The San Francisco call., 1909-02-14
MAY INVESTIGATE
THE NAPA ASYLUM
AssembIyman Coghlan Is Not
Satisfied With Proposed
Appropriations
Says Provision for Certain
Items Was Made at the
Last Session
Especial Dispofck 10 The Call

OF COMMERCE BUILDING. SACRA
MENTO, Feb. l3.-Unless strong rea-
sons are advanced by the superinten-
dent and trustees of the Napa state
hospital for the insane, to justify ap-
propriations which they have asked
for, it is probable that Assemblyman
Nat c. Coghlan of San Francisco will
demand an investigation of affairs at
the institution. The legislator from
the Golden gate does not look with a
kindly eye on certain items in the pro-
posed appropriations for the institu-
tion because, he charges, adequate ap-
propriations We're made for the same
purpose at the last session Of the
legislature.
Bllls have been introduced in the
assembly asking for the usual appro-
priations to cover deficiencies and to
operate the institution for the next two
years. Besides these there are a num-
Der of measures carrying appropria-
tlons aggregating 100000 to be used
in the erection of cottages for patients,
the finishing of a general kitchen, the
erection of an auditorium, the purchase
of medical and surgical instruments
and the furnishing of certain buildings
now on the grounds. 1t is the latter
appropriations to which Coghlan takes
exception.
COGHLAN WANTS TO KNOW
superintendent Stone and the trus-
tees of the Napa asylum may deem
these appropriations necessary" said
Coghlan today, but before l will vote
in favor of them 1 want to know what
use was made of the money which we
appropriated at the last session for
these specific purposes. 1t is said that
the amounts appropriated were not
sufficient to complete the work, but
how do we know that? We granted all
that was asked and it was deemed
sufficient 1t may be possible that eer-
tain changes have made the work more
costly than was anticipated, but in my
opinion $4,000 or $4,000 would be
ample to make all repairs and finish all
necessary work at the hospital.
The asylum management has asked
for large appropriations to be expended
for the performance of the same work
for which we formerly appropriated
money, and l think that the distribution
and application of the funds should be
investigated by theeassembly.
MAY DEMAND INQUIRY
The only recommendation which
these bills carry at the present time is
the fact that they were introduced by
Mr.. Griff1ths, for whom ! have the high
est respect. I am in favor of being
generous in the upbuilding Of the
states institutions, but l am not in ia
vor of eXpending money uselessly.''
HWill you demand formal investi-
cation of affairs at the institution
Coghlan was asked.
Unless some one in authority ex-
plains what has been done with the
money already appropriated and can
show good cause for the appropriation
of these additional sums / will certainly
take steps to have the legislature in
formed about conditions at the institu-
ton" replied the statesman from the
forty first district.
Legislators on a Tour
NAPA, Feb. 13.-Junketing commit
tees from the senate and assembly, in
cluding Senators Price and B. F. Rush,
Assemblymen Griffiths, Pugh and 9TH
ers, visited the Napa state hospital this
morning on a tour of inspection. Su-
perintendent E. E. Stone showed the
legislators through the wards and about
the grounds of the asylum, and special
attention. was given to the new re-
ceiving ward in course of construction.
This afternoon the Legislators spent at
the veterans home at Yountville The
home of 500 veterans was inspected in
all departments. The new s25 900 reser-
voir. which insures an adequate supply
OF water for irrigating the grounds in
summer time, was examined and also
the new septic tanks being completed
to care for sewage at the home.
Promotes Oyster Farming
CALL HEADQUARTERS CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. 13.-Any citizen Of the
United States, ,ods cooperation tss terG, or 60
bill introduced by Senator Burnett use
$40 acres of the states tidelands for
the propagation of the toothsome oys-
ter Application for the use of the
tidelands are to be filed with the sur
veyor general and priority of applica-
ton will give the oyster farmer the
right to fence $40 acres and put down
his oyster beds without compensation
to the state.
Early Action on Amendments
CALL HEADQUARTERS, CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. 13.-TO enable the people
to secure promptly the advantages that
may accrue from the adoption of con-
stitutional amendments or propositions
that must be submitted to a vote of
the people, Senator Gaminetti proposes
by a bill he has introduced to submit
such questions at special elections to
be held on the first Monday in May
after the adjournment of the legisla-
ture submitting such amendments or
propositions. The practice in vogue
ments and propositions at the general
election following the session, which
involves a delay of more than a year
and a half before the popular will can
be recorded
Tax Foreign Companies
CALL HEADQUARTERS. CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO, Feb. 13.-Senator Bates has
introduced bill providing that all fire
Insurance companies operating in the
state which were not organized under
the laws of California should pay a
tax of per cent on the gross amount
of premiums collected in the state,
and that all foreign life insurance
companies should pay a tax of l per
cent of their gross premiums collected
in the state. This tax is over and
above all other taxes assessed TO the
insurance companies.
Irrigation Bill Opposed
IMPERIAL, Cal. Feb. 13.-Much in
dignation is aroused here by assembly
bin No 946 introduced by Johnson OF
san Diego which provides that holders
of land in the neighborhood of
canals of mutual water companies
can compel the companies to deliver
water for irrigation without acquiring
stock in the companies. The principle
embodied in this bill is believed to be
destructive to the mutual water COM
pa nies throughout the state Dele
ra4iopc from caUeral local ron, no :, :. o