The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-02
COURT-MARTIAL OF CARTER.
THE SENSATIONAL TRIAL TO BE
HELD IN SAVANNAH.

The Case May Be Made an Excuse
in Congress- For Not Making Any
Appropriations For River and HRr-
Dor Work at This Session.
Washington, Dec. 1.-Capt. o. NJ. Car
ter was notified to-day that he will have
to undergo the discomforts of military
court-martlal as a result of the charges
made against him in connection with the
river and harbor Improvements in Savan-
nah harbor.
5 The case of Capt. Carter involves indi-
rectly the high moral standing of the en-
gineer corps of the army, hence it is DEEM
ed advisable to submit the case to a court
martial rather than attempt to smother
the charges against the accused officer,
only to have them re-opened by a congress
sional investigation. which would surely
follow.
The personnel of the court has not been
decided upon, and the papers in the case
are now at army headquarters, to be re-
viewed by Commanding General Miles. The
commanding general and Adjutant Gen
eral Vincent will arrange the details of
the court, and then the judge advocate
general will prepare the charges and spec
ifcations in due military form.
1t is understood that Capt Garter will
be charged with conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman. The specifications
will set forth that Capt Carter falsified
his reports of his work on the improve
ments in Savannah harbor, that he di-
rected his clerk to make false entries con-
cerning his presence at Savannah, while
he was absent from his station, that he
was from duty without authority, that he
ignored the instructions of the war depart
ment, and that he otherwise neglected his
duties to the pecuniary loss of the United
States government.
The specifications will also set forth
that Capt. Carter violated the army reg
ulations in the method of keeping his ac-
counts, and while embezzlement is not
charged it is charged that the govern
ment paid enormous sums of money to
the contractors through the negligence of
Capt. Carter.
The entire engineer corps of the army
is interested in this court martial, for it
is the most exclusive branch of the ser
vice, and the members of the corps re-
gard themselves as somewhat superior in
intelligence and social rank to their fell
low officers of the other military depart
ments 1t is for this reason that the most
searching inquiry will be made with a
view to purging the engineer corps from
the general charge of carelessness in the
matter of dealing with rivers and harbors
improvements.
against Capt. Garter, will now be called
on to present to the court martial the
testimony to substantiate his charges If
he falls he will be disgraced forever If
on the contrary hs is able to Justify the
accusations he aas mace against a brother
officer the latter win probably be dismiss
ed from the service. Thus it will be seen
the court martial must go to the very
bottom of the case and the result means
disgrace for either Capt. Garter or his ac-
cuser, Can't. Gillette
In view OF the unusual interest surround
ing ms case the general of the army
Will endeaVor to assemble a court of Off
GERS of high rank; much higher than is
the custom in trying an officer of the rank
OF captain. The president of the court
will probably be Brig. Gen. Elwen Otis.
commanding the department of Columbia
and Lieut.. Col. John w. Clous of the same
department, will probably be detailed as
There is some difficulty in the selection
or the other officers of the court, OWNS.
TO the fact that the sessions of the court
will have to be held in Savannah where
the work was executed and the witnesses
are easy of access. 1t was proposed 10
convene the court in the city of Washing
ton, but owing 10 the heavy expenses tn 1t
would be entailed in bringing the wit
nesses and the exhibits to this city. that
project had to be abandoned.
1t is believed that the opening of the
court martial will enable those interested
10 nave the case tried on its merits Some
startling revelations are expected to show
mat the heavy expenditures on rivers and
harDors are not always guarded with the
best interests Of the government in view.
On the other hand, it is claimed by the
friends of Capt. Carter that the court
martial will give him an opportunity to
vndicate himself and prove to the world
that, instead of squandering the govern
ment money in Savannah harbor, he act
ually saved several hundred thousand dol
lars out Of the amount Appropriated.
he will be enabled to present before a le
gally constituted tribunal witnesses to dis
prove the charges against him, and to
force his accusers to make their charges
under oath.
While declining to discuss the subject
for publication, Capt Carter saws he is
satisfied to undergo a urt-martial for he
VIII nave an opportunity to face his ene-
mics and make them prove their malicious
charges against his good name and militia
ry reputation, In this connection n
IS said by Representative Cannon
chairman of the appropriation committee
that now is q good time for congress 10
pause in its headlong plunge into further
expenditures upon rivers and harbors NOT
already provided for In other uords
Chairman Cannon had a long conference
with the President to-day during which
he advocated the abandonment of a gen
eral river and harbor bill during the
coming session of congress. He claims
that the government is not legally bound
under the continuing contract system to
appropriate $2O,0O000O in the sundrv civil
appropriation bill for river and herhor
improvements. Next year 1t will be legally
required to expend about $2O.0OOOO0 more
and the year following about $4,000 O00 adj
ditional, making in all a total of $50 600 O0O
Under the circumstances considering the
condition of the treasury, retrenchment
should begin by allowing the river and
harbor bill to fail in the coming session
Of congress. 1t is understood that the
Carter case will be brought to the at
tention of congress, to either check the