The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-22
LOOKING AT The RECORDS.
HARBOR INVESTIGATING BOAnD
BEGINS IT'S WORK.


It's Sessions We're Secret, and Capfs.
Carter and Gillette We're Called in
Only When They Were wanted to
Explain some RccOrd-The WORK
Preliminary TO That which VIII
COme-The BOARD VIII Make an In-
spection OF the HarbOr in q Day
or Two.
The investigation Of the charges con-
corning the river and harbor work in the
Savannah harbor and at other points in
this district began yesterday morning, in
the Office of tine United States engineer, in
the citizens Bank building.
The investigating board consisting of
Col. George /. Gillespie, Majs Charles W.
Raymond and Henry M Adams. arrived
in the city in the morning Via the
Plant system. They went first to the ho-
tel, and afterwards to the engineers Of
flee, where they began their work shortly
after 10 O'Clock Col. Gillespie, the senior
officer of the board, was made its chair
man, and Maj. Adams, its youngest mem
Der, the recorder.
The board, it is said, spent the entire
day in preliminary work. remaining at
the office until a late hour in the after
noon The sessions of the board were
strictly private. No outsiders, not even
counsel for those interested. were admit
ted before it. Neither Capt. Cassius E.
Gillette, who furnished the information
upon which the Investigation is based,
nor Capt. o. N. Garter, his predecessor
here, were with the board during the en-
tire day. Both of them were at hand,
however, and they appeared before the
board only when called upon by it to make
explanations with regard to the records
Of the office.
The members of the board appear to
have spent their time during the day in
loo1ing over the official records of the
work, calling upon the two officers most
interested only for certain data or expla-
nations Of what the records contained. It
seems that the days work was in a sense
preliminary to the main work of the in
vesugaton, the members of the board
spending their time chiefly in mapping
out the work that is before them.
Strictly speaking no witness APP
peared before the board dur
ing the day, with the exception of the two
! officers, who were called upon as stated.
The witnesses, however, may be called
| upon later. 1t is said, also, the board will
probably make a personal tour of inspec-
ton of the work, and it is likely will take
a trip down She river in day or two
1t looks now as if the investigation
would be one Of some length. There is a
mass of detail in the Office with which the
/ members Of the board viii in a large meas
ure have to familarize themselves This
work is all preliminary to an examination
| OF Witnesses and-to a personal inspection
of the harb0r works themselves.
Neither Capt. Garter nor Capt. Gillette
/ had anything to say with regard to the
matter.
Certain reports, as varied as they are
/ vague are being sent out from Washing
/ ton with regard to the matter. 1t appears
/ that indiscriminate attacks are being
made by some one, and it would seem
! that efforts are being made to involve
/ The corps of engineers generally. These
/ attacks, it is stated, have no founda-
/ ton in fact. 1t is a weli-known and ac-
/ cepted fact that the graduates of West
| Point are thorough and proficient as the
/ government makes provision for this for
! the purpose Of putting them in charge Of
/ important works.
IL cannot be foretold, however, what
| turn the present investigation viii take
Just now it is in the stage of inquiry into
! one particular work, upon which the pres
| ent board win merely make a report to
| the department for it's consideration. The
/ case is being watched closely all over
/ the country, particularly in the army
! circles, to certain members of which, as
wen as TO others, it has more meaning
/ perhaps, than can lie seen ON the surface
The board viii probably continue It's
! work IN the office to-day, and perhaps
! for two or three days before it takes a
| look at the harbor here or at. Fernandina
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