The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09
INIQUITY ON MARE ISLAND.
THE RULE OF sECoR RoBEsON IN A
CALIFORNIA NAVY YARD.

CALIFORNIA NAVY YARD.
Place where Merit IL Uurewarded, and
Corruption Is tho Generally Observed
e-Specimens of OniciaI Misconduct.
MARE ISLAND, Cal, March 29.-This navy
yard is now without the presense OF a com
mandant, and the receiving ship Independence
Is minus her Captain. Both gentlemen are down
at San Francisco, doing duty on the Spalding
court martial. Their places here are nllsd re-
spectively by r. g. Phelps, sr., and T. g. Phelps,
Jr. Strange TO say, we do not miss the presence
OF those distinguished and well-paid officers.
This navy yard runs itself, independent Of any
Administrative local ability. We have two high
priests, who from distance shape our ends and
control our destlnies-Secor Robson and his
henchmaD, Erngy Sargent. II does not matter
to us what tho commandant nor our other local
chiets Of departments think or will Rooeson is
our Allah, aud Sargent Is his prophet. Positions
are created and nlled, even down to messengers
and watchmen. by these two worthless. IL mat
ters not who OF what man is-he may be a
maRnates orders him into place, he stays there,
and neither Admiral John Rodgers nor anybody
steals right under his eyes. The condition OF
our yard may be imagined. We have incompe-
tent, lazy, INSCRIPTIONS foremen. who are ready
to do Sargenrs bidding in all things.
AT THE PEOPLES EXPENSE.
we have among US owners OF valuable tables,
&c, worth thousands OF dollars, made from
Government material, by workmen paid with
government money, and then smugRled over to
Vallejo by mon who set navy-yar law at defiance.
Expensive row boats have been built under the
very eyes OF our navy-yard officials for tho po-
litical favorites OF Sargent and Robson. Last
year an assistant constructor had scow load OF
valuable live oak wood sawed up into lengths TO
suit his stoves. and In omen daylight caused four
men to pilot II over to Vallejo for his own use.
When the commandments ate ntion was called TO
this he placed marine over tho wood shed, but
was afraid to take any steps against the culprt,
although coil OF new rope was at the same
tmc stolen.
Some men stay away from the yard when they
please without leave, but they draw their pay
Just the same. The time clerks are ordered to
neither works nor looks after work. His quar-
ternan, q. II. Butler n tool OF Sargent's county
committee, has been known to be absent from
the yard for weeks working at Starts new plan
Inv mill, receiving recompense for the same and
at the same time drawing his nay on the yard.
These are matters OF record. but everything
connected with the navy yard has become so
come to look upon tricKery, corrupton, cheat
Inc and stealing as being the normal state OF af-
fairs. A conmandant Of this ward Is simply
hgurehead whose pockets are wide open for paw
but whose eyes are closed aud his hands glued
fast to hi. side. The closing OF the eyes when
not wiliul Is compulsory.
POLITICIANS IN CLOVER.
Two merchant ships which arrived at this yard
during tue time that Admiral Rodgers wa. COM
mhndant were credited purposely, and In ODE
dience to orders. with more lumber than they
brought. While SeoOr Robson IA at the head
OF the navy, contractors and politicians have
matters their own way. In 1874 cut stone for
the dry dock To tho amount OF $4,000 was
Jeoted "a being unnt for use, and not In accord
anco with specifications, but the contractors
and politicians went to work, through Secor
ltObeson, and forced the material upon the
yard. In fact, this dry dock appears to be
work begun, not for the necessity OF the thing,
but for the benefit OF the politicians and their
Inc Marine Corps is, like other departments
OF tue navy, IN rotten condition. here as else
where. The canteen system, supposed to be
under the jurisdiction of Bng.-Gen. Jacob
Iern, seems to enable people to become rich ut
%,n the Nlre Island baSras sat tnat
has been run by one Sergt. Mclnncss for these
asst twelve years. lie landed here with just 50
IA his pocket. TODAY he Ia said to be worth at
least SlO,OO. lie owns real estate. and also a
thriving grocery and provision store In Vallejo.
mostly dresses In private clothes. He has al
ways &C ed the part OF a father to the marines
they had any money. II men bad no money, or,
having It, would not patronzo his canteen, they
were soon transferred to some ship. This can
teen should he open only two hours ia a day,
but IL has been frequently run all night, and the
men on guard at the barracks would be drunk
IN the morning.
VINO GETS THE ROYALTY.
McInness has been extensive money lender
to marines. and IN some cases To- officers. who
naturally think the sergeant IA line fellow. Now,
$l3OOOO netted In twelve years is not bad. but
who sustains this man, and who else has a finger
where, for under the policy OF secor Robeson,
no man is allowed 20 enjoy fat place. without
III some way paying for It. Ii is time this sys-
ten Of swindling poor marines was out stop to-
About the best man We ave In the yard Is our
chaplain, the Rev. Mr. McAllister. He Il a mild
hammered, Christian gentleman, who receives
his pay very promptly. Sometimes he has as
many az a dozen adults To preach to, but his
clerical efforts have not been blessed with a
single convert. IL the Secretary would send us
out Moody and Sankev there might be some
hope OF regeneration; but am afraid that even
these enthusiasts might become corrupted un-
der the present regime.
The court martial In SDalding's case Ia still
continuing Its slow laOors In San Francisco,
though what Is the good OF protracting IL does
not precisely appear. The evidence extracted
Is Of the same nature as that hitherto published,
and II found guilty az all Spadlng can be found
guilty now. One thing Is certain, that Spaldng
and Plnney not alone In the matter; but as
these outside parties cannot be tried under a
court martial. nothing has been done In their
appears on alarge body Of the bogus certificates,
and he has not yet been called in evidence The
bankers and brokers have 10 smart for some
body's rascality. Montagnle IL one of a ring OF
contractors, connected with navy yard matters
for many years past.