Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-04

1nere are dlnerences in courts-martial as in
juries for the trial Of civil causes, and in the
former as in the latter the great offender often
escapes with little or no punishment while for
trivial offences the severest penalties are i'm
posed. The sentences in two courts-mar tial
are announced to-day. Lieut.. Commander
Book committed the technical offence Of
leaving his vessel, the Pinta, without leave
from the proper authority. His absence
injured nobody, for his vessel was
totally unserviceable by reason Of the con-
dition OF its boilers, and the motive of his alb
sence was good one, namely, to present him.
self to the proper authorities and to urge the
importance Of the work in Alaska assigned to
his vessel, and the urgent necessity of repair
Ing her in order that he might enter upon that
work. For harmless mistake concerning his
legal power to order himself ashore on such an
errand he is suspended for two years from rank
and duty on furlough pay. Major Lydecker
was placed in charge of the construction of the
Washington aqueduct extension. Defective
and fraudulent work of gigantic proportions
characterized the construction under his sup
posed supervision His neglect of duty has
been followed by the abandonment as worthless
of what has been done in the task assigned to
him, and loss Of two million dollars and the
evil and annoyance Of an indefinite delay in
securing q much-needed increase in the local
water supply have been inflicted upon the
United States AMI this community. He is SEN
fenced to forfeit TO the United States 800 per
month for nine months and to be reprimanded
in orders! The moral to be noted is to the
effect that 1t is much more blamable to be over
jealous in the effort to be Of service to the
United States, even though nothing more
serious than disturbance of red-tape
results from the error, than it is to ne
glect grossly an important duty entrusted
to one by the United States, and
TO do as little as possible in the assigned ser
vice, with the sequence Of heavy loss to the
government and to the water-takers Of Wash
ington. The effect of such lesson in encour-
aging enthusiasm and patriotic zeal among the
officers Of the United States, and in improving
the character of services rendered to the gov
eminent will at once be apparent.
The court in Maj. Lydecker's case explains
its admitted leniency on the ground that it was
almost impossible for the accused to perform
his supervising duties, with the result of secur-
ing thoroughly good work, sin spaces so con-
fined as those above the arch in the tunnel"
The cavities were, it appears, not big enough
to give room for Maj. Lydecker, in his capacity
as supervisor. 1t ought also to be added as an
additional ground of leniency that the way to
these cavities was dark, and damp, and nasty;
for this fact suggests a more serious impede
ment to uniformed inspection than even the
question Of space. And it must be admitted that
while the problem of disposing of supervisor
Of Major Lydecker's real or assumed proper
tions is one Of no little difficulty, the
tunnel cavities are much larger and less
cramping than the club-room or parlor from
which the duties of inspection were actually
performed The courts suggestion that it is
almost impossible for military engineer to
secure thoroughly good work in spaces so con-
fined involves the whole engineering corps in
the discredit for neglect Of duty which attaches
to Major Lydecker. 1t amounts to an asser-
ton that any other military supervisor would
have made the same miserable failure in the
performance Of his duties. President Harri-
sons disappearing approval of the decision of
the court-martial is as much an act of
Justice to the engineering corps as it
Is partial protection to the govern
ment against bad service, and a deserved
reprimand Of the court-martial ITSELF
The President brushes aside with fitting con-
tempt the suggestion that the strictest and
most faithful supervision of the progress Of
such work is powerless to detect and convict
the shams which were practiced, and in refer
ence to the results of the absence of such su-
pervision he saws: THAT very great loss and
inconveni snce have been inflicted upon the
community by the delays which have resulted
from the failure to discover promptly the
faulty and fraudulent character of tine work is
apparent"
The Presiden. has shown a clear and intelli-
rent ton OF lee IS Al
controversy in his comments upon this SEN
tence. II undue leniency has been extended
to Major Lydecker, will not the President see
to II that just leniency is exercised by the
United States in the treatment of the water
takers Of Washington, who, through no fault
Of their own or of their agents. and without
the slightest advantage to themselves by way
Of consideration, are saddled with debt of
million dollars on account Of this rotten tunnel?
In commenting upon the fatal accident at the
Bridge street crossing OF the Pennsylvania rail-
road, described in to-day's papers, the Phila-
delphia Press says:
The fact that there is no fagman at that
point after 10 O'Clock is a surprising instance
OF laxness, and is likelv to prove a costly econ
omy for the railroad company The accident
enforces with solemn emphasis the recent de-
hverance of President Roberts as to the evils
ana dangers OF grade crossings"
The disaster teaches lesson not only in Penn
sylvania, where grade-crossings bill is pend
Ing. but to every other state and to the District
OF Columbia. Here, as at this grade-crossing
In Pennsylvania, the economy of dispensing
with protection to the public at night, the time
when warning is most needed, is practised by
the railroads, notwithstanding the fact that the
law makes no discrimination in favor of IN
guarded crossings at night and notwithstand-
Ing the fact that fatal accidents have resulted
from failure to obey the law in this respect.
Heavy damages have been recently recovered
In the District for injuries inflicted
by the local railroads, and other cases are
pending. Here as in Pennsylvania it will be
found cheaper in the long run to obey the law
and to protect the people whose streets are
frAversed 1t is within the power Of the local
authorities to enforce the law requiring these
crossings to be guarded, and this duty should
be faithfully performed until the PENNSYLVANIA
road puts into practice the excellent precepts
OF President Roberts by sbolshing such cross
ings, and the Baltimore and Ohio road is COM
PEELED by public sentiment to follow the sup
posed example Of its competitor.
Frankness is a virtue so rare in public men
that Mr.. Parnelrs exhibition Of it On the wit