The San Francisco call., 1897-01-06

THE competition OF Eastern priSon-made
articles with the products of our own free
labor is a most grievOuS wrong These prod
ucts are sold in California without brand or
mark 10 distinguish them. While prisoners
should be compelled TO labor so to be self
supporting, thus relieving the taxpayers from
the burden of their support, beyond this point
they should not be permitted TO engage in re-
muneratiye work, and their efforts should he
so directed rs 10 produce the least friction
with free labor. - That there may be no
question as to what goods are and what
not prison-made we ought by law to require
all such to be plainly marked or STAN ped.
The number or quantity OF forelgn made goods
sold here is immense"
The Governor recommends the selling of the
Stale prison site and the consolidation of that
prison with that aI Folsom, where the State
has cheap Water-power.
Asyluns.
The message recommends a correction OF
lax laws governing asylums. The Governor
states thai there are many persons in the State
insane asylumS VINO are not dangerously In
sane and are not therefore, under the law, Ie-
gally entitled 10 home there at all. Many
are harmless dement's. Ii the law had been
complied with two asylums only, instead OF
three, would have been required.
The Governor pointedly says: This is what
we need-ihat the courts become very care
fuP-for in the Home for Feeble-minded at
| Glen Ellen over one-half of the inmates should
/ never have been committed"
Thousands in California have no greater
mental capacity than hundreds OF the so-called
| inmates in our asylums, and ii the State must
| maintain the class referred to, it Will be COM
PEELED to tax our people for the esta blishment
1 of more insane asylums There is,
! however no reason in State tax for class
which the law denies admission TO or reten-
! tion in our institutions. Insane asylums
should hold the insane and the insane only,
! and neither economy nor a just regard Tor the
/ good name OF our Stale Will tolerate the TeicD-
/ tion in these institutions of the other depend
ents there. If the State must main taln them,
! it is better 10 do so in an institution not
| called an insane asylum, but home for the
| dependent poor where they could by their
| work produce supplies for other State lnstltu-
! tiOnS and in part maintain themselves.
! Gas the increase OF the insane in the past
/ has been but 15G yearly in California, if we
discharge those not rightfully there we can
/ provide for all the probable insane for years
| 10 come in these three institutions" He
recommends the adoption OF the New York In
| sane asylum law OF 1893. Over $4,000 per
annum could be saved N asylums alone by
central Board controlling supplies and sal
aries. He states that contrary TO law Judges
commit to the G en- Ellen Home chronic
idiots and others incapable of being educated,
when the law expressly forbids the admis-
sion OF such patients. Hence large proper
tion OF the inmates are OF that class which it
! is neither the right nor the duty of the State
| 10 provide ior. "a law should be passed
making it q serious offense TO either commit
| to- or receive or maintain at any State insti-
| tuition persons not entitled under the law TO
| be committed to it The buildings at
/ Glen Ellen are in many respects totally un-
suited for the purposes for which they are now
/ used"
THE DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND.
The message calls attention to the fact that
! this institution is not required to advertise
! for bids for supplies, as is done by the other
/ Institutions OF the State. Students of our
/ State University, our normal schools and even
| our common schools support themselves or
/ are supported by their parents. 1t has never
! been hold to be the duty OF the State 10 sup
port them. At the institution Tor the deaf
! and dumb and blind, however, we find that
| the inmates are lodged and boarded al the
] cnlo q n n m a q
which few private institutions of the land can
| afford. The cost per cal pita is 1918 per annum,
| which does not include the produce OF the
tarm or dairy, or the contingent fund itself,
! as I am informed. In the case OF this institu-
/ tion believe II is the duly of the State to pro-
vide amply-nay. lberally-for It's inmates,
and l would not stint the appropriation in
! properly providing for them or for other
State wards. But I do not believe that we
/ should tax the people OF this State to pay the
| living expenses OF children OF well-to-do par
ents, who ought to be happy In having them
! educated in a State institution conducted so
/ ably and efficiently as this one"
State Printing Office.
"The expenses of the State Printing Office
/ are excessive, due largely to the system under
! whicn it is conducted" He suggests changes
in the law in the interest of economy. The
office could not, however. under present laws,
be conducted as economically as private con-
Germs.
Harbor Commission.
1.-THE improvement of the harbor front of
San Francisco during the past two years has
been considerable. and is receiving the COM
mendation of all disin crested persons familiar
with its condition. The dirty unhe althy and
dangerous condition OF the water 'front.' two
years ago, the sugg estive advertisements
posted everywhere, and loose method OF
business have given way TO a cleanly and safe
front. unequaHed for its healthy and orderly
! appearance by any harbor in the world. Ii
I States are Judged by the first impressions of
tourists and Immigrants, the judgment that
I VIII be passed on California by reason of these
| changes viii be much more favorable. To-day
the water front is easily and safely traversed
/ as the most fas hiona BILE portions of the City.
! I he system of buying supplies and doing work
| has greatly improved within the past year and
| half. Its number of employees is, however,
much too great.
The Board of State Harbor Commissioners
should consist OF five members, meeting BIZ
i monthly, the ineumbents TO hold until the
| expiration of their terms. During their term
OF service they should engage in no business
| other than that OF the State. Two members of
/ the board should be business men. Another
should be an engineer, and ex-otticio mem
! Der without extra pay, OF the Bureau OF High
ways, or OF SUCH other commission or board of
| this State as requires his services; and should
! be al the service OF such other departments of
/ the State for such engineering work AS would
! not interfere with his duties. The fourth
membe should be practical builder, and
ex-ofnclo without extra pay, be compelled to
supervise the construc tion OF State buildings,
! or be detailed for other duties. The fifth mem
/ her should be the Governor. The service that
4
| as a member OF other boards, or as consult
| ing engineer to the other institutions OF the
! State, would save many times his salary annu-
ally and the work OF the practical builder in
| advising the Governor, Secretary OF State and
/ State Treasurer on the adaptabiIity of plans
and specifications under the set OF 1876 and
| in superintending buildings on detail by the
! Stale Board of Examiners, or the board pro-
| yided for in the act cf 1876 would also save
many times his salary. There has oeen great
| loss in the construction OF buildings for the
| State by reason of faulty. work Improper
| materials and other causes during the past
and the amount paid for superintendence
! during recent years has been enormous
'sThe direction and managem mt OF the en-
| cheering portion of the waller front should
| be confided solely to competent engineer
holding office, as do the United States Govern.
ment engineers, during good benayioI; and
the supervision of ships, wharves. and the COL
| lection OF dues should be vested in a compe-
| tent chief wharfinger. The engineer and
| practical builder on the board would be able
at the shortest notice, at all times to properly
] advise the board of the amount and quality of
anS work done and the amount that should be
pal for it.
whether there be any further change or
not IN the wa.er 'front.' would especially
recommend that all bills or claims coatracted