Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-16
AN APPEAL.
Say young man
Will you give US a rest,
By kindly muffling
That new spring vest?
REWARD OR PUNISHMENT?

Sharp Criticisms OF the Sentence Of the
McCalla Court Martial.
THE TALK AMONG NAVAL OFFICERS ToDAY-Mosr
OF THEM THINK THAT THREE YEARS HOLIDAY
UNDER PAY Is NOT VERY SEVERE PUNISHMENT
Anew WHO THINK THE SENTENCE TOO SEVERE.
The sentence given Capt McCala by court
martial for ill-treating his crew, which is men
toned elsewhere in The STAR today, was the
subject Of very animated conversation on all
sides this morning at the Navy Department.
Here and there in conspicuous mi
nority could, by diligent searching, be
found men who thought that the
sentence was about what the offense deserved.
while others, still fewer in number, advanced
the opinion that ''the old man had been treated
roughly" The vast majority of officers regard
the sentence as outrageously inadequate. In
effect the sentence simply amounts, they say,
to giving Commander McCalla
THREE YEARS LEAVE WITH PAY
During his suspension he will receive the
pay Of an officer on waiting orders, which, n
the case Of commander, is %, 800 a year.
Under ordinary circumstances an officer COM
Ing home from q cruise such as that Of the En-.
terprise would be first given from three
to six months leave Of absence, the
3
pay, and he would then be given shore duty at
$4,000 year. Thus, taking no account of the
leave which he would have obtained. Capt
McCalla will lose but %, 100, or the difference
between shore duty and leave pay. Had be
been the most meritorious of officers he could
not by any means have obtained more than a
years leave with pay had he asked for it.
Pecunlarlly Commander McCalla is, they
claim. well off, as his wife is wealthy and he
owns a magnificent residence in this city The
loaa Of 10 9TH ~ a.k
is to be believed. He is. at the same time, free
to engage in any outside business enterprise
he may wish, and thus recruit his fortunes to
many times the extent Of his loss.
EXPRESSIONS OF DISGUST
are to be heard everywhere.
at seems to me-" said one officer, "that it
would have been enough for the court to have
let McCalla off SO easily, without asking for
clemency. The eleven men who signed that
recommendation ought to feel very small"
II think that the court should have acquitted
McCalla," remarked solitary individual. 1T
was a very severe sentence"
Severe" exclaimed bystander, "Then I'd
like to be kicked little."
ut is a record that should make naval off,
GERS blush" said a service man. They
should feel dsgraced by the fact that ten of
their number can thus practically applaud
the tyranny Of a commander over his helpless
crew."
one exclamation. "a court finds man guilty
of half dozen violations of the regulations, Of
half dozen distinct crimes and then
Furnishes HIM BY REwARDINa HIM."
'Iook at the records in the cases of Pay
master General Smith and Surgeon Gen
eral Wales" advised officer, "who
were dismissed because they did not exercise
a sufficiently close watch over their dishonest
surbordInates, and see if there is any justice in
| 10 uhnr
and declared guilty of q positive crime, is
given a three years holiday and paid for tax.
ingi
II can find but one motive to ascrbe to the
court In its action. was one opinion. land
that is that they were afraid OF establishing
precedent that might work against them in
case any Of them should ever go to sea as COM
| manders again"
1--WE might as we'll burn up the regulations,
now that McCalla has been patted on the back
| for violating them, muttered one old officer.
THE CASE OF COMMANDER BOOK.
Thus the talk went in nineteen cases out Of
| twenty condemnatory Of the court and
its findings. Several folks cited the
case of Commander Book, Who for
leaving his rotten ship in Alaska to come here
to urge her repairs, was suspended from rank
and duty for two years on half of leave pay. a
case i'll which an officer was punished almost
twice as severely as Capt. McCalla for an ex-
/
THE COMPOSITION OF THE COURT.
Rear Acmiral Harmony was president of the
court which tried McCalla. The other mem
beers we're Capts. Henry Erben. Richard Meade
T. D. Matthews. Il. l.. Phvthian and F. "
McNair. and Commanders B. F. Day, VIM r.
Bridgman, Merrill Miller, Geo. II. Wadleigh
Colby Chester and Vim. H. Whiting.
Capt Lester A. Beardslee was originally or
dered on the court but was objected to by
! Commander McCalla on the ground that he was
| prejudiced. All Of the members of the court
but Capt. Erben signed the recommendation
| for clemency.
| THE FIRST VOTE.
1t is said on very good authority that the
first vote Of the McCalla court stood as follows
For acquittal, Admiral Harmony; for dismissal,
Capts. Meade, Erben, Phythisn, Matthews and
Bridgman; for reprimand in general orders, the
remainder of the court. The final sentence
was a compromise between these elements.
I