter
of equalizing the pay-rolls, a commit
tee to investigate those Illegally de-
tained, and a. committee to investigate
needed changes in the existing laws
Secretary Brown said that various
expenses in the different institutions
= l. cr-. t,l1f~
maintenance when they should be taken
from other funds 1t is done in order
that the whole appropriation may be
used up in order that the next Legisla-
ture may not cut it down. The jute bag
business is bolstered up at San Quentin
by money from the support fund.
YES" said the Governor, they have
t. do that under the idiotic law that
says they shall manufacture nothing
but jute at San Quentin, while the
Clerk tells me that every shoe needed
to supply the State institutions and al
the clothing needed in them could be
manufactured there to advantage If the
law did not prohibit it.
Yes" said Secretary Brown, "an6
they could manufacture brick at Napa
state institutions are Paying 50 and $1(
q thousand for brick, While Napa car
manufacture them for 81.
Mr.. Steffens thought that it would bt
better for the Superintendents and di-
rectors to jointly consider the proposed
changes than to appoint committees
Now" said the Governor, Statistics
show that the schoolmarms of the State
get only an average salary by the yeal
Of S3S a month Here are your attend
ants. Mr.. Stenens, who get $40. Ths
teachers have to pass years in study and
be well educated"
We'll" was the reply the attend,
ant earns more than the teacher does
as she works longer hours.
.They only work eight hours, that il
the State law. At Glen Ellen the nurses
work for twelve or fourteen hours ant
only get $50"
The Governor had got warmed up
and he and Secretary Of State Brown
had an animated discussion over thi
salaries OF superintendent OF asylums
The Governor said that plenty Of gooC
physicions could be engaged for muci
less salary than the Superintendent:
receive The Quarantine Officer a
San Francisco, he said, gets only 81,
500 year.
YES" said Mr.. Brown. but we nee