Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-05-06
PACIFIC COAST.

SAN Francisco, May 5.-The Chroni-
Gle this morning, referring to the testi-
mony of Pay-inspector Fulton before the
Spaulding Court Martial, says editori-
ally: In these days of fearful scandals
and marvellous developments of all sorts
of official badness, We have chanosd to
meet with no more damaging testimony
than this against any public official. The
question naturally occurs: Who runs
the United States Navy Department?
What has the Senate TO do with the az.
signment of officers to duty and what
business has he to interfer with naval
officers in the discharge OF their official
duties and in the employment of their
clerks and assistants? It is lust here
that our whole public service is de-.
bauched and demoralized. This man
Pinney was thief and swindler, yet he
was placed in responsible position by
Senator Sargent and retained that posi-
ton by the same powerful influence until
he had bagged all the spoils be cared for,
or had stolen all he thought he could get
away with. and then fed. Pinney's
superior, Pay-inspector Spaulding, did
not feel responsible for his acts, and in
fact was most likely afraid to interfer
with his operations, if he knew Of them,
lest ty no doing the should offend Sena-
tor Sargent and be suddenly ordered
away to some less desirable post of duty.
Evidently this naval officer feared Sar-
gent more than the laws of the United
states, the regulations of the Navy De-
partment or the orders of his proper
superiors, and 1t was but natural under
these circumstances that he should thus
rear Sargent, for as the testimony ad-
duced yesterday, shows Sargent was a
power behind the Department greater
than the Department itself. Pay-inspeo.
tor Fulton yesterday testified for the de-
Tense before the Spaulding Court Martial
that in May, 1874, both he and another
officer applied to Paymaster General
Watmough to send them some one to re-
lieve Spaulding here and Watmough re-
ferred them both to Senator Sargent.
They waited on him (Sargent) and he
said it made no difference to him who
relieved Spaulding. but that he wanted
Plnney to remain in the Office as chief
clerk. Pinney was good man and he
made good speech. Witness continued
that the reason he or Clark did not re-
lieve Spaulding was because neither of
of them would retain Pinney. The
above evidence has caused much COM
ment to the effect that Sargent runs not
only the civil patronage of the Govern
ment on this coast, but also the army
and navy.
SAN FRANc1sco, May 5.-The Bulletin
this evening publishes an article from
the Chicago Field of April 10th, relative
to the forthcoming walking match be-
tween O'Leary and Sohmehl, in which it
in effect says that Schmehl is O fraud
and never made the time credited TO him
in his recent walk in Chicago. The
match between him and O'Leary must
be humbng.
The steamer Zsalandia brings as pas.
sengers j. NJ. Coe and L. M. Steinberg.
or. brother of the Samoan Premier, who
were taken on board at the Fiji Islands.
They soy that hostilities had broken out
between the British man-of.war Barra.
conta and the natives ON an attempt oil
Captain Stevens to make the natives &C.
cept the King again. A number were
killed on each side. The Barraconta has
gone to New Zealand, where the conduct
of her captain will be inquired into
Steinberger has also gone to demand re-
dress. His brother and Coe were taker
from Samoa by the Barraconta as pris
oners and landed at Iii.