The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-06
HAD PLENTY OF PRECEDENTS.
GEN. GILMORE ADVERTISED ONLY
TEN TO TWENTY DAYS.

He Came Here-Chief Clerk of the
War Department Here to Testify
About dvertisements-An EN-
pIOye Discharged for Accepting
Money from Contractors.
There will be no session Of the Carter
court-martial tomorrow, the court hav-
ing adjourned until Tuesday morning at
Il o'clock for the purpose of giving Col.
Barr. the Judge Advocate, time to prepare
certain matters relevant to the case.
The defense scored a point yesterday in
the presentation of evidence relative to
the publication of advertisements calling
for bids. The chief clerk of the war de-
partment came down from Washington for
the purpose of testifying that the Secre-
tary of War. in approving an advertise
ment, merely approved the request to pub
lish 1t and not the form of the advertise
ment, nor the dates.
The defense then took up the contracts
for work in this district prior to Capt.
Carriers administration, and showed that
1t had always been the custom in the en-
gineer Office of the district to advertise
from ten to twenty days, and that Capt.
Carter had merely followed a precedent
established long before ne came here. 1t
was also shown that in sending out speci-
fications the officers who preceded Capt.
Carter had sent out only one copy, the
other two copies being sent when request
ed
From remarks heard during the day it is
gathered that it will take the prosecution
somewhere in the neiGhborhood of three
weeks more to get in all Of its evidence.
This means that the trial will certainly
extend into March. In fact, nobody knows
how long it is going to last, and they have
stopped guessing.
Maj. Fl. NJ. Adams, of the engineer corps
who was on the board of inquiry has re-
turned to the city again, and may be call
ed on as, a witness. 1t is understood he
knows all about Capt. Carters private pa
pers, or those of them that were in the
hands of the board, but just what the ma
ture Of this evidence will be is a matter
of considerable mys cry.
Mr. john Tweedale, chief clerk of the
war department, was called Ipon TO give
testimony with reference to authority to
advertise for bids. He said he had held
that position since 1882 The requests for
authority to advertise go through the chief
clerk of the war department, he said, ana
are by HIM submitted to the Secretary of
War.
What does the Secretary of War APP
proven" Col. Barr asked.
HE approves the papers in which the
advertisement shall be inserted, was the
reply
Anything else?" was asked.
Nothing but the intermediate indorse-
ments," the witness said
What action is taken upon the CODY of
the advertisement" was asked
ut is merely looked at" was the reply,
to see whether il containes any super
fiuous words, or is concise"
How far does the approval of the Sec
rotary of War go toward approving the
form and dates of the advertisements"
"They are not considered Mr.. Twee-
da.e said.
ITO whom is that matter left" was ASH
ed.
ITO the advertising officer" was the re-
ply.
The authority of the Secretary of War
was necessary, Mr.. Tweedale said, be-
cause of the law which requeired it. The
section is 1928 Revised Statutes.
when the dates or the advertisement
submitted are prior by four or five weeks
to the time of the approval of the Secre-
lafy OF war, WOuld InHt De 1aCtOff
Col. Barr asked.
mot at all. was the reply.
The copy of the advertisement for bids
for work on Cumberland sound in 1896
was handed the witness. The approval
of it by the Secretary of War. he said,
was only authority to insert the adver-
vertisement The dates affixed in Savan-
nah, he said had nothing TO do with what
| the Secretary of War did. Sew
/ eral superfiuous words were
crossed out from the advertisement in
conformity with the regulations.
The changes in the specifications under
this contract, he said, he did not think
/ were made in the office of the Secretary
| of War. On the cross examination the
| witness would not testify positively TO
! this, nor would he say the changes were
! not made in the Office of the chief of en-
| gineers.
What was the advertisement the Sec
rotary of War authorized to be publish
| ed?" Mr.. Blair asked.
1T was simply the advertisement for
/ bids" Mr. Tweedale said. THE details
were left to Capt Carter"
4 "Why were those words stricken from
the advertisement in the office of the Sec
rotary of WARP was asked
Merely to conform to the regulations
with regard to conciseness,' was the re-
ply.
us there any regulation authorizing
district engineers to change ADVERTISE
ments when they come back?" Mr. Blair
| asked.
II cannot testify as to that" was the
reply. There may be some regulation on
that in the office of the chief of engi-
| neers."
Then there is no specific regulation
requiring how an advertisement Shall be
worded?' Mr.. Blair asked.
None. except that it shall be concise"
was the reply.~'The date is no part of
the advertisement"
In answer TO a question from Mai. w
S. Stanton the witness said il il was
manifest after the approval of the Secre-
tary of War that there was not a reason
able length Of time it was the
duty of the district engineer to give thirty
days notice. The district engineer he
said, would have TO change the dates: the
Secretary of War could not do it, as there
might be delay in the mails or from
some other cause.
In answer TO a question from Gen. Otis
as to what was done when the dates are
left blank, the witness replied that they
were not considered in any respect. The
rule, he said required that an advertise
ment be published thirty days In advance
The Secretary of War, he said. never
! changed the dates as that matter reets