USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 42
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Table Fourteen-Gives the expenditures per month, other than for main- taining cost, aggregating fifty-six thousand six hundred and ninety-nine and seventy-eight one-hundredths dollars.
Table Fifteen-Specifies the items making up the sum total as shown in table fourteen.
At the conclusion will be found a statement of assets and liabilities. This is the general balance sheet, showing assets and liabilities. The liabilities are, of course, set down correctly, but the assets are in no case supposed to represent the true value of the property on hand, except in the case of goods in store. To illustrate: in the case of live stock the real value is, I suppose, about three thousand five hundred dollars, while it is set down at one hun- dred and seventy-five dollars. This comes from the complete system of book- keeping by which purchases and sales are recorded, showing finally that the original cost has been as represented in the schedule. This result has been reached mainly by the purchase of hogs at a less price than sold for, they being bought light and increased in weight by fattening.
Labor of Convicts, other than those employed by Contractors outside the walls .- Brick-yard and excavations, 180; blacksmiths, 6; Butchers, 2; Car- penters, 4; cart drivers, 16; cooks for officers, 3; commissary department, 8; clerk's office, 2; gardeners, 10; kitchen help, 7; stable, 7; sweepers, 4; servants, 16; waiters, officers' dining-room, 4; wood-yard, 4; wash-house, 5; Warden's office, 4; Warden's residence and gardens, 10; total 292.
Labor Inside the Walls-other than Contract Labor .- Bath-tenders, 2; brick-layers's gang, 10; barber shops, 12; boiler houses (2), 10; coopers, 2;
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cooks, 18; closet cleaners, 12; Captain of the Yard's office, 5; dining-room, 38; door tenders, 14; donkey engine, 3; engine-room, 3; gate-keepers, 8; gate, upper, 3; gate, lower, 3; hospital cooks, 5; Hood's gang, 7; hospital help, 8; lamp-room, 3; library and school-room, 95; mortar mixers and carriers, 6; mattress makers, 3; painters, 5; plumbers, 4; room tenders, 12; shoe shop, 20; tailor shop, 10; tin shop, 5; turnkey's office, 4; wood-yard, 4; white-washers, 5: wash-house, 45; yard sweepers, 14; total inside, 394 ; total outside, 292. Total employed for State and at school, 686. Of this num- ber about 85 are kept at school, the whole of them being boys; leaving the number who labor other than for contractors, 601. Whole num- ber employed inside the shops, on an average, 300; inside in other capacities, 394; outside in various capacities, 292; total number employed, 986.
This leaves a surplus of over five hundred that must be kept in close con- finement. We recognize the great wrong thus done these prisoners, but we are powerless to remedy the evil. It will be understood that all attempts at order and discipline with five hundred convicts at large in the prison- yard would be absolutely futile. We do the best we can for these convicts by letting out a limited number at a time for exercise by walking between the cells and in the rear yard of the prison. It will also be seen that in every case, except in the shop labor, we put on all the force possible to crowd in. This is not done because the work is done better or even so well with large gangs, but to give the prisoners exercise and air. In many cases one-quarter of the force employed would do the work better. Much of the labor done by these men is of a purely penal nature, and for exercise and air, being of little utility, and bringing no return.
Turnkey's Report .- From the Turnkey's report, Table I, it will be seen that the total number of prisoners received at this institution since its foun- dation, in 1851, has been nine thousand three hundred and twenty, and that the total discharges have been seven thousand seven hundred and fifty- six, leaving now in prison one thousand five hundred and sixty-four :-
There remained in prison on the 1st of July, 1877, 1,318; received to July 1, 1878, 715; received to July 1, 1879, 604; total 2,637. Dis- charged to July 1, 1878, 546; discharged to July 1, 1879, 527; total discharged, 1,073; total remaining in prison July 1, 1879, 1,564. It will be seen that the increase for two years has been 246.
Table II-Shows the receipts and discharges for each month, and the number on hand.
