Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-29

charged by the superintendent Of the coast and
board
The court will report and summarize the
evidence and express its opinion thereon.
The detail for the court is Col. Elweil 8.
Otis, twentieth infantry; Col. Henry L. Abbot,
corps OF engineers; Lieut. Col. Alex. c. NJ
Pennington. fourth artillery; First Lieut..
Arthur Murray, first artillery, recorder.
Upon the adjournment Of the court the
members and recorder thereof will return to
their proper stations.
AN INTERESTING STORY
There IL . very interesting story connected
with this case, much Of which is old, but good
part Of which has never been told The case
has been before the Treasury Department in
one shape or another for nearly six months
and 1t 10 not stretching point to say that it has
caused Secretary Foster and his assistants
nearly II not quite much trouble as the ad-
ministration Of the national finances. It threat
ened to destroy the Secretary's political stand
ing and nearly disrupted the light house board
IL also involved legal construction of the word
some as applied to a specified number with
the result that the department held that IL an
act OF Congress provided for "some thirty
seven lights" at . certain cost three lights more
or less might be erected provided the total e1-
pense came within the specified limit OF cost.
Maj Ludlow was relieved from duty ~ en-
gineer of the ninth and eleventh light house
districts, which included ST. Mary's river, in
June last. This action was taken bv the Secre-
tary OF War at the request of the Secretary Of
the Treasury and was based on representations
by the light house board that Mai. Ludlow hal
been insubordinate and insulting aud had will
fully disobeyed their orders i'll regard to the
lighting Of st. Marys river. From that time
TO this Maj. Ludlow has been fighting vigor-
orously for his reinstatement for the sole pur-
pose Of vindication, as he claims, but for the
n fho Erht II
viewed by friends Of that body.
INFLUENCE BROUGHT ON SECRETARY FOSTER
He brought the most tremendous influence
to bear on Secretary Foster TO have him recon-
slider his action, but that official stood by the
record in the case and refused to interfere, I'M
less MAJ. Ludlow could sustain his course by
the verdict OF a court of inquiry composed of
bis brother army officers. Maj. Ludlow pro-
tested against such a condition and got Gen.
Alger, the congressional delegations from
Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, the Lake Vessel
Owners Association and many other promi-
nent people interested in the safe navigation Of
st. Mary's river TO make personal appeals
to Secretary Foster in his behalf. In
speaking Of the case Secretary Foster
said he never before had many Of his
own personal friends and politicians of his own
party arrayed against him, and that he GER
tainly would have gratilied them but for the
fact that his best Judgment satisfied
him they were in the wrong. He, how
ever, made them this concession - that
he would reinstate Major Ludlow
provided that officer first secured yindication
at the hands of an army court Of inquiry, but
that otherwise he could moi consistently see his
way clear to reverse his action. While admit
ting that Maj Ludow's plan for the lighting of
the river might have been the best for the pur-
pose he could not overlook the fact that he had
dlsregarded the explicit instructions of the
board charged with this duty and had over
stepped the bounds of official propriety in his
communications to the board on the subject.
He was strengthened in his position by a
SPECIAL report on the case prepared at his in
stance by Prof I. c. Mendenhall, superintend-
ent of the coast survey. one of the civilian
members Of the light house board. In that re-
port Prof. Mendenhall made an elaborate re-
view of the facts connected with Maj. Ludlow's
relief and summed up the case in the following
vigorous language:
PROF. MESpENHALLs ABANDONMENT.
Col Ludlow. throughout his entire service
with the board as engineer of the ninth and
eleventh districts. exhibited disposition to
exceed his authority. TO be insubordinate. to
trespass upon the rights and authority of other
officers and to be disrespectful in his inter-
course with the board. Although he received
the reprimand of the board on sew eral occasions
1t did not prevent his continuing in a course
Ito which the word contumacious NAV Justly
apply which eliminated in the matter of light
ing st. Msrys river. Above 1t is fully shown
how In this case he acted without authority.
but the gravameA of his offense was that he so
completely kept the board in the dark as to his
plans and operations that it was forced to take
steps which have unfortunately been greatly
misunderstood by many people and grossly mis-
represented by others, that it has been as
sumed in certain localities that the board was
an obstacle in the way of the successful narga-
ton Of the st. Marys river at night. and that
In opposition to ii Col. Ludlow stood out as the
originator and champion of this most important
Improvement
The lighting of st. Mary's river per sc had
nothing whatever to do with the request for
the relief of Col. Ludlow. as trust have now
made clear.
With all these facts before you l am con-
WINGED that you will agree that the light house
board could not have pursued any other course
1t Is a body charged with great responsibility.
II Is peculiarly organized 80 to secure indie
pendence OF judgment and action. as not one
OF les members receives a dollar of compensa-
ton on account OF his connection with it or is
IN any way dependent upon such connection
Since the time of Joseph Henry no govern
ment board has enjoyed higher reputation or
has profited more through the voluntary un-
paid service Of it's members.
II such beard has no recourse when those
detailed to its service are insubordinate. disre-
spectful, or II even only distasteful, il is clear
that its membership could not be easily re-
cruited among self-respectfui men.
WHAT MAI. LUDLOW CLAIMS
On behalf Of Major Ludlow it may be stated
that he persstently refused the alternative of
IN army court Of inquiry on the general ground
that as engineer Of the lighthouse board subject
to the orders Of the Secretary of the Treasury,
he served in a civil capacity and therefore his
conduct was beyond the purview of the regula-
tons intended solely for the benefit Of the
army. Having, however. tailed to receive the
vindication he crsved at the instance of the
Treasury Department, he finally concluded TO
resort to the course open to all officers Of the
army who regard themselves nnjustly treated
and had asked that his administration as en-
gineer Of the 9th and 10th light house districts
be investigated by = court Of his peers in the
army.
The outcome OF this case viii be watched
with special interest by the citizens of the Dis
trict for the reason that Major Ludlow IL well
known to them one of the former Commits
sioners OF the District under q recent admins
tration.
All About q Gun.
T., H.. ~, IL. IL