The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-28

est character ana most powerful infiu-
ence.
AS usual Judge Advocate General Leiber
reviewed the case, and. being a man OF
the sternSst sense Of duty, the efforts of
Capt. Carriers friends were wasted upon
him. He was required only to examine
the evidence and the action of the court
and report whether in his judgment the
proceedings had been conducted according
10 law, whether the defendant had receiv-
ed a fair and free trial and whether the
verdict and the sentence were justified by
the evidence.
Gen. Leiber's report is still an official
secret, but it is known that he Endorsed
the entire record and recommended that
the sentence be approved by the President
His action was known five minutes after
the papers were placed upon Gen. Ayers
desk, and Capt. Carter's friends then turn
ed their attack upon the secretary. They
claimed that Gen. Leiber was prejudiced
They brought to Washington delegations
of Republican politicians and intimate per-
sonal friends of Secretary Alger, who APP
pealed to him to disapprove Gen. Leiber's
recommendations on personal, political and
social grounds. No possible influence was
overlooked. No wire was left unpulled.
Men, women and children have been active
in the case. Secretary Ayers family and
the families OF other members of the cabi-
net have been the object of unceasing i'm
portunities There has never been a court
martial in the army and few trials in
court in which so many persons have in
terested themselves.
OF course the President has not been I'M
mindful of all this intrigue, for even the
White House has been invaded in order to
prepare his mind, but he has a keen sense
of justice and propriety. and at an early
stage of the proceedings determined upon
a course which he believed would protect
him from criticism. In the first place he
issued orders that Capt. Carriers attorneys
should have free access to all the records
in the preparation of an appeal for elem
ency. This was very unusual 1t never
occurred before so far as can ascertain.
and has provoked considerable criticism
Army officers, who feel that the honor
of their profession is at stake, are still of
the opinion that the President, like the
Secretary of War, has gone TOO far in con-
cessions to the defendant. But this was
done after careful reflection, and in order
TO anticipate complaints that might be en-
tered in the future by Capt. Carters in
tiuential friends. He is now able to say
that no defendant in an army court mar
tai was ever afforded so many advant
ages to prove his innocence as Capt. Car
ter.
In the second place, the President in
trusted the evidence and the findings of
the court to ex-senator Edmunds, with
request that he would make a thorough
examination and report his opinion in fun.
He believes that MIR. Edmunds has the full
confidence of the entire country. The re-
port of Mr.. Edmunds was received by the
Secretary of War last week and confirms
the recommendations of Gen. Deiber, with
the exception of a few unimportant partic
ulars. The record was then referred TO the
Attorney General also, and, after receiving
his Endorsement, was delivered to the Sec
rotary of War last week. Before send
ing the documents to the White House
this morning it is understood that Secre-
tary Algor approved the proceedings and
the recommendations.
Detroit. Mich, Oct. 25.-Chairman Geo.
Y Wisner of the Deepwater Ways Com
mission, in an interview tonight on the
verdict of guilty rendered against Capt. o.
M. Carter, said:
when Carter asked me to make an in
vestigatio at Savannah 1 refused, tell
| ing him I should tell exactly what
| found He insisted had been prejudiced
| against him. After I had been over the
| profles, contracts. and surveys, and made
| a survey of the area covered by the i'm
| provements for myself, 1 was perfectly
/ convinced that the government had re-
| ceived full value for all money expended
| | was not the only engineer who thought
So for Gen CraghiI, Gen. Ludlow, Mai.
Resell Maj Marshall Maj. Mahan, Capt.
| Townsend Capt. Rees, and Maj. Hamburg,
| and a lot of the contractors who had fail
| ed to get in on the contracts, appeared
and testified in his favor"
In conclusion, MIR. Wisner said the only
thing Carter was guilty of was the cut
ting of red tape on several occasions,
all done, however. for the benefit of the
government and 10 save it money.