Mohave County miner., 1889-05-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our regular Correspondent.

wAE1l1HGTOM LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. May 9, 1889.
The town Ia laughing over the absurd
sentence rendered by the court martial
in the case Of Major Lydecker. The len.
iency Of the sentence goes beyond ncre
outrage of justice and becomes grotesque,
Lydecker was in charge OF the Washing
ton acqueduct. Detective and fraudulent
work went ON 70 the extent Of $1,000. .OOc
under his supcrintendence. He 10 fai
disregarded his duty that he mover went
into the hole TO see whether tbs work
was good or bad. The contractors held
high revel. When at last the scandal
became unbearably hot he confidently az
serted that the work was good In the tun'
mel and went before court msrsisl
After hearing evidence for many days the
court mastial makes lengthy report, in
which every opportunity ID taken to pal
late the offense, and concludes by rec
ommending that Lydeckr be fned 800
per month of his pay for nine months
for neglect Of duty"
His neglect II duty cost the United
States 1900, 900, and the government
must content itself with $500 and take II
cut Of the money Il muss needs continue
70 pay the offender. President Harrisor
in signing the sentence takes occasion u
score the court martial with q hot iron
Among other things he remarks: "It u
not important, from . military stand
point, whether . pscuniasy loss did oi
did not result TO the government" But
inasmuch ~ words never hurt thick
skinned men, the members of the couri
and the doughty Major sraile together.
In direct contrast with the LydeckeI
decision Is the one announced the same
day from the navy department In the
case Of Lieutenant-C Commander Book oi
the U. s. s. Pinta. Commander Book
was In Alaska with his vessels boilers
rotten and useless. He wrote again and
again to the department and received nc
reply. Finally in pure desperation he
left his vessel and came to the headqaar'
theirs 10 urge immediate action. For this
ofense he is sentenced TO suspense on
furlough pay for two years and only re.
tains his present number in grade.
The offense OF Lydecker cost the gov.
eminent s2,0O0, 900; that Of the naval
officer was benefit. Yet the former
sentence was not one-fourth 10 severe AZ
the latter. This 10 only in part TO be
accounted for by the fact q higher regard
for duty persades in the navy than in the
army. The insdsquacy Of the Lydecker
sentence is due rather to the fact that be
is recognized leader Of the gang Of mill
tary parlor officers that are the curse and
bane Of the army. Their disregard oi
duty is only equalled by their impudence.
They have the assurance native TO New
York ward heelers," and only the fact
that their accounts are audited occasion.
ally prevents this swell mob from walk.
ing 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
by court Of fellow-worthies. The Officer
who represents the prosecutor in this
Lydecker mock court martial even went
30 far as TO make no plea except TO rec
ommend the defendant to the mercy oi
the court. With tears in his eyes he
(the prosecutor), by irony asked foi
mercy for the defendant.
While the falling Off In number oi
place seekers in the city is hardly per.
ceptible, it is worthy Of notice that Presi.
dent Harrison devotes less Of his time to
them than formerly. 1t is believed that
he has concluded that time would be
most profitably spent considering the
relative merits Of those who have already
applied. He recognizes that time is toe
short to give personal ear TO the throne
Of Office seekers. In q conversation with
Senator Sawyer Saturday the President
said that two months had passed since
his Inauguration, and thus far he had
given almost his entire time to the re-
spective claims Of rival applicants.
Every opportunity bad been granted, and
every one who had asked to be had been
heard. He very plainly told the Wiscon.
sin Senator that the line would be drawn,
at least until some of the patronage had
been distributed.
Sir Julian Paunceiote, very heavy and
very carefully dressed, appearing like q
cross between successful physician and
a dismounted heavy dragoon, has been
duly presented by Mr.. Blaine TO the
President as the accredited British minis
ter. Halt dozen persons witnessed the
presentation, and the speeches were
short and stilted as became such an occa'
sion. The minister labored through his
compliments with ponderous grace
President Harrison did not do 30 we'll
He told Sir Julian that he was glad to
offer the greeting due 10 his distinguished
reputation and eminent qualities. A
needless misstatement is always in bad
taste. The newly-arrived diplomat has
not been distinguished in his own country
except for q certain thick-set stolid slow.
ness, and even that has not sufficiently