The San Francisco call., 1897-11-17
NO INQUIRY
AFTER ALL,
THE FUROR
Meeting of the Preston
School Trustees
Futile.
ADJOURNS WITHOUT
ACTION.
Governor Budd Informs the
Board That 1t Must Bear
Responsibility.
NEEDS OF THE HOME FOR
INCORRIGIBLES.
Found Lacking in Many Things
Which Would Add 10 Its
Effec iVene ess.
Governor Budd Informs the
Board That 1t Must Bear
Responsibility.
NEEDS OF THE HOME FOR
INCORRIGIBLES.
Found Lacking in Many Things
Which Would Add 10 Its
Effec iVeness.
speclai Dlspatch 70 TIE CALL.

SACRAMENTO, Nov. IS There was
quite hu.ter OF e1Dectancs this after
noon as The trustees o the Preston School
and Superintendent O'Brien met around
the Governors long table in the big
room. II was surmised that somethin
of tropical nature would develop, but
such was rot the results of Mr. TyrEelP
letter TO he Governor demanding aa in
Yestigation o. affairs al lone
1t was about o'clock when Senator
Preston, Mr. TyrrelI and l. j. Maddux
seated themselves in the comiorta bic
chairs Of the Governors office. Senator
Preston looked little worried, Mr.. Mad
dux was com placeni. while the doctor
wore LOOK oil grim determination. Il
there was anything momentous in the
meeting tie Governor certainly failed 10
realize it. He drew his chair up to the
table. adjusted his spectacles, and, open
ing an envtl1pe, from which he extracted
a carefully folded letter, read as fOi,ows ::
SACRAMENTO, Nv 16. 1897.
To the Trustees Of the PttstOR School Of Indus
try-5ESTLLAEN: You re appointed Under
the act 0. Febru,Iy, 1898, 0 manage The Pres
ton school of Indus .Ty, and charged ty sid
sct "wIt4 the general government and super
vision OF So I'd school"
Tne vernon OF the State is neither membe
OF you boa.d nor mas he authority 10 manage
sad ln-;ltu tion. His pow rs are merely su-
peryisory and advisory, 20 which end he may
require in4ormatIou from you upon any SUI
Ject relating 10 your duties. (Act V, section .,
CivlI Code.) But, as ! said II my sssge to
the Legis ature, III the Governor . 10 be he
responsible Tor the conduct OF the depart
ments whose ipcum bents he names, he should
be g ven controi OF those fdncuonaries." etc.
SUch control has not been given.
These observations are called for by the letter
OF one OF the trustees eskiag ior ali investiga-
tiou as to matters of wnlcu you should al al
times be in position TO furnish me l8iorma-
ton. You have stated meeting, are troug BIT
in con tact with superintendent, officers aud
students OF the school, ana hRG-the abuses
charged existed and why they did lot reach
your know edge and were not corrected | can
not lima gine Though not trustee, un er
my power as Governor, have since tak1y &
Office had the institution visited many times
and Its condition and management reported
to me. and you will remember that | have
discussed WITH you from time 10 time matters
] deemed required correction
Tue board OF examiners sent Secretary OF
State Brown and John MarkleT 10 investig te
aff4irs at the institution coming within its
powers ana IL is but one month since | called
YOU gentlemen together that we. might dis
cuss The affairs Of the institution, and theu
had Secretary of State Brown ana Mr.. Markley
both give you the benefit OF a report of their
visit.
| never interiered with the management,
never directly or tudlrectly suggested during
the two years Mr. Banks was superintendeu l
f. sin le appJinlee TO him, and since DR..
O'Brien's incumbency suggested not more
than TWO persons to him Tor appointment,
and then only when notified that vacancies
existed, or would exist, that must be flied.
Ny policy as to this and similar state institu-
tions was stated in my biennial message
when said:
II favor placing the insane asylums and
other similar Institutions OF the State abs .
lutelv upon a cfvil-seryIce basis, and Will CO.
Wy q hut q nd
Such law should provide tor an equalization
of the political complexion OF the present
officers and employees OF these institutions; /;
also prohibit ali officers and employees iron
being members OF a political convention. II
these institutions are 10 be conducted in the
interes OF the State and the unfortunates this
course should be pursued"
All that les in my power 10 do, except to
pardon the inmates and thus close the institu-
ton, has been done. | have requested your
presence to-day TO the pur pose OF requesting z
from you full information as TO the manner in
which the officers of your institution have
discharged their duties, and ss TO what, II any,
abuses exist or have existed in its manage
ment | desire TO notify you that under the
law on you rests the entire RESPONSE bility for
the proper management of such iustitu ton
! am responsible for your appointments.
Yours truly, JAMES Ii. BUDD.
As the Governor finished reading he
wore smile that conveyed worlds of
meaning. He handed to each of the trus.
said:
Now, gentlemen, if / can be OF any
service TO you in the matter shall be de-
lighted TO extend ii, but as the response
biity of running the institution rests en-
tireIy and alone upon your shoulders | do
not deem 1T my duty and 1T IS certainly
not my wish to rob you of any authority
conferred by law upon you as trustees Of
the Preston School OF Industry"
10 I
derstand II"
Mr.. Maddux made a similar observation,
but The doctor spoke not
81 believe, DR.. Tyrreil," said the Cover
nor your letter addressed to me de-.
manded an invest cation, did it not2'
Il believe il DID," replied the octor,
"but did not understand my position as
trustee"
"Well, l hope you understand it now,
DOCTOR" answered the Governor with
such a gentle tenderness and sympathy
that the doctor said, Eyes, sir" and qui-
ellv put his copy of the letter away in his
inside pocket.
Now, gentlemen" continued the Gov
ernor, softly, II am at your service"
The silence which followed this proffer
OF assistance was long and painful. The
expected storm turned out to be one Of
the most beautiful and placid Gains tn at
ever lay upon the bosom of Mirror Lake
"Of course, you und erstand," continued
the Governor. "that | am responsible TO
the Legislature only so far as the law
holds mo res sponsible. and you, of course.
know that un Ter the present law cannot
be held TO answer for the conduct of an
institution where l am powerless 10 re-
move. | am, of course, responsible for
you as trustees and you In turn are
responsible for the proper exercise OF your
trust. Now Is there anything more?"
This question came with the same ten
derness The Governor had shown from the
start. but ii brought o response and there
was another period OF subj me silence.
IL have, by the way, a letter from the
secretary, which l will turn over to you.
Mr.. President" and the Governor handed
letter to Senator Preston. II was from
Secretary Bernard and begged for a chance
10 yindicaie himself upon the charges OF