The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-26
WITHOUT HINT OR SUGGESTION
THE INITIATORY STEPS TAKEN BY
CAPT. GILLETTE.

He States He Alone Is Entirely Re-
sponsibIe-The Board of Investi-
CATION Ceased Its Labors Here Yes
terday and Its Members Left the
City For New EOrk-They Did Not
Go Down the Rfver-WiII Probably
Hold Another Meeting Before
Making Report to the War De-
parfment.
The river and harbor investigation has
rested for the present. The investigat-
ing board closed it labors here yesterday
morning, at least for the time being and at
noon Col. Gillespie and Majs. Raymond
and Adams took the Plant system train
for New York
The board met again yesterday morning
as usual but no other witnesses were
heard. Capt. Gillette and Capt. Carter
were present as before, but the proceed
ings appear TO have been brief as an adj
journment was taken about noon, and the
members of the board went to the hotel to
prepare to take the train.
The board did not. as was expected, go
on an inspecting trip down the river. 1t
is not known positively whether 1t will
meet in Savannah again or not, but it is
expected that another meeting will be
held before the board is ready to make
its report. Whether this meeting will be
in Washington or Savannah remains to
be seen. The evidence taken before the
board has not as yet been transcribed by
Mr.. ]. S. Harrison. who had charge Of
the work. and it will no doubt take him
several days to put it in shape.
From these facts it is concluded that it
will be some time yet before the board
makes a report to the war department.
1t is understood, of course, that nothing
will be given out with regard to the mat
ter until the board has reported to the
war department. According to army eti-
quette, matters to be given publicity must
generally come from the highest author
ity that has charge of them, and especial
~ is it true of matters of this kind. 1t
is likely therefore that it will be some
time before any information from the in
vestigation is given to the public.
Capt. Gillette when seen had nothing to
say beyond the fact that the board had
gone. When the subject Of certain re-
ports bringing a certain stone company
and the Nicaragua Canal Company into
the matter was brought up he mercy said
they had nothing whatever to do with the
present investigation.
Il can only say" Capt. Gillette remark
ed, that so far as this investigation is
concerned the initiative steps which gave
rise to it were taken by myself without
ar OK Xyh q lover ~
other source. l alone am entirely respon-
sible in so far as the initiative in this pro-
ceeding is concerned"
This is in substance what Capt. Gillette
stated when he returned from Washington
just after the initiatory steps had been
taken. Though the principal part of the
investigation, perhaps has closed now,
about as little is known of what those in
itiatory steps were or what the proceed
ings have been as was the case before.
1t has been intimated that the investiga-
ton is more far-reachng than the ques-
ton of the difference in the specific grav-
ity of the rock used and that called for by
the specifications and that other things
are involved Just what these other
things are is about as closely yelled in
mystery as have been the proceedings thus
far.
Capt. carter returned to New York last
night to continue his attendance on the
sessions Oh the nicaragua canal comfnlS-
sion. His friends here have been watch
ing with great interest the progress of the
case, and expressing hopes that he would
be able to show that all of his work here
has been done as 1t should have been done.
Expressions have been heard from many
sources, during the week. commendatory
of the work that has been done upon the
Savannah river, since it has given the
port a channel that has quadrupled its
/ commerce. What bearing this will have
upon the investigation, however, remains
| to be seen. All of the engineers, inspect
| ors and others, who come to Savannah on
account OF the investigation, have return
! ed to their posts