Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08

the accused. The proceedings of such a
| court are in strong contrast to the conduct
| of trial by the civil court. Everything ia
written. No browbeating of witnesses. no
eloquent appeals to the jury, no appeals to
popular sentiment are heard. All is formal.
precise and regular. The accused must. by
| law, be furnished sometime beforehand
with a copy of the charges against him.
He may object to any member of the
court, and if his objections be valid, such
member or members may be withdrawn.
He may select or employ anyone to defend
him. 1t is usual to select some officer, but
in case no one is chosen the Judge Advocate
or Recorder acts as prosecutor and counsel
| for the accused. This feature in court is
| specially objected to by lawyers, but there
| is nothing to prevent q trained officer from
performing both these duties, although it
| would be better to separate them.
All evidence must be taken in the presence
of the accused and OF the whole court. In
deliberating upon verdict, the junior Of
fcer votes first, and the ballots are written,
and secret, being opened and read by the
Judge Advocate. In spite Of the prejudice
against military tribunals, it is not at all
certain that justice is obtained more fire.
quently in our civil courts. question if
the choice of trial by court martial or by
civil process were given to seamen, they
would, as rule, choose any other than the
military courts.
A STRICT SHIP THE BEST.
As rule the necessity of these courts il
rare in q well-ordered ship. "a strict ship
is the best ship" is frequently asserted.
Men find little complaint with rigid dis
cipline, if it be just, firm and kind, and If
their little personal rights are respected. 1t
is usually other than the older seamen that
give trouble. In nine eases out of ten it is
the disafected landsman or novice whose
conduct is reprehensible.
Certain offenses, dangerous on shore, are
not looked at SO severely on board ship,
while others, not serious on shore, must be
regarded as such on board ship. Drunken
ness, when not on duty. is not serious Of
tense, while disrespect to superior may be
attended with disastrous consequences.
Combinations to resist authority, or even to
demonstrate, must be forbidden to the sea-
men, while they may be part of citizens
rights. A great mistake is sometimes made
in regarding the enlisted man or officer as
citizen merely, entitled to all the rights
and privileges of a citizen. Such is not
the case. He voluntarily surrenders many
rights and privileges, and acquires others,
when he enters the Government service.
Hence, his conduct may not be judged by
the same rules as that of the citizen.
There are usually enough marines on
board ships to preserve order among the
men. Officers are forbidden by the regula-
tions to interfere with the arrest of men per-
sonally, unless absolutely compelled to par
ticipate. In all respects such Offices should
be left to subalterns, officers or men.
The usual administration of discipline in
our navy is harmonious. as might be shown
by the in'requent punishments. Mutiny is
almost unknown in our service, only one
fsgrant instance being publicly known.
THE QUESTION OF DEsERTIoN.
Desertion is no criterion of the state of |
discipline on board of ship. Men desert |
for reasons altogether unconnected with dis |
cipline. Many are not even disconnected. |
Sometimes they yield to the voice Of the |
sirens SO numerous in seaport towns; some |
times an unusual or unexpected chance of |
bettering their condition offers, and some
times the passion for drink leads men astray.
Since the liquor ration was abolished, the
men have no opportunities for Quenching
their thirst for some form of intoxicant,
except when they have liberty" or leave
on shore. Frequently, a long abstinence
only 1nfames the desire for liquor, and
more is taken than intended. Better pay
and better allowances would, it is certain,
give US DeIIer class OF men, ana remove
many Of these chronic offenders that infest
every ship.
1t is the custom to classify men ON board
of our men of war according to the record
kept of their conduct, and every inducemcnt
is held out to them to avoid offenses of every
kind. Certain privileges accrue from this
ruling in classes, such as more leave in port,
good conduct discharge, more spending
money, etc.. etc. This system has been
found to work we'll, and tends to preserve
discipline and keep down crime on board.
Good conduct is encouraged in other ways.
In all cases. when rumors of disafection,
of cruelty, of injustice, etc., are reported in
the army or navy, public judgment should
be suspended until the facts are thoroughly
ascertained, for the effect upon enlisted men
of undeserved sympathy with fsncied
wrongs is very hurtful to them and to the
service. 1t is difficult to arrive at the truth
such things quickly on board
ships. Good men and innocent men will
not talk, and worthless, inefficient ones will,
SO that one-slded story is apt to obtain
currency, which, after investigation, usually
proves false. Great injury has been done
By comments made on the false hypothesis
or premises first promulgated.
f. s. BAssETT.