Evening star., 1939-05-07
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star


Lydeeker com. Of % tn. CO co,,rt.mar- M @
oentenee tial Of Maj. Lydecker for
Inodequofe fraudulent work in the
water supply tunnel constructed under
his supervision:
Maj. 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
supposed supervision. His neglect Of
duty has been followed by the abandon
ment as worthless Of what has been done
in the task assigned to him, and loss
Of 100000 and the evil and annoy
ance of an indefinite delay in securing
q much-needed increase in the local
water supply have been inflicted upon
the United States and this community.
He Is sentenced to forfeit to the United
States 500 for nine months and to be
reprimanded in orders! The effect of
such lesson in encouraging enthusiasm
and patriotic zeal among the officers of
the United States and in improving the
character of services rendered to the
Government will at once be apparent.
"The court in Maj Lydecker's case ex-
plains its admitted leniency on the
ground that it was almost impossible for
the accused to perform the supervising
duties with the result of securing thor
oughly good work in spaces so confined
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 for leniency that the way to
these cavities was dark and damp and
nasty, for this fact suggests more seri-
GUS impediment to uniform inspection
than even the question Of space. And it
must be admitted that while the problem
of disposing Of supervisor Of Maj. Ly-
decker's real or assumed proportions is
one of no little difficulty, the tunnel
cavities are much larger and less cramp-
ing than the clubroom or parlor from
which the duties of inspection were actu-
ally performed. The courts suggestion
that it is almost impossible for military
engineer to secure thoroughly good work
in spaces so confined involves the whole
Engineering Corps in the discredit for
neglect of duty which attaches to Mai.
Lydecker. 1t amounts to an assertion
that any other military supervisor would
have made the same miserable failure in
the performance of his duties. Presi-
dent Harrison's disapproving approval of
the decision of the court-martial is as
much an act Of justice to the Engineer
ing Corps as it Is partial protection to
the Government against bad service, and
deserved reprimand Of the court-mar-
tial itself. The President brushes aside
with fitting contempt the suggestion that
the strictest and most faithful super
vision Of the progress of such q work is
powerless to detect and convict the
shams which were practiced, and in def
erence to the results Of the absence Of
such supervision he says, THAT very
great loss and inconvenience have been
inflicted upon the community by the de-
lays which have resulted from the failure
to discover promptly the faulty and
fraudulent character Of the work is ap-
parent
"The President has shown . clear and
intelligent appreciation Of the merits Of
the tunnel controversy in his comments
upon this sentence. II undue leniency
has been extended to Maj. Lydecker, will
not the President see to it that Just len
iency 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 With
out tho slightest advantage to themselves
by way Of consideration, are saddled with
a debt Of million dollars on account Of
this rotten tunnel?"