Table III - Gives the nativity of prisoners. To this table I call especial attention, particularly the nativity of the foreign criminals, and the percentage from each country. This table, just as here presented, would be a powerful argument with which to met our Eastern friends, who think Chinese immigration a blessing. It will be seen that our population is :-
Foreign, 731; American-United States, 833; total, 1,564; of which 267
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are Chinese. Percentage of American-United States, 53.20; percentage of foreign, 46.80; total 100.
Table IV-Makes a classification of crimes, for which prisoners have been convicted, and the number to each. From this table it will be seen that over five hundred prisoners, one third, nearly, of all, came here for burglary and other crimes connected with burglary and attempts at burglary. It will also be seen that two hundred and nineteen are here for highway rob- bery and attempts at robbery. I call especial attention to these two classes, and beg to suggest that their punishment is not sufficiently severe to deter the regular professional from engaging in his calling. There are large num- bers of burglars here serving out sentences, ranging in duration from one to two years; and there are large numbers of highwaymen here who stopped stages and travelers, intending to take life if they encountered resistance, . serving sentences of from three years up. This appears wrong, and it is wrong, but it may be partially remedied by proper legislation, and prison life made laborious.
Table V-Gives the terms of imprisonment and number to each term.
Under this table, the fact will be noticed that ninety-seven prisoners are held for life. This, I believe to be wrong, for to every one should be left grounds for hope that some day they may be free. This applies to those who are in for thirty and forty years, and who in the regular course of nature can only be set free by death. A little conditional clemency by the Executive would light up the gloomy hearts of these wretched men with a hope that would at least drive out despair. This must be done to make any- thing of them other than brooding, plotting, unreliable, unsafe, treacherous, and unhappy criminals. This is natural, for the prisoner who despairs of ever earning his freedom, only awaits his opportunity for murder, if thereby he has the least chance of escape.
Table VI-Gives the ages of the prisoners.
From this table it will be seen that there are four hundred and seventy prisoners twenty-five years old and under ; two hundred and seventy- three, twenty-two years old and under ; two hundred and two, twenty-one years and under ; one hundred and forty-four, twenty years and under ; one hundred and one nineteen years old and under; sixty-nine, eighteen years and under ; thirty-six, seventeen years and under; eighteen, sixteen years and under ; seven, fifteen years and under, and two children of fourteen.
It is safe to estimate that seventy-five per cent. of these unfortunate boys have been exiled from home, to adopt a course of crime, by the drunkenness and cruelty of parents.
They nearly all tell the same tale of misery, want, intemperance, parental neglect, and cruelty. If it is the fault of the laws and of society that these boys have become criminals, then they should be peculiarly the care of the
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public whose fault is their ruin. Idleness in almost every case has proved the downfall of these boys, nor has this resulted from their own choice, but because employment could not be obtained. The work they would gladly have done has been performed by the Chinaman, and they have been turned from door to door until despair and absolute want have driven them to the commission of crime. In nearly all cases theirs were crimes against property, such as are only committed by the suffering-those in want of shelter, clothing, and food. Less whisky and more work would have saved nearly all of these boys to society, many of them to become its best ornaments and most useful men.
Table VII-Gives the educational condition of the prisoners.
Table VIII-Gives the number of prisoners from each county in the State.
It will here be seen that San Francisco sends to the State Prison five hun- dred and twenty-five ; Alameda sends sixty-three; Los Angeles sends sixty- four ; Sacramento sends eighty-six; San Joaquin sends eighty-four ; Sacra- mento and San Joaquin have the largest per centage of criminals; Los Angeles and Alameda next ; Del Norte, Alpine, and Trinity being the lowest, and Sutter next.
Table IX-Gives the former occupation of the prisoners.
It appears from this table that an exceedingly undue proportion of cooks have been so unfortunate as to commit crimes, the number being set down at one hundred and four. It also appears that six hundred and forty-eight give their calling as that of laborer. It would be safe to estimate that not ten per cent. of the number ever earned a living by labor, hence they are convicts.
