Year: 1861




That School Reform Matter.


Since it appears that the Governor is alto
gether dissatisfied with the Board of Trus
tees of the State Reform School, as at present
constituted, and will probably veto any bill
appropriating money to the institution while
in their charge. We would suggest to the Leg
islature the repeal of the clause in the State
Reform law making the term of office of the
Trustees two years. and the substitution OF
an amendment making the term one year,
only. We would also suggest that the ap-
pointment of the Trustees be in the hands of
the Governor or at least that the Govern
or have the power Of removing them.


a petition for something of this character
is now in circulation in the city and county,
and will have, we are told, many signers-
The position of the signers is this-that the
mere fact, that the Governor is dissatisfied
with the manner in which the present Board
has transacted its business and discharged its
duties, is no reason why the plan Of II State
Reform School, already so far progressed,
should be quashed and put an end to. They
think that the Governor will be satisfied
with q reconsttution of the Board, and, that
if the Board be so constituted as to inspire
him with confidence in the efforts of the
Trustees to compass the proper result, he will
not refuse his sanction to the necessary ap-
propriations for carrying on the work in
hand.


1t is our own opinion, certainly, that SO
honest and SO sensible a man as Governor
Downey unquestionably is, would not place
any obstacle in the way of a sincere and ca
pable effort to carry out the original inten-
tion Of the Legislature in providing for the
establishment Of this institution.


Under proper management-the Board of
Trustees being under the Executive control
to the extent of the power of removal on his
part-there is no reason why this State Re
form School should not be complete sue
cess. "What man has done, man may do"
and the fact that these institutions. both in
the old world and the new, have been sue
eessful and have produced great benefit TO
society, is a sufficient guaranty that any
reasonable exertion to carry out the project
of a State Reform School in California will
not be in vain. 1t needs only efficient action
on the part Of those whose business it is to
carry on the preliminary work, and, after
wards, the appointment of a capable Super
intendent and other officers, to take charge
of the operations of the institution.


1t seems to us the height of folly to leave
the matter where it now is, and, regardless
of all contracts, all expenses to the State, and
all the unforeseen consequences of a cessation
ofthe work, to stop the progress of the bull
ding at its present point, aud to throw away
not only the money already expended, but
the rich and valuable land, now in the pos
session Of the State for the purposes of the
institution. 1t would be serious loss to
the State. The richness of this land would
make the institution very nearly self-sus-
timing one, for there is scarcely any soil SUI
perior in the limits of the State The loca-
tion, too, is one of the finest in all the world
aud building of the character contemplated
upon the site chosen by the Commissioners
would be an ornament to the country. The
location of itself, without the presence, even,
of a building as fine, would command atten-
tion adI draw visitors from every quarter of
California. Commanding as it does a full
view of the Sierra Nevada and the Coast
Range, and looking up the Feather river to
the tall and beautiful Buttes brotherhood
of blue and breezy mountains, rising from the
middest of the plain, no prospect from any
quarter, could be more delightful, striking
and attractive. 1t would be pity, for the
sake of the location alone, if nothing else, to
lose such an opportunity as the present for
erecting public work that would so adorn
the country.


The building of this State Reform School
Is pet measure with the MarysyiTle people
aud with the people of all this section of the
State, and we trust that their feelings and
wishes in the matter will not be treated with
contempt.