The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-27
TO BRING UP ALL CONTRACTS.
TRUTH LIES AT THE BOTTOM OF A
WELL, SAID COL. BARR.

OF Evidence Relating to Former
Contracts, to Save Time and Be-
cause the Charges Under Them
Had Been Ruled out by the statute
of Limitation, But Withdrew His
ObjectiOn-MOre Letters, and Com
tracts and Abstracts introduced
and Read.
There was another drag about the pro-
gress of the Carter court martial proceed
ings yesterday, the evidence proceeding
along the same line as that of the day be-
fore. with Chief Clerk J. w o. sterly still
on the stand.
The only interest given the days pro-
ceedings was by iltle till between Col.
Barr and Mr. Blair. with reference TO evil
dence relating TO the contracts of 1882,
and Others the charges under which were
barred by the statute of limitations
Col Bars expression that he expected
to pursue the investigation to the bottom,
even though it led TO the doors of the PEN
itentiary was more spirited than anything
he has yet said in reply to counsel on the
other side. His whole desire. he said was
to get at the truth. The objection TO the
Introduction Of evidence relating to- former
contracts was Withdrawn. The evidence
was Of course introduced to prove rela-
lions between the parties involved prior
to the contracts of 1896, but necessarily
all charges under former contracts are
barred
The vo.uminous correspondence relating
to the contracts of 1892, at Cumberland
1 eo,,od md Il, cavoppob barhor was read
and introduced to show that there was too
short time between The publication of
the advertisements and the opening Of the
bids; that contractors who might have bid
were delayed by being given only one copy
of the specifications instead of three; that
one copy was sent for the purpose of de
terminng by subsequent requests who was
| going 20 bid, prior to the time for open
| ing the bids and that the copies neces-
sary were sent TOO late to give contractors
| time to make intelligent bids upon the
work. This is summary of the theory
of the prosecution in connection with the
evidence introduced yesterday and the day
before and from this is deduced the fur
Their allegation that the proceedings were
so conducted for The benefit of the Allan
( tic Contracting Company.
Col Barr first offered in evidence the
proposals for improving Savannah har-
Dor under the contract of 1895. Capt. Car
ter's letter to the chief Of engineers rec
Cmmending that the contract for con-
/ slructing the jetty at the mouth of the
| river be given to the Atlantic Contracting
| Company. John r. Gaynor president, and
1 that for dredging to RittenhoUse r. Moore
at al In aln in 10
/ abstract of the bids for the Savannah
| herbor work was read and in summary is
| as follows: Virginia Dredging Company,
| for dredging only, 1853 cents per cubic
/ yard; total, S2l1 $50. p. Sanford Ross, jet
! " work, 1857, O9O dredging 17.9; total S223 ..
! $50 Savannah Dredging Company, dredg
! ing only, 20la cents, S256, $50; American
| Dredging Company, dredging only, 2
! cents, $4,000; Atlantic Contracting Com
| pany, jetty work 1885 coo; Rittenhouse r.
Moore, dredging only. 13 cents, 1852, see and
/ John l.. Grimm $4,000.
A letter from the chief of engineers mott
| flying Capt. Carter of the passage of the
| river and harbor act of 1892 was next pre-
! sented Mr.. Blair thought the court had
| ruled upon all the matters under con-
tracts before those of 1896, and wanted
10 know the purporC of such evidence.
II propose 10 bring in all the contracts,
| those OF 1892 and Others" Col. Barr said
! and I will show the connection later"
| In answer to a question from Mr. Blair
| Col. Barr said he was introducing the
| testimony in proof of the second specifica-
ton under the first charge; that Of con-
| sp.racy with the Atlantic Contracting
! Company, Messrs. Green & Gaynor and
others.
Other papers on The same line relating
| to the contract Of 1892 We're offered when
Mr. Blair interposed an objection, mainly.
he said, for the purpose of expediting
| the trial and saving time. He objected
| on the ground that matters relating 10
| the contracts of 1892 and others prior to
those of 1896, had been ruled OUT under the
statute Of limitations, and on the ground
! that one conspiracy could not be estab-
! hshed for the purpose of proving another.
Col Barr showed considerable spirit in
his reply. He was emphatic and from
rms reply seemed somewhat piqued at the
! objection made.
In all my experience" he said. this
IS the first time l have ever heard the
statute of limitations applied to evidence.
l propose 10 go back even of any date
mentioned in the specifications for the pur-
! pose OF showing the relations of these par
| ties Tor long time previous | proDose
! to take up the individual acts of each Of
/ these men, and see where they tend and
TO what they lead. If to one path l pro-
pose 10 follow that path, painful as the
duty may be, even though it leads to The
uOcIS OF tile penltentiary.
II can show that the parties securing
an these contracts were the same. and
that the beneficiaries were The same How
can conspiracy be established If we do
rot go back and see what these men have
been doing? Even if ii should be shown
that they have been guilty under former
contracts they cannot be punished for i
nut their actions then can be used as
| proof.
We are here to make a thorough and
complete Investigation of this matter. to
the very bottom. II has been said that
the truth lies at the bottom of a well If
We are nor going to bring it to light. then
this cannot be such an inyes-
LEGATION as we were called here
to make. If the accused is to go forth
acquitted by his brother officers. his hon
or unstained, then we must go to the bot
! tom of this business"
Mr.. Blair said he did not object provid-
cd there was no purpose to prove the aiIeg-
| ed conspiracy of 1892. If the intention was
! simply TO prove the relations of the par
| ties, he could not object.
1T is true" Mr. Blair said. that the
Atlantic Contracting Company had most
of the contracts under this accused. II
also had most of those under Gen Guj-
more from 1873 to 1892 and il is iust as