The record-union., 1896-01-16
WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

In pointing out where the money Of
the taxpayers goes, the purpose of the
Record Union" is to show the facts
whether they stand for or against our
system of economies. Positively, how
ever, the Record Union" is convinced
that there is necessity for greater econ
omy, and that it must come upon
basis of reduction of all taxation, and
therefore a reduction of State and
county expenses, since prices Of wages
and products are steadily declining to
the Eastern level.
AS all statistical information is most
valuable when treated by comparison
OF figures and facts, we take as an ex-
ample Indicating a direction in which
economy may and must be conserved,
the prison expenses of California, COM
pared with those of the State of New
York While the facts show that our
ccnvicts do not cost US more per capita
on the whole than the prisoners of New
York cost that State, it is demonstrable
that as the burden of support in Cali
fornia is cast upon a few, as COM
pared to the many who contribute in
New York, and as the tax rate in New
York is upon a large total, while that
OF California is upon small total Gin
fact, the burden upon, Californians is
enormously greater than that falling
upon New Yorkers). we must look to
radical accommodation of our garment
to the capacity of our cloth. From
which the conclusion is inevitable that
the California prisons must be ire
formed by Introduction of such sys-
tenn of industries as viii bring them
pretty nearly level with self-support.
In California we have population
in round numbers of 100000 souls,
while New York has over six and half
millions Of people. The values upon
which are gathered the taxes Of the
people amount in California all told
to 81, ,133, ,2S2,013, while in New York
the taxable values aggregate 81, ,199,-
SS2, $50 or considerably more than three
times as much. Upon the assessable
values of California there is levied
tax of 68.5 cents, while in New York
the tax rate is 25.8 cents, in each case
on the S100.
Now New York has in her prisons
maintained by the State, exclusive Of
reformatories, 3,491 convicts, Of whom
1905 were employed in 1894 in voca-
tions that yield profit for the ex-
pense fund. For the maintenance Of
these prisoners New York expends on
the average $137 04 per capita per year
Her appropriations for her prisons are
in excess of receipts, $3.50, 147 0S. We
appropriate for the support of our two
prisons about $4,000 year.
The per capita average for main
taining convicts at San Quentin is,
per day, SO cents, and at Folsom 41.53
cents (plus).
The New York per capita per diem
cost is, including transportation Of pris-
oners to the prisons, 37.55 cents, while
in California the transportation Of
prisoners to the prisons, calling for an
appropriation of about 500 600 for two
years, is not included in the above per
capita
New York has a population five
times greater than that of California,
besides her assessment roll being more
than three times as great, but our con-
victs do not exceed a daily average of
1895. That is to say. we have only
1,496 prisoners fewer than New York.
The people of that State have one con
vict TO every 1852 of the population.
while in California we have one con-
vict to every 651 (minus) of the popula-
ton.
All which points the way for Califor-
MIA to put a check upon the going out
of the money of the taxpayers by MAX
ing the prisons largely self-supporting,
and thus cutting off much of heavy
biennial appropriation for the support
of men who do not work, by the sweat
of those who do.
SnNTE nTTESTTnES To RE AN