The Press., 1893-06-29

Gov. Altgeld has included some high tribunals in his censure, and he is likely himself to learn what censure by the tribu nal of the people may mean.
 CHIEF OF POLICE WOODBRIDGE of Hart ford has declined to serve on the new board of state prison directors, and it is surmised that he is 8 candidate for the wardenship if change is made. Frank C. Sumner is substituted by the governor, and the board as now constituted is Charles F. Bollman of New Haven, Frank O.. Sumner of Hartford, Marvin H. San- ford of Tariffville, Edward M. Chapin of New Hartford, Michael W. Lawton of Middletown, Frederick A. Spencer of Wa terbury and John N. Chittenden of Madi- son.
 JUDGE VALENTINE B. CHAMBERLAIN of New Britain died very suddenly on Sun day evening of angina pectoris. He had addressed temperance meeting that eve ming, later complained of a pain about the heart, and at 10 o'clock was dead. He was a valuable and much honored citizen of that city and of the state, prominent in local matters, especially in school work judge of probate and of the city police court, has been state treasurer and often Q legislator. He was a brave officer in the war of the rebellion and was captured at Fort Wagner, where he led an assault ing party into the works too far for re- treat, and spent IS months in a rebel pris- on pen.
 THE sinking of the great British iron clad battleship Victoria, of Tripoli, on Friday last, is startling news to the world. More than 300 men on board perished. During & naval drill the ram of the Cam perdown struck the great iron steamship and she sank within 15 minutes. The vessel was being run towards shore when she suddenly listed and sank bottom up- wards. Few men were saved. Many were mangled by the rapidly turning screw blades, scalded by the exploding boilers, or drawn down by the suction of the sink ing vessel. The appalling accident is startling as showing how easily these great iron vessels sink when once they are perforated, the weight of plating and armament carrying them down, the hulk compartments proving to be very little protection, in fact in this case hastening the catastrophe, the vessel listing the more quickly from filling on one side.
 Gov. MORRIS has stopped partisan fight by appointing an entire new board of state prison directors. Whether peace was worth such price is a question. The new board consists of unknown, un- tried men. The old one was considered to be made up of extra good material men of unquestioned ability, and, as a body, above suspicion of partiality. Yet their removal is a most serious reflection upon them. The legislative committee makes divided report, based upon polit- ical lines, and most contradictory. Yet little seems to be proved as to the alleged cruelty of Warden Chamberlain to pris- oners. Subordinates who insugated the investigation have had more acts of cruelty directly proved upon them than has the warden. He has been shown to be a strict disciplinarian, but the prison under his charge has in most respects shown improvement, many reforms have been inaugurated, and many privileges en- larged. A great mistake seems to have been made by the warden in resolutely opposing the consideration of charges made against him some time ago, and at that time investigated and considered un- worthy of attention by the directors. The successful attempt to keep this old mat ter out of the investigation by the legisla- ture has awakened suspicion and preju- diced the case. Gen. Chamerlain is a re- publican, and the new board contains democrats and 3 republicans poor recognition of the statute requiring that the board shall be non-partisan-and making the warden's reinstatement doubt full.
 Concerning the charges of cruelty against Gen. Chamberlain, they mostly consist of cases of isolated confinement of incorrigibles, who at moments notice might terminate their period of punish ment by giving an adherence to prison rules, or else of prisoners of such filthy habits that it were a cruelty to other pris- oners not to isolate them. While the prison holds unfortunates who have made one false step, and are no worse than thousands of business men who escape detection, we must remember that the great mass of prisoners are of the sort that you are liable to find in your sleep ing room at midnight, plying their voca- tions, and regarding the subject of your murder only in the light of their own in-- terests. If they spare you it is because they prefer not to carry the risk of the other course. Different wardens have been murdered by prisoners at Wethers- field; in each case the victims were those who bore regulations of being exception ally kind to prisoners. There was poor discipline at the prison when Gen. Cham berlain took commands his successor found good discipline, and the charges against the warden seem trivial indeed compared with those which newspapers have intimated as proper to be made against the heads of prisons in other states, which, however, do not get investi- gation. The new board of directors will find it easy to satisfy themselves whether Gen. Chamberlain is fit man to rein state, and we hope that they will, in con- sidering the matter, be governed solely by the best interests of the state, and a desire to be just.
 Willimantic Journal MT. Gum ''kick- ed'' because the good roads bill would cost $20O 900 and we can't afford it. True,
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