The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-31
ALGER MAY PAY EDMUNDS FEE
NO FUND FOR EX-sEN ATOR'S SER
VICES IN CARTER'S CASE.

General AIEer Quoted rs Saying lie
VIII Not Let Edmunds SuHer-Pres-
ident Took an Unusual Course in
Capt. Carriers COurtmartiaI-Barr
ceedings-ActiOn May lie Taken
as 10 Contractors.
Washington, Jan. S0.-(SpeciaO The de-
ciston Of the controller Of the currency
that the 5000 fee of former Senator Ed
munds for his examination of the papers
In the Carter case cannot be paid from
any of the funds in the treasury. has
brought forth the statement that Secre-
tary Alger will pay it himself, rather than
ask FOR a special act of Congress, such as
would be necessary TO authorize its pay
ment from government funds.
The Secretary of War will DO this in or
der to prevent If possible, congressional in
vestigation of the Carter case. He is
quoted as saying that he does not propose
that Judge Edmunds shall suffer because
there happens to be no funds upon which
a warrant for this particular service can
be drawn, for the law provides both the
war department and the President with
ample legal channels for the transaction
of Gil public business.
In calling Senator Edmunds in to make
a legal study Of the case. the President
did something which has never been done
in any similar case before. It was done
on the representations of the friends of the
defendant, who felt that there might be
some legal flaw in the courtmartial pro-
ceedings, which would make it possible to
overthrow the verdict of the court. In
this, it Is understood, that they have been
disappointed. for Senator Edmunds was
not able TO find any fatal flaw.
The Verdict May stand.
Attorney General Grggs has not con-
fided 90 any one except the President,
the result of his review of the papers in
the Carter case, but it is not believed he
has found any facts which would justify
setting aside the verdict of the court afler
former Senator Edmunds was unable 90
do 80. The Attorney General was as
sisted in his review of the case by Col.
Thomas +. Barr of the judge advocate
generals department, who was Judge ad-
voeate of the court. Col. Barr. ON ac-
count of his familiarity with the case.
was able to direct the attention of the
Attorney General to the important points
IN the voluminous reports Of the testimony
taken and the points of evidence that
had special weight in influencing the court
in reaching the verdict of guilty.
1t is stated that he directed especial at
tention TO the photographs OF checks ana
other papers which threw light on the
pf tfrffi
TIC Contracting Company, Army officers
are practically unanimous in the opinion
that the finding OF the court has been sus-
tanned by the Attorney General
shown Every Consideration.
1t is generally stated that Cant. Car
ter can have no reason to complain thar
he has not been shown every consiAera-
tion by the administration He was not
tried az all until the charges against him
had been carefully slfted by Brig Ger.
Wilson, chief of engineers and Off GERS
especially detailed to make an inyegtlga.
ton. There have been no charges that
the court was preiudlced ana since he
was found guilty and sentenced, the case
has been reviewed in a way that is IN
precedeuted.
Ordinarily the proceedings of a court
martial case in which the sentence re-
quires the approval OF the President are
reviewed first by the Judge advocate gem
eral, and then by the Secretary of War
atd then they are acted upon by the Pres
ident. IN this case the President. Weld
ing to the solicitation of the friends OF
the officer, has adopted the unusual course
OF having the entire record gone over nv
a prominent lawyer and then reviewed by
the Attorney General
Policy ns 10 Contractors.
At the same time that the President an
nounces hts action on the findings and sen.
tence Of the courtmartlal, It is expected
the administration will make known tho
policy to be pursued i'm regard to civilians
who are alleged to have prohted by Tho
wrong doings Of Capt. Carter The bower
of the government to proceed against
them has been questioned and this is ono
of the matters Attorney General Griqus
was expected to look into while he had
the papers In the case in his possession.