The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-09
BRANDING CARTER.
Nest Painful Duty the President Has
Had to Perform.
From the New York Journal.

From the New York Journal.
Not since President Mckinley entered
the White House has a more painful task
been given him than passing upon the find
ings of the court martial in the case of
Capt. Oberlin NJ. Carter, charged with
conspirng to defraud the United States
government in connection with harbor
work done at Savannah, Ga.
The relations between the President and
the army engineer were more than official.
They were personal. The President liked
the man. He trusted him. He honored
him.
The Journal spoke yesterday of the fact
that the executive had decided to punish
the convicted officer He affixed his APP
prevail to the finding of the court martial
which dishonorably discharged Carter
from the army. He tempered justice with
mercy, however, in deciding against send
ing Carter to the pententiary, and gave
him the alternative of spending five years
behind the bars or paying fine of $1,000
Although there has been no official an
nouncement of this sentence the Journals
authority is not to be doubted.
That Carter will pay the fine no one
doubts Five thousand dollars IS trivial
sum compared TO that which the disgraced
army man has already expended on his de-
Tense. 1t was estimated during mis- trial
at Savannah that the investigation was
costing him $500 a week. He has rich and
influential friends. The Atlantic Construc-
ton Company, which had some of the con-
tracts involved in the affair, is a wealthy
corporation.
President Mckinley has been severely
tried He has watched Carriers course for
several years He had, up to the moment
that the astonishing charge of fraud was
brought against Carter, heard nothing but
good of him.
Not even Robert e. Lee, hitherto the
record man at West Point, had graduated
so high as Carter When the young lieu
tenant of engineers quilted the Military
Academy he made the marvellous score in
studies and department of 1895 out of a
possible 1850. He was unusually popular.
Unlike many honor men, who had at
tanned distinction at the expense of CANA
raderie, he was greatly beloved. He pos
| sessed that wonderful quality which is
called magnetism.
A few personal meetings had satisfied
| Mr.. Mckinley that here was a man both
brilliant and trustworthy; one who would
send back credit for his patronage as a
mirror reflects the face.
Carter had become a captain in 1891. AL
engineer equal to any task He grew to
be regarded as an authority on river and
harbor works.
Millions of dollars were to be spent IN
deepening the mouth OF the Savannah
river. Carter was sent there.
President Mckinley had been in office
but few months when 1t became neces-
sary to appoint a military attache to the
American embassy in London. Scores
,i-
name was in the list. When the Pres-
dent reached it he went no further. The
talented the suaVe, the handsome captain
of engineers won easily.
Capt. Carter was still in London when
public opinion crystaized into the belief
that this nation must build the Nicara-
guam canal. A commission would be nee
essary to handle the gigantic project Chief
among them must be an engineer of high
est fitness. The greatest canal in the world
was about to be dug. great government
engineer must be chosen to supervise the
work President Mckinley thought of Car
ter. Letters passed between them Per-
sonal interviews on the subject had been
held long before. Capt Carter was con-
suited even as to the personnel of the COM
mission. The President chose him as his
chief adviser and representative in this
tremendous and patriotic undertaking.
Carter was standing in the bright light
which beats upon the great and fortunate
when someb body told the President:
1.-TWO million of dollars have been misap-
propriated at Savannah. Carter Is the
guilty man."
Slow as he was TO believe it. time has
proved it,
Last week dispatch said from WASH
ington:
'McKinley's course Gin hearing Carriers
IL ~