The San Francisco call., 1897-10-08
PITZGERALD'S
SPICY LETTER
The Prison Director 0ffends
the Manufacturers
Association.
The Latter Complain to Gov
ernor J. II. Budd of the
Insult"
All of This Great Trouble Was Caused
by the Purchase of For
eign Coal.

During the last few week there has been
some lively correspondence between a
committee of the Manufacturers and Pro-
ducers' Association and r. NJ. Fitzgerald,
the Prison missioner. Every letter
sent from one to the other provoked any
thing but pleasant feelings and the last
from Fitzgerald was so offensive to the
members of the association that at meet
ing held yesterday it was decided to re-
port Mr.. Fitzgerald to the Governor of the
State.
The trouble came about in this way. In
August the Board of Prison Directors, OF
which Mr.. Fitzgerald is the president,
awarded to the agent of an Australian
coal company contract for 5000 tons OF
Australian coal for the use of the prison
at San Quentin and the price was So 80 per
ton. This action caused the manufactur-
ers much surprise, for there is State law
which requires that, price and quality be-
ing equal, the preference should De given
to all California prod ucts used in State in
stitutions. The directors of the associa-
tion lost no time In looking into The matter
and found that last year the Prison Di-
rectors had used California coal and that
so far as could be learned that article had
given satisfaction. Moreover, the home
eign article or about $1,000 less on the con-
tract, the California coal selling in the
market Tor So so per ton.
A committee of three was appointed by
the manufacturers to CORES pond with the
president of the Prison Directors and
learn the why and the wherefore of this.
At first the letters were very polite and
diplomatic, but as the questions and
answers became more pointed the corre-
spondence became more spicy, until the
inQulrers felt that they were really in
suited. The first answer was that the
reason the contract was given to the ior-
eign dealer was tnat the latter's coal
made more steam per pound than the
California coal did. The next inquiry
was for the experts figures, which nave
never be, n received.
1t was Mr.. Fitz! !erald's last letter that
caused the rumpus, for IN 1t he gave some
personal opinions that were not kindly
received by the directors OF the manufac-
turers. In it he said that he did not con-
sider the manufa cturers mad the right TO
question the acts OF the Prison Directors
o. the right 20 set themselves up as CEN
sors OF public officials and good many
other unpleasant things that were re-
garded as positively insulting.
At the meeting yesterday there were
present: President ]. w. Kerr, A. Nc
Laughlin, l.. K. Mead, a Sbartoro, c. r.
Alien, L. l.. Brown, Samuel Mckee and
j. 2. Carrier. After electing Edward
Everett as director (vice NJ. J. Keller) the
directors took up the matter Of the coal
correspondence and arrived at the conclu-
sior stated, that the replies of Mr.. Fitz.
gerald were insulting and unbecoming a
public official. 1t was further decided
that the matter be presented to Governor
Budd with the view of ascertaining
whether or not he approves OF the posi-
tion taken by one of his appointees. The
letter reads as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. Oct. z. 1897.
To His EJcetteRcy Hon. James II. BIdd, Cor
erRor Of California, SdcrcmeRto, Cdt.-DEAR SIR:
We In close herewith copies OF correspondence
between committee OF the Manufacturers
and Producers Association OF the State of Cal
ifornia and the Board of State Prison Direct
ors which is self-eXplanatory.
report was made by that committee to the
boa I'd OF directors of this ass oclation that the
replies of Mr.. Fitzgerald were OF such a char
scter that they dld not consider it their duty
TO hold any further communication wi tn him
in this matter
The board of directors at a meeting held this
day instructed the president to lay the matter
before Governor James II. Budd and respect
fully ask if the replies of Mr.. Fitzgerald meet
with his approval. You will note that Mr..
Fitzgerald denies the right OF this association
10 act as censors in relation TO any public
officers. In this connection l would S tate that
the laws of the State OF California provide
that price and quality being equal preference
should be given to California products by
those purchslng supplies Tor State 1nSIi!u-
tionS.
In view of this fact We believe that this
association, repre- ,enting as it does large
proportion OF the manufac iurers and produc-
ers OF the State of California was in purs u
ance OF its duty when itasked for the da ta
upon which a contract for 5000 tons of coal
had been given to representative OF O for
eign product in preference to California coal.
An eerlv reply is requested, as it may be
necessary for this association to lay this mat
ter before its entire membership. Respect
fully YOURS JAMES W. KERR
President Manufacturers and Producers
Association.
The eggs of the Bahama cuckoo are said