Table X-Gives the number of returns, and how often.
From this table it appears that two prisoners are serving out their seventh term ; four, their sixth ; fifteen, their fifth; twenty-four, their fourth ; eighty-two, their third, and two hundred and fifty, their second. From this it will be seen that of one thousand five hundred and fifty-four prisoners, three hundred and seventy-seven have been returned and are serving beyond their first terms. It appears from this that not quite one-fourth are now serving other than their first sentences.
At the Auburn Penitentiary, New York, there are one thousand one hun- dred and ninety-three, of whom two hundred and eighteen are serving beyond their first sentence. This is nearly the same percentage as ours, but not quite so large. At the Clinton (New York) penitentiary there are three hundred and sixty-five convicts, one hundred and eighteen serving beyond their first sentence. This shows a very much larger percentage of returns than is found in our prison, being a fraction less than one-third of the whole. I am unable to find any record of the returns to the Sing Sing Prison, although I have the latest annual report of the Warden and Super- intendent.
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Table XI-Is an exhibit of the workings of the "Goodwin Credit Bill,", passed by the last Legislature. The change from the law of 1864 is not great, chiefly benefiting three, four and five-year convicts .. The law as it now stands is an exact copy, so far as the credits are concerned, of the law governing the same subject in New York. I believe it to be a good law, and that it should be allowed to remain without amendment.
Table XII-Gives the amount of clothing, shoes, hats, and bedding issued to convicts.
Following the Turnkey's report will be found that of the Moral Instructor, to which I refer with great pleasure. The report is so complete within itself I need do no more than refer to it, and to express my entire satisfaction with the good results obtained by the unremitting care and attention of that faithful officer.
Lastly, I refer to the very able report of Dr. Pelham, the Prison Physi- cian. Like that of the Moral Instructor, it is so full and complete within itself that it needs no explanatory remarks.
Before closing this report, I respectfully call attention to the law passed four years ago, and known as the "Giffen Bill." This Act is, in many of its provisions, in direct conflict with the new Constitution, and, to prevent complication, ought to be repealed at the earliest time possible. Even had the new Constitution never been adopted this law, in my judgment, would have resulted in nothing good, but would have been productive of much evil. Two years ago I recommended its repeal, believing then, as I do now that if allowed to remain on the statute book until the first of January, 1880, the time fixed for it to take effect, that evil would result from it.
In closing this report I congratulate the faithful officers here upon the provisions of the new Constitution, setting the prison management beyond the uncertainties of political strife, and making it a non-partisan institution. The people's decision, that a man's qualifications for prison management shall not be determined by his politics, will, doubtless, abate the severity of the machine and cause the selection of the fittest. I hope for good results under the new system about to be inaugurated.
Report of the Moral Instructor .- The school and library department of the prison was reorganized and placed under the present management on the 13th day of May, 1878, at which time there were enrolled fifty-four pupils. The whole number enrolled as members of the prison school to June 30, 1879, is one hundred and forty-six. The ages of the young men who have been under instruction range from eighteen to twenty-two years; the average age is about eighteen years.
The school is divided into five classes, and for each class a competent teacher has been appointed. Great care has been exercised in the selection of teachers. Several had had some experience in teaching previous to their
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imprisonment, and each has labored faithfully and efficiently in the dis- charge of the important duties assigned him.
The greater number of the boys enrolled had received but little or no education; twenty-six were unable to read or write at the time of their commitment; fifty were only able to read imperfectly in the first reader; fifty-two had some knowledge of the first principles of arithmetic, while but eighteen had made that degree of advancement in their studies which might reasonably be expected of boys twelve years of age during one year's regular attendance at any well conducted school.
The nativity of the pupils is classified as follows :- Native born of native parentage, forty; native born of foreign parentage, seventy-seven; foreign born, twenty-nine. Total, one hundred and forty six.
