The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-08
DAILY, SO YEAR
s CE,NTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIAES-A-WEEK uA YEAn
DISMISSED AND $1,000 FINE.
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY APPROVES
SENTENCE IN TIE CARTER CASE.


lie Sends the Papers TO Secretary Al
ger. Who VIII PrOmuIEate the
0fiiciaI Announcement Order We'd
nesday-Eindings of the Court Mar
tinI in violation of an Article OF
War Providing Fine or Imprfson-
Not Thorough.
Washington. Nov. 7.-Capt. Carter's case
to-day passed from the hands of the Press
ident back to Secretary AIger with the
executive approval of the sentence OF the
court martial, which condemns Capt Car
ter to dismissal from the service and the
option of paying of a fine of 5000 or Eve
years Imprisonment in the penitentiary.
The President returned the case to tho
war departmentsprior to his departure for
Canton. and Secretary Alger will promui-
gate the official order announcing the SEM
tence.
The court martial, in passing sentence
upon Carter, inflicted double punishment
upon him, providing for the imprisonment
and the paying of a fine. The able coun-
sci who defended Capt Carter held that
II was a violation of the sixtieth article
of war, which states: The prisoner. ON
conviction thereof, viii be punished by hna
or imprisonment or by such other pun
ishment as a court martial may adjudge.a
Under the circumstances the President
modified the sentence. leaving 1t optional
with the prisoner whether he win submit
to imprisonment or pay fine
In approving the sentence of the court
martial, it said, the President was in-
fluenced by the report of board Of engin-
eer officers recently sent to Savannah Ia
make an investigation OF the project for
the improvement OF Savannah harbor,
conducted under the direction OF Capt Car
Ter. The board was composed Of Nal Clrl-
ton B. Sears, William II. Bixby and Thom-
as w. Symons. Their mission was a secret
one, and its existence is now published
for the first time. The board was dlrecteu
to make a careful examination of the pro-
iect and suggest such changes as In its
opinion may be necessary 10 accomplish
the improvements desired
The object of the President and the Sec
rotary Of War was to ascertain whether
the present plans should be completed in
accordance with the original plans OF Capt.
Carter.
The board went TO Savannah, made tho
examination, and It's report Is now a part
of this remarkable case. II Is understood
that the board found that the work is not
complete success, as several shoals havo
already formed In the channel by reason
of the washings through the mattresses,
which was intended TO be avoided.
1t IS further stated In the report that
under the present project continual dredg-
Ing may be necessary to keep the channel
az the depth provided for In the plans and
specifications, The report indicates tho
work is not thorough, and doubt is ex-
pressed as 10 whether II VIII stand test
of time as contemplated In the original
project
The work is nearly completed, only $780,
600 being required to complete the work.
This amount Is already estimated for In
the annual report of the chief of engi-
neers, which VIII be laid before Congress
next month. Under the circumstances,
IL is TOO late TO made any radical
changes In the present project.
Secretary Alger expects TO promuigate
the official order Wednesday and thus dis
pose of the most sensational court martial
case In recent military history.