The San Francisco call., 1905-01-04

California has been less fortunate than
Missouri Minnesota and number OF
other States, which make their prisons
self-supporting, or even operate them
at q profit; nor is it to be expected
such results can be achieved under the
conditions prevailing here. Indeed, 1t
is doubted by many il anywhere the
operation of prison at a profit Ia con-
sistent with the highest regard for the
interests of the prisoners or Of the
public. But Folsom Prison has no
productive industry except the crush
ing and sale of macadam rock, which
has returned a profit Of only q few
thousand dollars year, and even this
business Is now threatened by the ex-
haustion Of the quarry.
The strongest argument for the es-
tablishment of a prison at Folsom was
the industrial one, since 1t was antici-
pated that the granite Quarries would
be the basis Of a remunerative indus
try. This expectation was never full
filled, the sales of granite in former
years seldom exceeding $4,000 per an
mum and never going above $21, 900.
For some years the sale of prison-cut
granite has been forbidden by law. If
new buildings and a wall are con-
structed the employment problem will
solve itself for some time to come, but
eventually a new industry, or indus
tries, must be found for this prison. At
San Quentin the jutemill gives en-
ployment to about 800 of the 1900 pris-
oners and runs at a profit, ordinarily,
of $40, 900 or $4,000 year.
It costs the State about $250.000 annu-
ally to maintain its prisons, and 1t Is
desirable that the prison earnings
should be as large as they can properly
be made, in order that the taxpayers
may be spared, but profit does not ap-
pear to have been considered desirable
when the laws fixing prices Of prison
products were framed. The selling
price of jute bags must be not more
than one cent per bag in excess Of
actual cost, not counting the value Of
convict labor. and macadam rock Is to
be sold at not more than ten per cent
above the cost of production. The
price actually charged Is thirty cents
per ton. A valid objection to this poll
icy is that 1t renders 1t Impossible to
afford prisoners an opportunity to earn
a little money on their own account,
which they may save and receive when
they are discharged. and thus go out
with some experience of the habits Of
voluntary industry and thrift
It seems probable that the best solu-
ton Of the prison labor problem will
be found in the New York system Of
State institutions, whereby employment
can be diversified, and at the same
time direct competition with free labor
be avoided.
These two schools constitute the
present reformatory institutions OF
California, as distinguished from the
penal. There is some increase In num-
bers of the youths committed. but
not out of proportion to the numerical
N nf Hn 10 re he C<ot
Indeed, we may look with hopeful
anticipation to a decrease in the NUM-
Der of commitments as our systems
OF juvenile courts, detention homes, and
probation officers become more gener-
ally and efficiently organized. The
aim of those in authority, and especi-
ally of parents, should be to keep
children away from such institutions
rather than to encourage their commit
ment. The best place for an erring, If
not incorrigible or criminal, lad or lass
Is in the paterna1 home, or, lacking this,
in the home OF some reputable citizen
possessed of rugged will accom-
panied by reasonable forbearance.
There are few higher claims which con-
siderations Of humanity impose upon
good citizenship than that of redeem
ing to honorable and fruitful living our
wayward youths and children.
SER
vice collectively 1t must adequately
capitalize and equip the institutions es-
tablished for that purpose. This has
not been fully done. The schools at
both lone and Whittier are inadeuuate-
ly supplied with teachers and appar-
atus, and 1t is my Judgment that both
Of these schools should be made essen
TALLY agricultural in theory and in
practice. 1t would be possible on the
school farms as they now exist, with
the proper instructors and equipment,
to teach the lads committed to them
at least the elements of scientific agri-
culture. including dairying. poultry
raising, fruit-growing, and market
gardening, and to these ends the indus
trial features should mainly tend. I
believe that the most fortunate results
would attend such a policy, but some
additional means will be required to
carry 1t out.
In relation to the redemption of way
ward girls I cannot speak with so
much confidence. That problem is es-
sentially different from the reclamation
OF a wayward boy and I am not sure
that public institution can bring to
bear upon the subject in hand all those
personal influences which make for the
salvation Of those under its charge. 1t
may be that better way would be to
COIuIllI SUCH young WOfneu TO DeueyO-
lent institutions provided for that pur-
pose, choice to be made in the dis
erection OF the court, the expense to be
borne by the State and county as now.
such institutions to be subjected to
State and judicial inspection. The ex-
pense to the taxpayers would be one
half less per capita than at present and
the results are not unlikely to be more
fortunate.
In the event of such course being
found advisable, the buildings now
constituting the Girls School at Whit
tier could be made available for bows
OF q certain grade, thereby facilitating
a much needed further graduation and
distribution of the boys with regard to
their ages and degrees OF delinquency.
WHITTIER REFORM
Gru00T, STD TErn