The evening times., 1899-01-30
ALGER MAY PAY
EX-SENATOR EDMUNDS
No Fund TO Meet His Services
i'm the Carter Case.
WOrk Performed at the Request of
the Accused Officer.
The Secretary of War VIII Not Let
the DISTINGUISHED Lawyer Go
Without His Fee.

# it is found impossible to pay former
Senator Edmunds' fee of $1,000 for his eX-
animation of the Carter case out of any
public funds in the Treasury, there is rea-
son to believe that Secretary Alger will
himself pay ii.
Secretary Alger does not propose to per-
nit Mr. Edmunds to suffer in consequence
OF the decision of the Comptroller Of the
Currency that the former Senator's fee
cannot be paid from the war emergency
fund.
1t is manifest to the Administration that
any attempt to secure an appropriation
from Congress authorizing the payment of
the fee would insure an investigation
which it has been trying to avoid. From
present indication the only way the fee
can be paid is for either the Secretary or
Captain Garter 10 pay it out of his own
pocket, and Secretary Alger is considering
the advisabillty OF such action.
The appointment of former Senator Ed
mGnds TO examine the records and findings
of the court which tried Captain Carter
was the result of a request by the defend
ant 1t is said the captain desired Wayne
MacHeagh TO make the examination, but
Mr. MacVeagh's interest in the case caused
the Secretary and the President to deter
mine upon Mr.. Edmunds The latter's Te-
port was not what Captain Carter's friends
desired as he could find no fatal flaw in
the proceedings.
Attorney General Griggs has not oonilded
10 anyone except the President the result
Of his review of the papers in the Carter
case, but il is not believed he has found
any facts that would justify setting aside
the verdict OF the court after former SEN
ator Edmunds was unable to DO so.
The Attorney General was assisted in his
review of the case by Colonel Thomas f.
Barr. of the Judge Advocate Genera 5 de-
partment. who was the judge advocate OF
the court Colonel Barr. on account Of his
familiarity with the case, was able to di-
rect the attention of the Attorney General
TO the important points Of 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
army officers are practically unanimou'
in the opinion that the finding OF the couTi
has been sustained by the Attorney Gen
eral.
Captain Carter can have no reason Il
complain that he has not been shown eyery
consideration by the Administration. H.
vas not tried at sll until the charges
against him had been carefully sifted b,
BrigGdicr General Wilson, chief OF engi-
neers. and officers especially detailed tC
make an investigation. There have beeI
no charges that the court was prejudiced
and since ne WAS found guilty and sentenc-
ed the case has been reviewed in a way
that is unprecedented.
Ordinarily the proceedings Of 4 court
martial case in which the sentence require
the approval of the President are reyiewe
first by the Judge Advocate General an.
then by the Secretary Of War. and are theI
acted upon by the President. In this cas-
the President, yielding TO the solicitation
OF friends Of the officer, has adopted TN,
unusual course OF having the entire rscor,
gone over by prominent lawyer and theI
reviewed by the Attorney General
At the same time that the Pres.d nt an
nounces his action on the fnlings and SEN
tence of the court-martial IL is expect q
The Administration Will make known til.
policy TO be pursued in regard 10 civi ian'
who are alleged To have profted by tn
Nrongdoings of Captain Carter. The povel
OF the Government 10 proceed against the
has been questioned, and this is Cne of Tn,
matters Attorney General Griggs was eX
pscted 10 look into while he had the pa
pers in the case in his possession.