The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-26

There was very little more about the
case of Capt Carter in the public prints
at the time it was being inQuirel
into by the courtmartial than there is at
present In all paris of the country the
newspapers are publishing columns about
it. There appears to be apprehension that
it Is the intention Of the President to let
the Captain off lightly, and a determine
ton that he shah do nothing of the kind
without a loss Of popularity.
A great deal of what is being published
has no foundation in truth. Naturally
such a subject offers opportunities for all
sorts of imaginary stories by space
writer's. These writer's know nothing Of
the case bur that does not deter them
from writing a great deal about it.
1t is probable that what Attorney
General Greggs said to the correspondent
of the Associated Press day or TWO ago.
namely that he had read The evidence and
was waiting to hear an argument by
MIR Wayne MacVeagh, one Of the counsel
Of Capt. Carter, is a correct statement OF
the sitlation Mr.. MacVeagh is in Eu-
rope. and e Is not expected in his country
before The middle of September. That
being the case no action by the President
need be expected before the latter part of
next month.
But Notwithstanding this authoritve
statement several New York papers con-
tanned statements from Washington on
Thursday to the effect that the President
had practically decided to modify The SEN
tcnce and then approve 1.-THE modidca-
ton being a disapproval OF that part of
the sentence which relates TO imprison-
ment and the publication of the sentence
in the Captains home paper.
1t is pretended that the basis of this
modification of the sentence is the failure
of the evidence to show that Capt. Carter
misappropriated more than SlS3, or that
even this amount was applied to his own
use, the claim being made that it was ap-
piled so as to benefit the government The
effort is made TO create the impression
that Mr.. Root the new Secretary of War
has practically expressed the opinion that.
however strong the suspicion of Capt Car
ter's guilt may be, there is not sufficient
evidence to convict him of a conspiracy
TO defraud the government
1t is hardly probable that the Secretary
of War has expressed any opinion what
ever in the Carter case The testimony
and papers have not been in his hands,
and he has had no time since he has been
in the cabinet TO acquaint himself sufi-
GENTLY with the facts to justify him in
saying what the outcome of the case is
likely to be. 1t is true he may not have
spoken for himself, but for the Attorney
General, whose close friend he is. If Sec
rotary Root said what he is credited with
having said it may be regarded as certa II
that The President has made up his mind in
respect to the case, and that the waiting
for Mr.. MacNeagh is a mere Formally,
which win not influence the Presidents
decision one way or the other. One thing
appears to be pretty certain, and that is
that the President will not delay acting
in the case very much longer. II would
take a stronger man than he is to stand,
without fiinching, the pressure that is be-
ing brought to bear on him in favor of
settling The case at the earliest possible
time.