possession, of the United States of America." These items of infor mation are obtained from United States prison authorities, and from prison authorities, jail keepers, and police departments of this and other states. Every Saturday all such items of information relative to persons who have been discharged during the week must be sent to the office of the director from every prison and other penal institution in this state.

2. To furnish any information on file in his office relative to any person, on the request of any of the proper federal authorities, or of the proper authorities of any city or county of this or any other state.

165. State Reform Schools.1

California has two re

form schools: one at Whittier near Los Angeles, and one near Ione, Amador county. The Whittier state school is a general school for boys between the ages of seven and sixteen, and for girls between the ages of seven and twentyone. The school at Ione is known as the Preston School of Industry, and is for boys between the ages of eight and twenty-one. No person is committed to either school who is over eighteen years of age. All commitments must be by the superior or juvenile courts, and must be made in every case after some crime or other delinquency has been proved (§ 210).

In 1913, the land, buildings, and other property of the two reform schools represented an investment of over $1,000,000. The legislature is required to appropriate over $250,000 each year for the support of these two institutions. In March, 1912, there were detained at the Preston school 404 boys, and 299 were out on parole; and at the same time there were at the Whittier school 247 boys and 44 girls, with a total of 313 on parole.

The legislature of 1913 provided for a third reform school which is to be for girls only, and to which all the girls in the Whittier school are to be removed. This school is to be under the control of

five trustees appointed by the governor. They are to select and

1 Statutes of 1889, page 111; Statutes of 1893, page 39.

purchase a site for the school, and the department of engineering is to put up necessary buildings.

The two schools at Whittier and Ione are each under the control of a board of three trustees appointed by the governor. The appointment in the case of the Whittier board must be confirmed by the senate. The term of office is four years, and they serve without pay. The board of the Preston School of Industry appoints a superintendent, a military inspector, a parole officer, and a secretary. The superintendent appoints such other employees as the board directs. The board of the Whittier school appoints a superintendent, a parole officer, and all other assistants and employees. The superintendent of each school is its chief executive officer, and manages the institution according to the rules and regulations adopted by the boards of trustees.

This

166. The Institution for the Deaf and the Blind.1. institution is housed in a fine group of brick buildings located in Berkeley. The land, buildings, and other property are equal in value to about $1,150,000. The maintenance of the institution costs the state nearly $100,000 a year. The institution is a school for deaf, dumb, and blind residents of the state, " of suitable age and capacity." Room, board, and instruction are furnished free of charge, and even clothing is supplied to those who are unable to clothe themselves. There are about one hundred girls and somewhat more than that number of boys at the school.

The institution is under the control of a board of five trustees who are appointed by the governor with the approval of the senate, to serve four years without pay. 1 Political Code, § 2236 seq.

The trustees establish rules and regulations for the institution, and appoint the principal, teachers, matrons, janitors, and all other employees.

167. The Industrial Home for the Adult Blind.1 - This institution is located in Oakland. The land, buildings, and other property represent an investment of over $175,000. It costs the state about $40,000 a year to maintain this institution. The home was established to furnish instruction in certain trades to adult blind people, to provide a home for those who desire to remain as workmen after they have learned trades, and to furnish a home for aged blind people who are unable to work. No charge is made for instruction, and aged blind people in indigent circumstances are given a home free of charge. Ablebodied men and women who live at the home and work in the factories pay a small amount for their maintenance but they receive wages for their work. Manufacturing brooms and brushes and reseating chairs are about the only kinds of work so far undertaken at the home. The receipts from this source amount to something over $25,000 a year. The number of persons living at the home in March, 1912, was 117, of whom 22 were women.

The home is under the control of a board of five trustees, who are appointed by the governor to serve during his pleasure. They receive no compensation. They appoint a superintendent, a secretary, and other necessary officers and employees, and establish rules for the management of the institution.

168. The State Board of Charities and Corrections.2 This board consists of the governor and six other members appointed by him with the approval of the senate. The 1 Political Code, § 2207 seq.

2 Statutes of 1903, page 482.

appointed members serve without compensation, and their term of office is four years. The board appoints a secre tary whose office is in San Francisco.

This board is concerned with the state hospitals, prisons, reform schools, the blind home, and the school for the deaf and blind; with county and city hospitals, orphanages, poor farms, prisons, and jails; and with all orphanages and other charitable institutions maintained by private persons or corporations. The authority of the board over these institutions is very limited. Its duties with respect to them are as follows:

1. Concerning the public institutions mentioned, it must examine into their condition and carefully observe their methods. It may prescribe the forms according to which they must keep records and render reports. Plans for buildings for any such institution before adoption must be submitted to the board for suggestions and criticism.”

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2. It has the same authority and duty with respect to all" institutions and persons receiving any state aid for the care of orphan, half-orphan, abandoned, or dependent children."

There are between forty and fifty such orphanages in the state, furnishing homes for over five thousand children. The state devotes nearly $450,000 a year to the support of these unfortunate children.1

3. No organization, society, or person may engage in the work of placing dependent children in homes without obtaining a permit from the board.

4. The board must make a biennial report to the governor as to the condition of every institution under its jurisdiction. This report must contain recommendations as

1 See section 22, article IV of the constitution.

to changes that, in the estimation of the board, should be made in the laws governing these institutions, or in the methods employed in their management. This report usually has great weight with the legislature and thus the board has considerable influence in spite of the fact that it has little direct authority.

169. The Commission of Immigration and Housing.1 -This commission consists of five members appointed by the governor to serve during his pleasure. They receive no compensation, but their traveling expenses are paid by the state. The main office of the commission is in San Francisco, but it is authorized to establish branch offices in other places according to its judgment. It appoints a secretary and may employ such other experts and assistants as it may require.

A good many immigrants from Europe have been coming to California within recent years, and it is expected that still larger numbers will come after the opening of the Panama Canal. It is very much to be hoped that these people will not congregate in cities to the extent that immigrants have done in the eastern part of our country, but that they will move into the smaller towns in the rural sections of the state. To induce them to do so is the most important duty of the commission of immigration and housing. The commission must collect information relative to the demand for labor on the farms of California, and also with reference to" the agricultural possibilities and opportunities for settlement on land within the state." It must collect information also relative to the demand for labor in other industries, and must coöperate with state and municipal employment bureaus, as well as with private employment agencies, to

1 Statutes of 1913, chapter 318.