The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-23
Cnnt. Cnrter,s Case.

The New York Times seems TO be afraid
that the charges against Capt Carter viii
not be thoroughly investigated by the
court-martial which will meet in this city
next month. 1t says lit viii not be worth
while to slight the trial of the charges,
and that Secretary Alger should see to
it that the war department shall so con-
duct the court-martial that congress will
not feel called upon to do anything fur
Their" 1t says also that the course at
first pursued by the war department no
doubt led Representative Amos J. Cum
mings to introduce the resolution in the
House which calls for all the papers N
the case, and would bring out the facts
which may be shown at Savannah"
AS far as we know there is no disposi
ton on Capt Carriers part 10 have any
facts which would seem to sustain the
charges kept back. 1t is known that he
expressed preference for a court-mar-
tial when the board Of army officers, that
recently investigated the charges. was ap-
pointed From his statements he is no less
anxious for a thorough investigation Of
the charges than congress and the pubic
are.
We do not know, Of course, whether the
work in the Savannah harbor was done in
accordance with the specifications or not,
or whether, as alleged 20 be charged.
81 100000 was wasted on the work but we
are sure that the New York Times is mis-
taken when it says that according to its
information Capt Gillette's report shows
the following condition of affairs: "A
great and costly work in charge of Capt.
Carter had been so executed that IL was
worse than useless. 1t would have been
better il it had not been done at all. For
If it had not been begun and continued in
the manner directed by Capt. Carter the
government would not have expended
more than 81 50OO 600 for throwing a lot of
brush and stone overheard"
We don't think Capt Gilelte's report
shows anything like the foregoing. The
Times must be misinformed. Capt Gil
lette could hardly say that it would have
been better if the work had not been done
at all, because, as a matter of fact, the re-
suit that was aimed at, namely, the secur-
ing of a channel of twenty-six feet at
mean high water, from the wharves of
the city to the sea, has been practically
achieved-at least the understanding is
that it has. We know that there is vast
Improvement in the harbor channel, and
that it accommodates vessels drawing six
or seven feet more water than it did be-
fore the Improvement was begun. The
work was inspected as it progressed by
officers of the engineer corps detailed for
that purpose. The Times, therefore, must
have an erroneous idea of what the
charges are which Capt. Carter is required
to face. We make this statement in de-
Tense of our harbor and not for the pur-
pose of creating an impression favorable
TO Capt. Carter.
Our understanding is that the gravest
charge against Capt. Carter is that he
showed favors to the company doing the
work. thus enabling the company to make
more than a legitimate profit. However,
the nature of the charges and the evidence
to sustain them will soon be known. We
are inclined to think that when the court
martial has completed its work there will
be no necessity for congress to make an
investigation.