The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-10
BUDD TO STRIKE
FOR ECONOMY
Radical Reforms Will Be
Recommended to the
Legislature.
Consolidation of Several State
Institutions Favored by the
Governor.
His Message Will Suggest That the
Army CT Public Servants Be
Reduced.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Dec. 9.-Gov-
ernor Budd has disappeared from public
view temporarily. When he reappears
his message to the coming Legislature
will have been promulgated.
Great as is the speculation and possible
dread among those who serve the people
in the various State institutions that the
coming document will mitigate against
their retention during the coming two
years, the reality will probably be more
disagreeable than the suspense. Those
who nave been in almost daily contact
with the Executive have strong grounds
for the surmise that all the State institu-
tons will receive thorough overhauling,
and the message will contain mass of
statistics not fattering to the business
ability of the managers.
He will recommend sweeping reduction
in expenses and the consolidation of sew
eral State institutions. This proposed
consolidation will include the State
prisons. and the Governor will probably
recommend the adjustment of San Quen-
tin, with one warden and host of guards.
The inmates of " hitter School, he be-
lieves, should be removed to Glen Ellen,
where they can be made almost self-sup-
porting by the establishment OF State
dairy and creamery, the girls going to
Preston ard the feeble-minded to Whit
tier. The Mendoeno Insane Asylum may
also receive attention, as there is no doubt
that the Governor considers it a useless
institution.
Another subject to be introduced will be
the fact that large percentage of the in
mates of the insane asylCms are not legally
entitled TO a home in these institutions,
yet they are and for years have been adj
mitted and cared for. He will recommend
that bill be passed abollshine existing
asylum boards and providing for one non
partisan board of from seven to nine men,
bers to control the entire system of lunatic
asylums. with power to employ one general
supervising head, who shall be an expert
and not otherwise connected with any of
the institutions.
The message may ignore all State COM
missions, with the possible exception of
the Bureau of Highways and the Code
Commission, which may receive favorable
recommendations the latter to continue
until its work be finished, but not for two
years. 1t is said that the message may
recommend that the Horticultural, With
cultural and Mining bureaus be handed
over to the control of the State Unive:-
sity.
Another matter which the Governor has
formally denounced is the granting of
bonuses to counties for the support of
their poor and INDECENT. These. he claims,
should be made matter of home support,
as the allowance from the State for each of
the aged poor on a countys roster is often
greater than the expense OF his mainten-
ance, leaving residue of profit and en-
couraging fictitious enlargement of the
roll.
The Soldiers Home at Yountville will
without doubt receive mention in the
message, with a recommendation that no
further appropriations be granted toward
its support until it becomes State insti-
tuition, and that the board of trustees be
formed of a majority to be selected by the
various Grand Army posts. The minority
TO be appointed by The Governor.
There will probably be a recommends
ton for an appropriation of SIS, 900 for
the settlement of coyote claims, those to
be paid in full where no doubt exists as to
their legality and the others to receive
strict investigation.
Should the refunding bill be mentioned
it will be adversely.
Among minor suggestions will be one
for the appointment of an expert for the
State Board of Examiners should the Su-
preme Court return an adverse opinion re-
garding the legality of the appointment of
Lewis.
The present banking system and the
method of collecting taxes throughout
the State may also receive mention.
In the matter of consolidation there
will also be included the recommendation
that the work of the Bureau of Public
Works. the Debris Commission and the
Bureau of Highways can all be performed
by one set of officials.
That there will be other and startling
revelations as to the present methods of
conducting the affairs of the State is as
sured, and knowing ones assert that the
Governors message will produce "a rat
Ting among dry bones.