The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-05-10
washington Ietrer.

of the sentence goes beyond a mere out
rage of justice and becomes grotesque.
Lydeekcr was in charge of the Washing
ton aqueduct. Defective and fraudulent
work went on to the extent of So, 000, 00t
under his superintendent. lie 50 far dis
regarded his duty that he never went into
the hole to see whether the work was good
or bad. The contractors held high revel.
When at last the scandal became unbear-
ably hot, he confidently asserted that the
work was good in the tunnel, and went
before a court martial. Aftor hearing
evidence for many days the court martial
makes a lengthy report, in which every
opportunity is taken to palliate the Of
Tense, and concludes by recommending
that Lydeeker be fined 800 per month of
his pay for nine months, for neglect of
duty. His neglect of duty cost the Unit
ed States 50, 600, coo and the government
must content itself with 5000, and take it
out of the money it must needs continue to
pay to the offender. President Harrison
in signing the sentence takes occasion to
| score the court martial with a hot iron.
Among other things he remarks, at is
not important, from a military standpoint,
whether a pecuniary loss did or did not
| result to the government" But inasmuch
as words never hurt thick-sklnned men,
the members of the court and the doughty
Major smile together.
In direct contrast with the Lydecker de-
cision is the one announced the same day,
from the navy department, in the case of
Lieut.. Commander Book, of the [, s.
steamer Pinta. Commander Book was in
Alaska with his vessels boilers rotten and
useless. He wrote again and again to the
Department and received no reply. Final
ly, in pure desperation, lie left his vessel
| and came to the headquarters to urge i'm
mediate action. For this offense he is
sentenced to suspension on furlough pay
for two years and only retains his present
number in grade.
The ofTense of Lydecker cost the govern
mont $4,000, 600; that of the naval officer
was a benefit. Yet the former sentence is
not one fourth so severe as the latter.
This is only in part to be accounted for
by the fact that a higher regard for duty
pervades in the navy than in the army.
The i~nadequacy of the Lydecker sentence
is due rather to the fact that he is a recog-
nized leader Of the gang of parlor military
Officers that are the curse and bane of the
army. Their disregard of duty is only
equalled by their impudenee. They have
the assurance native to New York ward
s.heelers," y and only the fact that their ac-
counts are audited occasionally prevents
this swell mob from walking off with the
Treasury. Unlike the "heeler." however.
their cloudy actions are never inspected
by an impartial judge and jury, but are
only tenderly touched upon by a court of
fellow-worthies. The officer who repre-
sents the prosecutor in this LYdeeker mock
court even went SO far as to make no plea
except to the defendant to the mercy of
the court. With tears in his eyes he by
irony the prosecutor-asked for mercy for
the defendant.
While the falling oft in number Of place
seekers in the city is hardly p~ereeptible, 1t
is worthy of notice that President Harri-
son devotes less time to them than former
". 1t is believed that he has concluded
that time would be most proftably spent
considering the relative merits of those
who have already applied. lie recognizes
that time is too short to give personal ear
to the opportunities of the throng Of office
seekers. In a conversation with Senator
Sawyer, Saturday, the President said that
two months had passed since his inaugu-
ration, and thus far he had given almost
his entire time to the respective claims of
rival applicants. Every opportunity had
been granted and every one who had asked
to be, had been heard. He very plainly
told the Wisconsin Senator that the line
would be drawn, at least until some of the
patronage had been distributed.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, very heavy and
very carefully dressed, appearing like a
cross between a successful physician and a
~dismounted heavy dragon, has been duly
presented by Mr.. Blaine to the President
as the accredited British Minister. Only
hall n dozen persons witnessed the pre-
sentation and the speeches were short and
stilted as become such an occasion. The
Minister labored through his compliments
with ponderous grace. President IIarri-
son did not do so well. lie told Sir Julian
that he twas glad TO offer the greeting due
to his distinguished reputation and emil
nent qualities" A needless misstatement
is always in bad taste. The newly arrived
diplomat has not been distinguished in his
country, except for a certain thick
set, stolid slowness, and even that has not
sufficiently distinguished him from the
other minor officials of the foreign office to
make him known beyond the office pre-
cincts. WESTON.
At tho annual meeting of the New Jer-
sey State Homeopathic Medical Society
held in Trenton, on Tuesday, President
Jacob G.. Streets, of Bridgeton, in his an
nual address, denounced the methods used
by the %allopaths to secure legislature to