Nearly all the boys admitted to the school had been convicted of burglary or grand larceny, and sentenced to imprisonment for terms ranging from one to three years. A very large proportion of them appear to have never been subjected to parental control or home training. They had never been given any regular employment, taught to work, nor required to attend school.
Thus, free from restraint, permitted to mingle freely with the criminal class, and left without intellectual or moral training, it is no cause for sur- prise that so many neglected and unfortunate boys become criminals who, under more favorable circumstances, might have become useful members of society.
The boys in general had never attended school a sufficient length of time to derive much benefit therefrom, and had neither the knowledge, the habits, nor the inclinations of scholars; neither had they any just appreciation of the value of mental culture. Under these circumstances their deportment has been better and their advancement greater than we had reason to expect. The intellectual advancement of many has been truly gratifying to all who feel an interest in their welfare.
Mental training has had its usual beneficial influence, and doubtless some improvement has also been made morally as well as intellectually. They have been separated as far as practicable from older and more hardened criminals, and required to pass each day, under the supervision of the teachers selected, with direct reference to mental and moral characteristics, as well as to their literary acquirements. And while they have been rendered temperate in their habits by necessity; prohibited the use of profane and obscene language; and compelled to present the appearance of sobriety and respectability, some at least have been prepared to carry away with them their acquired good habits, and afterwards to practice through choice the habits at first enforced and afterwards rendered easy and familiar by con- tinued practice.
But while it is true that some good results have been attained, it is also
freeman
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evident that a prison is a very poor place for the moral and intellectual training of children, and it is greatly to be desired that discretionary power be given to magistrates to use other means of punishment than imprison- ment in the case of juvenile offenders. The Prison library contains 3,118 volumes, among which are to be found many standard works on history, biography, travels, science, theology, poetry, and general literature. The present collection has been made up principally from donations of books made by the Mercantile, Mechanics' Institute, and Odd Fellows' Libraries, and from private contributions by the friends of prison reform in San Fran- cisco and elsewhere.
A valuable and popular department of the library consists of several hundred bound volumes of magazines. The periodicals contributed and col- lected from various sources have been assorted, arranged, and bound into volumes in the book-bindery connected with the library, where several prisoners have been constantly employed in binding and repairing books.
The privileges of the library are extended to all the prisoners who com- ply with its rules and regulations, and its influence has been highly bene- ficial. From the want of sufficient employment in the workshops a large proportion of the prisoners have been compelled to spend most of their time in their cells, and to these the privilege of drawing books to give them mental employment is invaluable.
Many have thus acquired a taste for reading, and have become familiar with the works of the best authors; others have made an earnest effort to remedy the defects of their early education, and, with such assistance as was available, have made good progress in their studies ; while others have made a special study of some foreign language, or of some branch of natural science, theology, or mathematics, and have added greatly to their knowledge of these different subjects.
The prisoners who have thus availed themselves of the facilities proffered to them have not only improved their tastes and acquired an increased store of knowledge, but have also strengthened their mental powers, and have been in some measure prepared to regain the confidence and esteem of their fellow-men, and to become industrious and useful citizens.
If the library did nothing more than to afford an occasional hour of relief and pleasure to the prisoners it would indeed be doing a good work, but it effects much more than this; the works of the best authors diligently read in most of the prison cells cheer many a sad life with glimpses of other scenes and better things.
The religious services have invariably been attended by as many prison- ers as could obtain seats in the chapel. Respectful attention has always been given to the clergymen of different denominations who have volun- teered to visit the Prison alternately, and instruct the prisoners in religious truths. Several of these gentlemen have, for many years, been accustomed
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to visit the Prison regularly, and conduct the religious services, and are highly esteemed by the prisoners. Many appear to have been deeply im- pressed with the instructions received, and strengthened in their resolutions to return to a course of sobriety and virtuous industry, and encouraged to undertake and make efforts to persevere in an honest way of living.
