The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-15
COL. BARR WANTS FIGURES.
CAPT. CARTER CLOSELY QUESTION
ED ABOUT THE HIRT MONEY.


On-Capt. Carter Claimed OfHce
Records Had Been Destroyed, Ac-
cOrding to MIR. SterIy's Testimony.
The fourth day of Capt. Carriers cross
examination by Col. Barr has passed, and
still Capt. Carter is on the stand, and
in the hands of the Judge Advocate.
Col. Barr is most searching in his ques-
tons, and seeks to get down to motives
He touched on a number of matters yes
terday, among them the questions of CIV
ing out Information to prospective bio
ders, the subject of advertising for bids,
the Twiggs contract, of which it appears
Capt. Carter did recommend an annui-
ment, the caving bank in the river just
above the improvements and the Hlrt
money, a minute investigation of which
was undertaken, and Capt Carter was
requested to furnish computation show
ing how the amount, s1S2.1O, was arrived
at. The court room. as usual, was crowd
ed during the entire session.
The fifth day of Capt. Carter's cross ex,
animation will begin to-day. 1t appears
that the Judge Advocate is going into
every possible phase of the case with Capt.
Carter, and it cannot now be predicted
when he will finish with him.
The subject of detailed information with
regard to the works was dwelt upon at
length by Col. Barr, who made numerous
inquiries with regard to what Capt. Car
ter told prospective bidders.
and free information to every one who in
quired for it. He did not remember
whether he ever volunteered any informa-
ton on the subject of multiple mattresses
or not.
That was very important part of your
work, Captain. You ought to remember
It," Col. Barr said.
Capt. Carter said he always gave all in
formation that was suggested by the con-
versation he had with a prospective BID
der. His conversation with Mr.. F. A. D.
Hancock was recalled. He did not regard
Mr.. Hancock as capable of carrying ON
the work. He did not remember having
discussed the subject of multiple mat
tresses with Mr.. Hancock.
you remembered that conversation be-
fore the board of inquiry better than you
seem to now?" Col. Barr suggested.
No; do not think So" was the answer
You stated there that you told Mr.
Hancock it would require from $500 COO to
100000, perhaps 100000, to go into the
work." Col. Barr said
Yes, that was upon the financial side
OF the question. l remember that part
of the conversation now as well as 1 did
then, but that is not on the subject of
multiple mattresses" Capt. Carter said.
Yes, but your memory should be al
good with regard to that as with regard
to the financial part of the conversation"
Col. Barr said.
IF the matter came up in the course of
the conversation no doubt told him about
them; but cannot recall all of the details
of a particular conversation 1 had with
particular man on a particular subject"
Capt. Carter said he did not depart from
the specifications in the matter of the
length of fascines put into mattresses.
Capt. Carter in explaining why he had
called for one bid on the three different
designs of mattresses, had said the United
States should have the right to select
whichever kind was wanted for particu-
lar purpose. Col Barr asked why it was
that the United States could not haye the
right of selection just as well if different
bids We're submitted on each of the de-
signs Capt. Carter said it was a matter
of economy and interest to the govern
ment. The price would be about the
same as he had learned from his expe-
rience. Col. Barr questioned him to his
experience, which led him to this conclu-
sion He had seen many mattresses built,
but the true test was the bids. The Eds
showed that the price on all three designs
were about the same
Capt. Carter said he had given the con-
tractors, once to Mr.. Bangs and once to
the Atlantic Contracting Company, per-
mission to cut brush on the government
reservation near Cumberland sound. He
wanted the underbrush there cut off. The
permission under the Bangs contract was
sent through the inspector, Mr.. Conant.
did you ever say in the specifications
that contractors would be permitted to
cut brush from the government. reserva-
ton there?" Col. Barr asked.
NO, sir. it never occurred TO me that
it should be done. The matter came to
my attention afterward, and 1 considered
it would be advantageous to the govern
ment TO have it cut away" Capt. Car
ter said
Capt. Carter said he never submitted to
the board of inquiry any estimate stat
ing that the royalty on brush at Cumber-
land sound was $50 for an eght-course
mattress. Lieut. Rees submitted an esti-
mate to the board. but he did not do so.
In one Of Capt Carriers contracts where
different bids were called for one pro-
posal asked four cents more for log mat
tresses than for the brush mattresses. Col.
Barr considered that under such a bid,
considerable might be saved to the gov
eminent because a lower price would be
bid on the brush mattresses. Capt. Carter
said experience had not shown such TO be
the case, and that there were other con-
slderations which did not affect the price
in that way.
On the Cumberland sound contract in
1896 he used only half the amount Of mat
tresses and increased the amount of stone
which were recommended by the board of
engineers, for the purpose of canvassing
bids. He said he had already put in more
mattresses than were recommended by
the board, or more than AZ, 600 square
yards. He did this because when he be-
gan laying the six-course mattresses he
found that they began sanding up imme-
diately. This was shown by the reports
of the inspectors, and demonstrated that
the brush was making a good jetty.
Capt Carter said he did not consider
he was making any modifca ton of the
specifications when he used multiple mat
tresses. This he considered he had a per-
feet right 20 do under the specifications.
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