The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-22
SAID HE WAS BOOSTED ALONG.
WHY COOPER THOUGHT CARTER
LENIENT WITH CONTAGIOUS.

COurt-it was a FSrSonal AetAeF
and Had Been Before the Board of
Inquiry-That $4,000 Lobbying
Item in Favor of the Contractors.
More About the Mattresses and
Rock-COurt Getting Inpatient.
Witness A. S. Cooper starred again for
the government before the Carter court
martial yesterday.
The tenor of the remainder of his testi-
mony was much the same as that of the
day before namely, that he had ignored
the specifications because Capt. Garter had
given him a sample mattress to go by, and
he only reported deviations from that
sample.
The proceedings were made interesting
byta letter, which, though not introduced
In evidence, was discussed to an extent
that brought out much of its contents. 1t
was the letter which Mr.. Cooper had writ
ten to Capt. Gillette, in which he stated
that Capt Carter had been lenient with
the contractors in return for their inhu-
ence in boosting him along" in Wash
ington, in evidence of which the letter men
toned the two appointments received in
succession by Capt. Carter, to London and
on the Nicaragua Canal Commission.
The witness stated again that he obey
ed instructions he considered wrong rath
er than resign, but said he did not consider
he was doing anything wrong in obeying
orders He admitted that he had paid very
little attention to the regulations, but said
it was on this account that he had done
so. The $4,000 estimate for lobbying on
the river and harbor bill was referred to
again, Col. Barr suggesting in his re-di
rect examination that this was in favor
of the contractors. AT the conclusion of
Mr.. Cooper's testimony, he asked to have
1t read all over to him and considerable of
the time of the court was occupied. The
court adjourned until 10 o'clock this morn
ing.
Mr.. Cooper said the sample mattress
shown him by Capt. Carter, and which
was to be used as satisfactory was shown
him the latter part of August, 1888 II
was about halfway down the river. The
north Long Island training wall was then
being constructed. The mattress shown
him was like the third design in the specl-
fications, with some exceptions, namely
that they were to be built OF bundles of
brush, instead of fascines, and had fewer
griIIage poles than the specifications re-
CURED
II went down the river by myself on that
occasion" he said, land Capt. Carter
came down later. This mat was shown
me; l was given to- understand 1t was
satisfactory to the engineer in charge and
that such mats were TO be used in the
work"
.eWere there any holes in that mat?"
was asked.
mo, and that was the reason why I
reported those that did have holes in
them was the reply
The witness was then questioned as to
the two mats he said he had walked
around in. They were built for the
Cockspur Island training wall. There were
several parties present when he went into
the mats. he said, among them Inspector
Hall and John H. Gaynor. He reported
the matter after the second occurrence.
he said, TO Capt Carter, but there was
no one else present when the report was
made.
AS many as four mats a day had been
built and placed in the works under the
contract of 1892. For that reason he con-
sidered it reasonable that two mattresses
day should be made.
IF 1t was possible to turn out only one
mattress in two days, instead of two
mats in one day, would it affect your es-
tlAdtS VI thS SOSAs was clSACh ny MI
Charlton.
The witness tried TO avoid the question.
but finally admitted that 1t would mate
rally affect his estimate. If such were
the case he admitted that IL would multi
ply the cost of the item of insurance by
four. making it $50 instead of $15.
In response to request the witness pro
duced estimates of the cost of the these
designs of mattresses called for in the
specifications. He first saw bundles of
brush, as he called them. in 1886. There
were none used under the contract of
1884 He might have seen some few in
1885, but did not remember In 1886 they
were used in some of the jetties and wing
dams. Those bundles of brush answered
to those now used.
Who was in charge at that timer" was
asked.
II was in charge under Capt. Carter.
Capt. Carter was under Gen. Gilmore, TO
whom he reported. Gen. Gilmore was
here for two or three years after l came 3"
He corrected his statement as to the
tests of stone, saying he had examined
about 100 samples, instead of 200. Capt
Gillette's orders were TO place 200 cubic
yards of stone on each mattress, and
also on those mattresses already sunk,
and those orders were carried out. There
were about seven lighters of granite used
and the balance was Florida rock. or
about 1900 cubic yards, making about
twenty lighters.
Have you at any time stated publicly
that Capt Carriers appointments to the
London Embassy and upon the Nicaragua
Canal Commission were due to the con-
tractors?" was asked.
II never said it publicly 1 may have
made some such remark privately" was
the reply.
Ibid you never say the contractors had
boosted Capt Carter along?" MIR Charl.
ton asked.
f"I used that expression before tho hoorz
psof inquiry" was the reply.
And that the contractors had secured
for him those positions?" continued Mr..
Charlton.
II didn't say so, positively I said
thought so. That is only hearsay evi.
dence," was Mr. Cooper's answer
ut comes in along with the lobbyina
item, don't it?" asked Mr.. Charlton.
II only heard IT," said the witness.
"Who did you hear it FROM" was ask
ed.
II don't remember Around on The
street somewhere, suppose" was the re.
ply.
"As a matter of fact didn't you hear
,TrD N