The Sailors' Home in San Francisco.
If any one more than another needs the protection of the law, and the care of the benevolent, it is "Jack on shore." Often subjected to tyranny and cruelty on the seas, he is open to the worst abuses in port, partly because he comes suddenly into possession of money which he does not know how to use; partly because he feels nearly wild over his suddenly acquired freedom; and partly because there are combined against him a set of sharks as greedy and as void of conscience as any he ever saw on the ocean. The "Home" in San Francisco is a good institution; but of course the enemies of the sailor will be the enemy of any means devised for his protection, and have made efforts to injure the institution. The following extracts from the Call reports will give an idea of the case:— "The Health and Police Committee of the Supervisors, last evening, resumed the investigation into the management of the Sailors' Home. Captain Ludwich testified that the sailor landlords, who bore the home no good will, were constantly circulating adverse reports; but Swannak had never used vulgar language to the men, that a change of management would not be beneficial. Captain George Naughton, the shipping agent, stated that the Sailors' Home had never received blood money. The sailors there got the benefit in increased wages. The sailors from the home were a better class of men, and often received better wages on this account. John Fjerm, clerk of the home, stated that the sailors were never drunk when they shipped. Sometimes they drank before going aboard the ship. Captain Soule explained the purposes of the Ladies' Seamen's Friend Society, in procuring the passage of the bill through Congress, allowing the old Marine Hospital to be used for a sailors' home, and he described briefly some of the excellent results accomplished under its management. The committee took the matter under advisement. . . . W. C. Burnett eloquently defended the management and strongly insisted that it should be conducted as at present. Nearly all the supervisors expressed the opinion that the charges of the Sailors' Union were not sustained, and it was decided to report accordingly."