The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-22
A Plain Method Of Dealing with George
NJ. Robson.

The doctrine OF immunity for successful
public crime has been carried pretty far 10y
the Republican members of the House Com
mttce ON Naval Affairs. A report was care
fully prepared recommending the punish
mont Of the late Secretary of the Navy and
certain Of his subordnates for their unlaw-
full acts during the administration Of Presi-
dent GRANT 1t Is idle to pretend that the
officer chiefly implicated could not have
been heard before the committee in his own
behalf, II he had so desired The inVcstiga-
ton has been going on for months, and he
had only TO present himself; yet the Rcpub-
licans ON the committee awaited themselves
OF the prctcxt that he had had no oppor-
tunity to testify. as ground for their re-
fusal to allow the report to be laid before
the House.
Six years ago We made II perfectly clear
that GEORGE NJ. RoBEsoN had violated the
laws Of tho United States in his administra-
ton Of the Navy Department. This report
shows that he continued to violate those
laws down to tho very end of his term Of
office The nature OF his infractions was
almost always, If not invariably, dctrimen-
tai TO the pecuniary interests Of the United
States. The law was disregarded and the
u uil''l CAdNfc lbNl Il'ufN " iAlt uluoulll VI
millions. The whole exhibit is a melancholy
and disgraceiul confirmation Of the antici-
pations expressed in 1872 by Gov. AUSTIN
BLAIR of Michgan:
"His ACKNOWLEDGED fact OH over tho country that
the Emitted states navy. once the source of unmixcd
pride to the people has teen OF late years rapidly descn
Grating into cause Tor fear and apprehension. Vast
sums O. money have been expended and sill the navy
shows no sign Of Improvement Its situation furnishes
The most unanswerablo charge against the admin
istrauon Of the secretary II is 'laruaclcd' all over
nni its administration IS not speedily changed Tor the
te'cr the people the gntry likely to be brought
to shame ON its account
But is the public simply to suffer and sub
nit Are these wrongs 10 go unrcdresscd,
because the effort TO refer the case to the
Attorney-Gencral has been defeated ? II
can hardly be supposed that the laws of the
United States for the punishment Of crime
are so inadequate as to compel an afllrina-
tive answer to these questions. Mr. WHIT
THoRNE points out the following provision
Of the Revised Statutes as applicable.
"src $3.50 livery person who steals or emhczzlcs
or kuuwinsy applies 10 hi. own ~ VIII uulawfuly
s''., convey spos. oi amy ordnance arms, ammu-
niuon cloihlu- Subsistence. stores money or other
property o nc United states furnished or 10 Doe used tor
the military civil service shall Ue punished pre-.
scrbcd ia The prece ding section
He tolls Us that most Of the evidence is
documentary and on record. What need,
then. of any reference TO the Attorncy-Gen-
cralY There Is Grand Jury IN each dis
trict whcfr the offences werc committed
There is also a District Attorney Of the
United States, whose declared dutyit is Co. to
prosecute ia hi district all delinquents for
crimes and offences coSnizable under the
authority If the United states Why can
no. the prosecution ~ the eX-Secrotary and
HI fellow bee conducted through the ordi-
nary machinery and processes Of the Fed
eral courts: Let Mr.. Secretary THOMPSON
present the testimony 60 the Grand jury; a
duty will then bee imposed upon the District
Attorney; ard, indeed, the opinion OF the
Attorncy-Ge ON the case can hc obtained
in this way, for by law he is charged with
superintendent and direction over the at.
torncvs Of all the districts. Unless some
such course Is adopted, months must elapsC
without any steps being taken toward pun
ishmont; and to postpone prosecution any
longer is 10 establish a shameful distinction
Of delay in favor Of crime In high places.