The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16

day at San Quentin, Messrs. Hayes, De
Pue and Wilkens being present.
Governor Budd requested the board to
prevent deficit in finance in the follow
ing letter:
SACRAMENTO Aug. 3.
To the Honorable Board of State Prison Di-
rectorS-GENTLEMEN: Some six months ago
question was raised before the Board OF Exam
liners whether or not deficiency would arise
in the State Prison. We were assured by mem
bers of your board that no deficiency would be
incurred. My latest information is, however,
that one is now threatened, and therefore
desire to request you in time to prevent the
same as l doubt whether you will be able to
get an allowance for the same should 1t be
asked. Yours truly. JAMES ii. BUDD.
Director De Pue said that with the con-
sent of the board he would answer the
Governor and explain the situation. He
claimed there would be no deficiency If
the 1000, 600 jute bags on hand could be
sold, and as there was no doubt about the
sale he felt confident that the financial
affairs of San Quentin Prison would be
satisfactory.
Regarding the condition of the jnte
department, Warden Hale stated that
1850 900 grain bags were on hand. Since
January 1, 1885, 3020.5 535 bags had been
sold, 1884, 035 shipped, 26,500 sold and
awaiting shipment, 2,572, 500 were on hand
available for immediate sale. The num-
D6I VI sugar DdSS SOlQ was fLO, tOO, ShlppCQ
20. 400, sold awaiting shipment $4,000, on
hand 225. 500. to be manufactured 430,5
There were 1866 bales OF raw jute on hand,
quantity sufficient to keep the mills
running till January /, 1897.
The following testimonial, beautifully
engrossed. was signed and will be pre-
sented to ex-Directnr Neff:
WHEREAS The Hon. Jacob n. Neff, after
years of faithful service, has severed his con-
nection with the State Bosrd OF Prison Direc-
tors, and it is proper that this board should
place on record their appreciation OF the
valuable services rendered by him,
ReSotued, By the State Board of Prison Di-
rectors that tor the many years of gratuitous
services given by the Hon. Jacob H. Neff to
the State prisons of Califo mia, for the careful
and painstak attention he has given to all
the different matters that came before him in
that capacity, for the Kindness he has at all
times manifested tor the unfortunate persons
in prison over whom he had jurisdiction,
and for his kindly and courteous treatment
OF all with whom he came in contact he
is deserving of and possesses the gratitude
of the people of the State OF California.
In his Intercourse with his colleagues on
the board, his gentlemanly conduct, his
high sense of honor, his answering integrity
OF purpose, his wide knowledge of men and
affairs and his large fund of common-sense
made him an invaluable member, whose
counsels and assistance will be missed in all
the positions of honor and trust that he has
filled. He has ever attempted to perform his
duties faithfully, and in the difficult position
of State Prison Director, which growing
cares have compelled him to resign, he is en-
titled to the highest reward that can be paid
to iae11 We wish bim g0od s the
years that lie before him prosperity and happi-
ness, ard snail ever view with pleasure our
association with him as a colleague.
RESOLVED, That this resolution be spread upon
the minutes OF the board at San Quentin and
Folsom.
Warden Hale presented his reports for
the forty sixth and forty-seventh fiscal
years. These reports included the yearly
statements from the captain of the yard,
and the prison clerk. According to the
Warden's showing, the net cost for each
man was So 26 a month, or 30. 40 cents
day. The monthly average of prisoners
for the forty-sixth year was considerably
less than for the former year, it being
12871I against 1851.
Director Wilkins interrupted the War
den with remark regarding the commit
tai of prisoners from San Francisco. "Is
it not a fact,'' he asked, "that there are
scarcely any prisoners sent to San Quentin
from San Francisco? Nearly all convicts
from there are sent to Folsom. Is there
not some way by which we could bring
this to the attention of the Superior
Judges Of San Francisco, SO that more
prisoners might he committed to San
Quentin, where they are needed more
than at Folsom?"
One of the directors remarked that
Judge Wallace specified no particular
prison in committing convicts.
''The Sheriff gets two days ork out
of 1t when he takes a prisoner to Fol-
son." the Warden remarked. ''And that
explains the prediction to Folsom"
Reading of the report was resumed. The
physicians statement showed an increase
in the number of deaths, which was ac-
counted for by the prevalence OF pulmon.
ary troubles, three executions, one death
from knife wound and one suicide. In
this connection proper place for the care
and treatment of the partially insane con-
victs was recommended.
The report for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1896, contained some interesting
facts regarding the prison. During this
year 2,710, ,252 pounds of raw jute were
manufactured, and there was a loss of
1S1, 1897 pounds in manufacturing, or
691-10O0 per cent. The net cost of oper-
ating was $136, 262 98; net sales, $105, 106 81,
total loss on goods sold, 1928 45. Com
menting on this loss the Warden stated:
In the first place the Wilson tariff bill which
went into effect two years ago, placed grain
bags made in foreign countries on the free list,
and while this had the effect of reducing the
price of such bags imported in 1895 it does not
appear to have had the same effect upon the
price at which the raw material could then be
obtained.
The selling price of the prison bags in 1894
1
was made even at the high price we had to
paw for the raw material. For the season of
| 1895, however, bags were imported from CAL
cutta ct a greatly reduced figure, and while
YOUR honorable board endeavored to keep up
the price so as to save this institution from
| loss fixing at first at cents, then reducing it
to AZ and at last to 420 cents, the bag dealers
| and brokers of San Francisco arranged to
| undersel US all along ana the consequence
| was that the farmers did not place their orders
with us; our sales did not equal our manu-
| facture.
| Other causes for the low price were the
short grain crop and the Ostrom act, FIX
ing conditions of sale of bags. This law,
the Warden said, places the board always
| at disadvantage.
The turkeys report gave the average
monthly number of prisoners for the year
as 12793s, as against 1216l the previous
year.
The resident physician recommended
enlarged and improved bathing facilities
for prisoners, and also a suitable ward for
the partially insane prisoners.
Notwithstanding the extra expense of
constructing road IN Marin County,
which had to be paid out of the general
| APPROXIMATION fund the gross cost Of m ain