The morning call., 1895-01-28
J. ?. IRISH INDIGNANT.
He Corrects the Investigating
Committee.
THE BLIND HOME AS TT N.
Pardee Gained Strength by the Late
Election.
OAKLANDS PGSTOFFICE PLUKDERED.
Alya Pablo. the Young IncOrrigibIe, Is
Sent Home on Probation
Union Election.
OiKLANDS POSTOFPICE PLUNDERED.

AuulJ bllnQ IN oakland, taxes exceptions
to the views expressed by some of the legis-
lative investigating committee, who visited
that institution, and sends the following
to the press IN reply:
To the Editor: The San Francisco papers print
accounts of the visit of Assembly committees
to the Home for the Adult Blind.
The attacks on this institution originating in
the objection Of some of the inmates to disci-
pine and in the desire OF outsiders to exploit 1t
in politics and get hold OF the offices, have been
long made and frequently investigated, always
with the result OF vindicating the home, its
management and discipline.
No legislative committee, in visit lasting
but little more than hour, can equip itself with
knowledge either to condemn or approve.
1t is reported that members of these commit
tees which visited the institution last Saturday
found the "public sitting-room" in a repulsiVe
condition. The room referred to is not a sit
ting-room. 1t is the smokeroom, a large room
properly seated and warmed, with floor of
artificial stone, arranged to drain into the
sewer when flushed with hose. The in
mates are forbidden to smoke in their
rooms for obvious reasons, since they may set
fire to the buildings and destroy themselves
and others. The dis0rderly element resent
this prohibition and violate it when they dare.
They make an cutlery about the smokeroom,
and p committee that does not seek further in
formation may be excused for echoing 1t. An
average of eighty men smoke and chew tobacco
in that room. When they get through the
stone floor is covered with ashes, cigar and cga-
rette ends, mixed with fruit peels and cores,
for the men carry fruit from the table and eat
it while smoking.
Arriving during the forenoon of Saturday the
committee saw the room in that condition, for
it had not yet been flushed. / am glad the
committee saw it before flushing, for they got
an idea of the task OF caring for these people.
If they will look over the situation and suggest
any other method as substitute for smoking in
the dormitories or around the buildings so as
to endanger them the directory will be glad to
receive 1t.
When committees visit the institution they
are met always by the discontinued, idle and
dissolute element, who object to restraint and
oppose all discipline. These men see the over
throw of the regulations in change in the
officers and the directory. The well-disposed
majority, who violate no rules and, therefore,
have no complaint against discipline, are not
in evidence. Indeed, they are usually in the
shops at work, contented and thankful that
they can get the benefits OF the home and the
training in self-support which it gives them.
One of the swiftest witnesses against the in
stitution to the committee was admitted few
months ago, vile in his bodily condition,
underfed and forlorn. He now thinks himself
competent to advise the Legislature and to
condemn the diet that has fattened him and
the sanitary conditions which have cleansed
him.
The sanitary condition of the institution is
to be judged by the sick roll. For the diet the
committee and the public Can refer to the daily
bill of fare, which is filed in evidence
1t should not be forgotten that this is
manufacturing institution. Its inmates are
working people, gathered here from all sorts of
sad conditions, representing many OF the civil
lied and several of the unciviliZed races, some
vicious and some virtuous, and 1t is not COM
parable to the college for the blind at Berkeley,
scholastic institution, filled with students
and splendidly and lavishly equipped for its
purpose.
1t would be no more reasonable to compare
the Union Iron Works with the library OF the
State University.
/ make these statements not only In vindica-
tim Of tho truth hUt in hnhalf Of the i0ritv
of the inmates, to whom the institution has
been an incompatible blessing:
President of the Board of Directors.
Pardee Stock Advancing.
The adoption of the charter amendments
Saturday by such decisive majority has
thrown the camp of ode gang'' into con-
they were still so surprised as to be rem
dered almost speechless. The members of
the Board of Public Works had nothing to
say, and there was dense gloom about
the departments which are dependent on
the board, noticeably the Police, Fire and
Street departments. On the Mayors side
of the building and in the Council chamber
there was handshaking and general re-
joicing, and the School Department also
breathed a sigh of relief, for it considers
itself much hampered in the past by
reason of the existence of the Board of
Public Works.
The smoke of battle has cleared away
sufficiently now to view the field in the
coming municipal campaign, and the cleo
ton of Saturday will probably make some
changes in the states that we're being pre-
pared. For instance, since the election
Pardee stock has gone to the skies. From
being very uncertain quantity the pres
ent Mayor is now spoken of on all sides as
his own successor. Many of the Munich
pal League members were opposed to him
before, principally on account of his stand
in the late railroad strike, and now nearly
all would give him help should he decide
to run. His candidacy, it is thought,
would also affect the Republican slate,
councilman has been mentioned as the
Republican candidate for the office-a sort
of compromise candidate, put forward to
conciliate all the elements. It is not GER
tain that Barstow would run with Pardee
in the field. AS it looks now Pardee will
be the Non-Partisan candidate for Mayor,
backed by most of the present council on
the same ticket.
Tonight at Elite Hall the city Republi-
cans hold their convention to nominate.
This is the first political convention for the
spring election and is attracting consid-
cradle attention.
For Mayor the names of Councilman j.
w. Nelson and George w. Reed have been
most mentioned. r. W. Snow has been
mentioned for Auditor and Zach Gilpin for
the treasuryship. Grant I. Taggert and
ex-County Clerk Crane have also been
mentioned for the place held by Mr.. Snow.
For Councilmen from the various wards
there are many candidates. In the Fourth
Ward W. D. Heilman would like to sue
coed himself His chief opponent is r. J.
Boyer.
In the Third Ward w. H. Quinn Sr. and
Mr.. McCracken are the names talked of.
Billy Naskinson, once a railroad en-
pioye, later a striker and now just a
Councilman from the Sixth, is mentioned
as his own successor. Councilman Dow
from the Seventh seems to be the only
man mentioned from that ward.
The second ward is filed with candidates.
J. s. Wilson, J. A. Bliss, F. A Noyes, P.
NJ. Fisher and G. A. Taber have been
named. The latter is said to have the
inside track
In the Fifth w. A. Jacobs, w. A. Ken
ney and B. F. Stone are named.
For Councilmen-at-Larg the names of
Councilmen Barnard, Towle, Rudolph
Christ, Robert Jackson and r. Y. Simpson
are spoken OF. Simpsons chances are
thought to be particularly bright If he
wants the office.
The Unitarian minister, C. W. Wendte,
who was made one of the Republican dele