SPECIAL MESSAGE.

To the honorable the Assembly of the State of California :

MR. SPEAKER: I take this method of calling the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the present condition of the office of Commissioner of Immigration. From information in my possession, both oral and in writing, from persons considered entirely reliable, from an inspection of the law, and also from the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral, I am inclined to believe that the duties of that office have not been administered as required by law for several years past. It appears that no report has been made by the officer known as Commissioner of Immigration either to the Controller or Treasurer of State for the past three years, nor has any money been paid into the State treasury of the amount of fees collected, or fines and penalties imposed, as required by Sections 2955 and 2959 of the Political Code. Neither has any quarterly report been made to the Secretary of State during that period of the name, age, sex, birthplace, or present residence of any leper or person afflicted with leprosy or elephantiasis, examined and inspected by him, as required by Section 2955 of said Code. There is nothing to show in any State office of the existence of such an office as Commissioner of Immigration, except the record of the appointment of the incumbent. It is further shown that no azaretto has been established in the City of San Francisco for the confinement and seclusion of lepers as required by Section 2952 of aid Code; nor, as far as this office is informed, has any effort been made to establish such a lazaretto. According to statistics of the numper of vessels and passengers arriving in San Francisco from foreign ports, especially prior to the time the "Chinese restriction law" vent into operation, I am inclined to believe that the Commissioner of Immigration has received fees and fines largely in excess of the mount allowed him by law, after deducting his salary and the xpenses of his office, provided that officer has collected the fees he s entitled to under the law.

I therefore submit the foregoing suggestions to your honorable ody for such action either by the appointment of a committee of nvestigation or otherwise as in your judgment may be proper in he premises. I would further suggest that you thoroughly examine he law creating the office of Commissioner of Immigration, and hat you amend the same in such manner that the interests of the tate may be better protected; and that the bond of the Commisoner may be raised and fixed at an amount at least equal to his early liability to the State.

GEORG STONEMAN, Governor.

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, January 20, 1

1883.

SPECIAL MESSAGE

OF

GOVERNOR GEORGE STONEMAN

TRANSMITTING THE

REPORT OF THE STATE ENGINEER

ON THE SEWERAGE OF THE

DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND ASYLUM AND THE STATE UNIVERSITY,

MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 7.

TWENTY-FIFTH SESSION, 1883.

SPECIAL MESSAGE.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SACRAMENTO, CAL., February 1, 1883.

To the Honorable Senate and Assembly of the State of California:

}

I herewith transmit to your honorable bodies a report of the State Engineer on a plan for the sewerage of the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Asylum and the State University, made in accordance with Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7.

In connection with this subject I call your attention to the following facts and make some suggestions which seem fitting:

The water supply, sewerage, ventilation, and heating of the buildings of public institutions such as the Insane Asylums, the Prisons, the Blind Asylum, the University, the Normal Schools, and the Capitol Building the water supply, drainage, and general improvement of the grounds about the buildings of these institutions, and the general improvement of the Yosemite Valley, are all subjects. calling for engineering consideration and treatment, on which the Legislature is asked to act in some way at each session, concerning which the Governor, as ex officio member of most of the Boards of control, is continually called upon to pass judgment and act, and on which many thousands of dollars of the State's money are yet to be expended.

The engineering duty in connection with such works should be performed by the State Engineer, and that officer sld intimately familiarize himself with the wants of the public institutions in these respects, so that the Governor may at any time be promptly and fully advised on subjects concerning which he has to act as ex officio member of the several Boards of control, and so that the Legislature may have at command, so far as plans and estimates are concerned, in the State Capitol building, all the information necessary upon which to decide the questions which are brought to its notice each session; and, finally, so that the various Boards of control of the public institutions mentioned may be well advised on engineering subjects without the expense of employing civil engineers for the

purpose.

I shall hereafter avail myself of the services of the State Engineer to collect the information referred to, for my own guidance, and in order that the Legislature may be informed when it meets again.

GEORGE STONEMAN,

Governor.