To the volunteer clergymen, and especially to the General Agent of the Prison Commission, we are greatly indebted for their faithful and punctual attendance at the hour set apart for religious worship, and also for a large supply of books, magazines, and newspapers, collected from various sources and forwarded to the Prison library.
Prisoners have been furnished with stationery without charge, and encouraged to write letters to their friends as often as they have thought necessary. All letters written by prisoners, and also those addressed to them and received at the Prison, have been carefully examined ; and the number thus received during the year has averaged about 2,300 a month.
During the past year, transportation to their former residence or else- where has been provided for two hundred and six discharged prisoners; of which number I have been given tickets,-two to British Columbia, fifteen to Oregon, three to Washington Territory, sixteen to Nevada, and one hun- dred and seventy to various points in California.
Medical Department Report .- In submitting for your consideration my biennial report pertaining to the medical department of the California State Prison, I will glance at certain matters of complaint and suggestions of improvement to be made in its condition, to which your attention was called in my last biennial report. The condition of embarrassment, inconvenience, and annoyance existing at that time, resulting from the preceding disastrous fire, have all, happily, been dissipated by the wisdom and energy of your Board, the liberality of the Legislature in affording the necessary appropria- tion of money, and the efficient, prudent, and active zeal of the Warden and other officers of the Prison, whose duty it was to bring order out of chaos. As one of the results, the medical department is now amply supplied with all the room required, and all the improvements and material called for by me in the report referred to, and also sufficient cell capacity for the accommoda- tion of all the convicts. Notwithstanding so much has been accomplished, and the time and energy of those properly in charge has been taxed at all times to their full capacity, there still remains unprovided for the matter of the guards' quarters, which was referred to by me in my last report in the following words :-
" The sleeping apartments assigned to the night guards are not sufficient in space or ventilation for the demands of health, and the main draught of air that reaches them is blown over the surface drainage of the kitchen and a contiguous lot of old decaying shed-rooms about two hundred feet. in length, that stand against the outside of the south part of the east prison
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wall, their contents adding to the impurity of the atmosphere. It is neces- sary that these sleeping rooms should be less "crowded and better ventilated, and that the old buildings referred to, together with the officers' water-closet be removed, and that different arrangements be made for the vegetable depot, which at present is one of the shed-rooms mentioned."
Occupying a position that necessarily brings me in close contact with the convicts, affording me ample opportunity for observation, and influencing only in a slight degree their management, control, and discipline, being to some extent an independent observer, it is with pleasure, not divested entirely of pride, I notice that there has been a marked and very great improvement effected during this administration in the discipline and gov- ernment of the Prison, and the disposition of the prisoners. This happy state of affairs is due to the attention given to the subject by the Directors, the efficiency and the humane disposition of the Warden, and the energy and zeal of the officers in the discharge of their respective duties. An impor- tant factor in producing this desirable change, is the introduction of the sys- tem of credits for good behavior provided for in a law of the last Legislature commonly known as the " Goodwin Bill." The operation of this law effected a marked change for the better in the deportment of the convicts, and therein greatly aided the officers in enforcing discipline and lessening at once the number of cases necessitating corporal punishment, and resulted also in improving their sanitary condition, for it is a well-known fact that the men- tal status of the prisoners materially affects the vital organs, and that the death rate and disability list is influenced greatly by a tendency to cheer- fulness, contentment, etc. From observations of its practical effects, it is evident to me that it is an excellent law, happy in its influence for good, and lessening positively the arduous labors of the officers whose duty it is to maintain order and enforce discipline, accomplishing all these ends without producing that degree of degradation which educates convicts to become utterly outlaws and desperadoes.
I have to report a great change for the better in the habits of the convicts in reference to the loathsome and degrading crime of self-abuse and its kin- dred associations, which I referred to in my last report as prevailing at that time, from which the following is an extract :-
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