The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-25

"sAN Francisco, April fan article in to-dsys
the spsiding court martial, with being open to
the charges a. those against Spading, In per-
hitting Ellis T. Armstrong foreman OF the ma
ehnsts at the yards and docks at the Mare Island
nayYyard, to absent himself from duty during the
greater portion OF the time, in violation Of regula
uonsi tnat ne also interested IN the result OF the
trial, as all OF Spalding's orders and vouchers
passed through his hands for approval; also, that
on the strength OF an order from the navy depart
ment authorizing the expenditure OF $4,000 for the
rebuilding Of the steamer Monterey, with the i'm
piled consent to devote the sum to rebuilding the
yard schooner Joe Smith, the pleasure yacht
nothing was done TO the Monterey or Joe
smith that the steam launch Nellie was
and no report OF the cost was forwarded TO Wash
ington that the cost OF the launch was about SIS
600; and was charged TO the work on the steamer
Mohican and to other objects"
SAN FRANCISCO, April %. The ChrORicLe con-
tinues the publication OF charges OF fraud and mis-
management at Mare island 1t now alleges that
each year the crop OF grain harvested on the island
more than sufficient for wants OF the establishment
is appropriated pin money by the officers OF the
yard land grain required for use there Is purchased
In the market; also that expensive white aid live
oak and teak ship timber brought from the East at
heavy cost, has been used for hrewood and allow
ed TO lay about the yard unprotected from the
weather and rottlng aud involving loss to the gov
eminent Of half a million dollars
Allowing a liberal margin for inaccuracy
and exaggeration, the st. Louis RepuJlt-
can is inclined to believe there is good deal
Of solid foundation for the Chronicles
charges. fhe all >ced facts arc not of re-
cent development, nor has their publca-
ton been confined to the paper in which
they now appear. Fol- several years past
there have been rumors ahoat in regard to
the mismanagement of naval affairs on the
Pacific coast, and since the exposure Of the
Spalding Pinney defalcation these rumors
have been reinforced from quarters. While,
therefore, we are unwilling to think that
an officer of such high rank and reputa-
ton as Admiral Rodgers has been guilty
of any dishonesty, we are nevertheless
convinced that there has been dishonesty
within his Jurisdiction, and a vast
amount Of shameless extravaganza, which
is almost equivalent to stealing. Whether
because the Mare Island navy-yard
is a long ways off, or because Sec
rotary Robson has covered the tracks Of
his pets very carefully, there has been no
searching investigation in that locality
and it must be evident to everybody non
that such an investigation is imperatively
demanded. The official exposures in the
Spalding Pinney case show the existence
Of fraud aud rascality in naval finances a
San Francisco, and the manner in whicl
certain ships Of war have been built VI
from knot-holes' proves that there is al
energetic and INSCRIPTIONS naval ring il
lively operation at that point.
When reliable and responsible journa
as the Chronicle is, makes such statement
as those quoted above, it is time the prop
er authorities turned an inquiring eye i
that direction. Where there is so muc
smoke there must be some fire, and. tn
house naval committee cannot emplo
itself better than in seeing how much fir
there is and who have profted thereb,