The record-union., 1898-01-02


the winter shovel brigade and suffers
indescribable agony in consequence
1t was proved that in the insane ward
patients are cruelty treated and shame
fully neglected. In some cases insane
patients were taken to the polls t
vote. One man was left some money
by will. His documents were taken
from him, locked in the Governors safe,
and he was put to cost of $50 in sue
ing for and recovering them, that he
might draw the money due him.
Witnesses told of prisoners being tor
tured; of jealoussies enlindled; of -four
earted secretly to saloons; of tacks and
buttons. sprinkled in the food; of petty
spites worked; of cruelty to the blind
and the crippled; of grossly cruel and
disgusting treatment Of insane pa
tients; of bribery, favoritism, corrup-
ton, poor food, abuse and indecency
that may not be mentioned under the
administration of Trask and his hire
lings.
1t was proved that at performances
and entertainments in the great music
hall the old sailors and their wives We're
crowded out or to remote corners, that
the politicians and their wives and
children and the favorites of the Gov
ernor might fill the auditorium; that a
monopoly in sale of views was given
a woman who had written a laudatory
article of Governor Trask
Captain Trask called many witnesses
were compelled to admit that there is
room for improvement, and his hire
lings We're cornered into admissions
that hurt rather than helped his case.
The jury that will render judgment is
a distinguished one, consisting of May
or Strong, Recorder Goff, Captain Jay,
President of the Marine Society, Rev.
Dr. Morgan Dix, and Alexander Orr,
President Of the Chamber of Com
merce. Among the witnesses against
Trask We're Captains who fought on
war of the rebellion; men who COM
manded ships of fame in our history.
but outside the navy, Captains of tht
early famous Atlantic steamers; men
descended from the patriot fathers of
the Republic; men who haNe proved
their courage, competency and manli-
ness.
Captain Armstrong who preferred the
most damaging charges has been com
mander of two ocean steamers and ten
clippers. He is we'll known in Califor-
mia. His daughter once brought his
ship safe into San Francisco harbor
when he, his officers and entire crew
We're down with a dreaded fever. For
that brave action and fine seamanship
the San francisco Board of Underwrit-
ers presented her with a purse of $500
and an engrossed certificate of merit
Captain Armstrong had while a com
mander many encounters with pirates
but invariably whipped them and never
lost a ship or a crew.
1t needed such fighting old seadog
TO prosecute the charges against Trask
He marshaled more than four score
witnesses, grizzled old salts, stin fine
looking old captains, gnarled old mates
and other ships officers, before the jury
and offered to line up a hundred more
of The same kind, if the trustees wish
ed to hear them, but they took the will
for the deed
The incident has been given thus
much Of space for the purpose Of show
ing how great charitable trusts are IL
able to abuse when they fall into the
hands of men who have not sufficient
Of the ballast of justice in their COM
position to prevent them from becom-
ing in authority petty tyrants. 1t may
serve also as warning. and its pub
licity do good in checking other small
autocrats who rule it in public and pri-
vate charities as If they were the Lords
annointed.
1t is shameful, disgraeefully so. that
so great charity as the Sailors Snug
Harbor, one known to the ends of the
earth for its noble endowment and the
vast number of wornout old men OF
the sea it has sheltered, should have
been for twelve years under the tyr
annous control of cruel autocrat, anc
that not until this time has it been pos.
sible to bring him to the bar Of in.
vestigation.
Since the above was written the
Board Of Trustees has passed a resolu.
ton calling for the resignation of Gov.
ernor Trask, and announce that unless
he resigns he will be removed.