The San Francisco call., 1905-02-08
Special Dispatch to The Call.


SACRAMENTO. Feb. w. Almont
Gates, secretary of the State Board of
| Charities and Corrections, has destroy
| ed his usefulness as a public servant
| in the opinion of the Senate committee
| appointed to investigate various insti-
| tutions of the State. This committee
| composed of Woodward, chairman;
| Muenter. Haskins, Sanford, Coggins
and McKee-recommends that Gates
| be dismissed from office forthwith. 1t
was the intention of the committee to
| recommend to the Senate that if the
/ Board of Charities refuses to consent
! to his dismissal the Senate here
| after deny any appropriation for the
payment of his salary. but this recon-
| mendation was stricken from the re-
| port after the opinion was reached
| that the board would doubtless
acquiesce in the views of the committee
and that an implied threat in the re-
| port was unnecessary. Regarding
| Gates the committee says:
While possibly it may not be within the
province OF the committee, the committee
es nos reirain from commenting on the executive
oIncer and secretary of the State Board of
Charities
From information that has come to this com
Hittee We conclude that the members of the
State Board Of Charities all most estimable
gentlemen having at heart the welfare and
upbuilding OF the State institutions under their
supervision II any criticism can be made
1t is that they have placed too much authority
IN the hands Of their secretary, who. in the
Judgment of this committee misconceives his
duties. He has apparently assumed the role
of Hawkshaw or Pnkerton detective and
seems to feel that IL is his duty to ferret out
all little errors OF judgment or delinquencies
of the management of the various institutions
to which he has access and hold the manage
ment OF these institutions up to public criti-
cism and condemnation not deserved. instead
of kindly pointing out these errors and show
ing the managers how they can be improved
upon and corrected. His methods have been
such that he has aroused spirit of resentment
and rebellion so to speak in these institutions
against his methods and created such hostility
that this committee is of the opinion that his
usefulness as a State officer Is at an end and
his future services should be dispensed with.
COMMITTEES REPORT.
This committee, which left Sacra-
mento on it's tour of inspection on
January 26. returning on the 1st inst,
visited the State School at Whittier,
the 'nrmal School at Los Angeles, the
State Hospital at Patton, the Normal
School and Quarantine Station at San
Diego, the Polytechnic School at San
Luis Obispo, the State Hospital at
Agnews and the Normal School at San
Jose. Regarding these institutions the
committee reported in part as follows:
Your committee visited the Normal School
at Los Angeles CAL and made a careful in
spection of the building and grounds. We
found the building in a bad condition and
hardly suitable for the purposes intended As
business proposition 1t would not pay the
State to go to the expense of putting the
building in proper condition. The present. site
is near the center OF town and could be sold
for sufficient sum to build modern up to-
date building. We would therefore recommend
that site be secured and that the pres
ent one be sold and the money from the sale
ing upon different site As it would take
some time to erect new building. small
amount of money should be appropriated to
repair the roof and floor to make said old
building tenantabe until the new structure is
ready for occupancy.
The inspection of the Whittier School was
pleasant and agreeable surprise We found
the grounds and buildings in good order the
discipline all that could be wished for and
mates and the superintendent. who exercises
a wholesome and moral supervision over both
superintendent that the of 5000 be ap-
propriated to furnish the girls cottage known
Committee of the greatest necessity OF Ths rhs
committee also recommends an appropriation
present plumbing in the main buildings; also
the sum of $4,000 for the construction OF
reservoir to store the the water now available
! We found the San Diego Normal School one
of the best arranged school buildings in the
State and suitable in every way for the work
intended The grounds should be fenced and
improved; an appropriation of $4,000 being
ample to begin with The The sewerage is bad
u
to properly connect the building with the city
sewer system.
Your committee arrived at the Southern
State Hospital located near Patton station
in San Bernardino County. on Sunday Janu-
ary 90 1905 at p. m, and at this time de-
sires to express Its qualification and to com
mend the work OF this particular institution
and to especially comment upon the business
like ability Of its superintendent as demons
strated by him to this committee
ENLARGE ASYLUMS.
The asylum at the time of our visit con-
tanned total of 500 patients or this nun
her 577 were males and 322 females Your
committee found large number OF patients
sleeping in the corridors and railways and
that there are enough of these unfortunates to
fill new ward building as as Completed
The completion of additional wing wouid
therefore leave the hospital in a much better
condition and add much to the comfort of its
inmates. Therefore your committee recon-
mends that Senate bill 464 introduced by SEN
ator Leeke providing for the building eouin
ping and furnishing of wing to said institu-
ton. making an appropriation of $65 600 there
for. do pass and be approved by his excel
lencv the Hon. George c. Pardee the Cow
ernor of the State Of California.
The San Luis Obispo Polytechnic School was
opened to pupils last July and as the State
is thus committed to this policy the only thing
10 do is to erect the other buildings necessary
To carry on this line of work properly
The buildings and grounds of the San lose
Normal School are in good condition The
seem economy in the long run to erect
library building and gymnasium the base
ment to be used for gymnasium and the
upper part for library purposes.