To the Honorable Senate and Assembly of the State of California : Mr. PRESIDENT: In the consideration of prison matters, in the joint report of the Senate and Assembly Committees on State Prison and Prison Building, already submitted to the Legislature, your committee had but limited time to examine the multiplicity of very important matters connected with the routine of prison discipline, the great questions of reform, and the various other essential matters pertaining to our punitory institutions, the advancement of which is engaging the attention of every civilized country. Reformatory measures to improve and elevate the moral condition of the criminal class, and, at the same time, to subserve the requirements of the law in effecting satisfactory punishment, is inviting the attention of prison managers throughout the land, and the introduction of reformatory measures are becoming more satisfactory every day. There is really no valid reason why our State Prison cannot be made equal to any in the country in discipline and reformatory requirements, when the State furnishes the necessary buildings to carry out in detail the generally accepted system of prison discipline, known as the Crofton or Irish Prison System, which is being successfully introduced, and is meeting the approval of nearly all classes who study the advancement of criminals. This system may be shortly defined as an adult reformatory, where the object is to teach and train the prisoner in such a manner that, on his discharge, he may be able to resist temptation, may be inclined to lead a worthy life, and may possess the power, as well as the wish, to earn an honest living. This is done by placing the prisoner's fate, within certain limits, in his own hands, and by enabling him to raise himself, step by step, to positions of greater freedom, privilege, and comfort; while idleness and bad conduct, on the other hand, keep him in a state of coercion and restraint. In order to enable our prison managers to carry out intact any correct system of prison discipline, it is clear that they must be provided with proper apartments in cell-room and workshops. This being provided, the prisoners can be graded and classified in such a way as to improve the younger ones, and many of the adults, in habits of industry, as well as elevate their moral condition. Our views—as fully and clearly expressed in our report-are again urged upon the Legislature: Establish a Reformatory, in connection with the State Governor, and his attention is called to the evidence on file in his office. F. A. A. Ohlofsky-recommended to the favorable consideration of the Governor, and his attention is called to papers on file in his office, throwing light upon the case. C. W. Smith sixty-four years of age; recommended to be restored to citizenship at the expiration of his term of sentence. Patrick Collins-recommended to the favorable consideration of his Excellency the Governor, and his attention is called to affidavits of his innocence on file in his office. Jacob Wilkerson-age fifty-eight; murder second degree; term forty-five years; is recommended to the favorable consideration of the Governor. Frederick Richardson is recommended to the favorable consideration of his Excellency for executive clemeney. The following list of names, furnished by the officers of the State Prison, is most respectfully submitted to the Governor for his favorable consideration, the committee recommending that he take such action in the matter as he may deem just and proper; CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON. Hon. Paul Shirley, Chairman Senate State Prison Committee: SIR: The following is a list of the names of persons that we, the officers of the California State Prison, present to your honorable body as worthy of Executive clemency for faithful services rendered during the recent conflagration at this prison. It is proper also to state that the men that compose this list did, apart from the active and valuable services rendered in the work of subduing the flames, band together and pledge themselves to stand by the officers of the prison in case a revolt among the convicts should occur; and furthermore, to their untiring energy the preservation of the cell buildings, hospital building, and inside offices is undoubtedly due. C. Gunther, .J. Dorsey, J. Sullivan (4,755), M. McGee, J. Whitmore, C. Secunda, M. Delaney, José Rico, Bill Davis, Andrews (Bigfoot), A. Shirley, F. Harris, Ben Edwards, William Doyle, William Donovan, George Cleaveland, A. C. MCALLISTER, CHARLES AULL. William Winkley, Bill Berger, J. McCann, Austin Smith, Pat King, J. Renfraw, Charles Holmes, A. Stewart, George Lowery, Charles Bird, Henry St. Clair, F. A. A. Ohlofsky, Charles Bennett, Bob Matthews, Ben Johnson, F. S. Bates, Richard Dickson, Ah Ball, Tom Dunn, L. Tuffts, William Ludgate, M. Donovan, William Blanchard, Joe Casey, Jim Southerly, J. Richardson, William Ensign, F. Emerson, J. O'Brien, Thomas Campbell, C. Kuchel, J. Brown, Charles Sheppard, A. H. Parker, E. McKinley, Tom Woody, Pete Stanley, P. A. Dumas, Bill Hayes, Joe Gibbons, Ben Doyle, William Hayward, All of which is most respectfully submitted. PAUL SHIRLEY, Chairman. Chairman Ássembly Committee. REPORT ON THE BRANCH STATE PRISON AT FOLSOM, E MADE BY THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. |