The times., 1899-08-23
CAPTAIN CARRIERS Case
Excuses Given for the Presidents
Failure to Act.
An Intimate Friend Says Mr.. Nc
kiniey Has Been Engaged With
Attorney General Griggs Also Is
Said TO BE a Pretty Busy Man.

The following explanation and apology
for the Presidents failure to act in
the Carter case was made yesterday to re-
porter for The Times by one who is on
terms OF intimate friendship with Mr.. Nc
Kinley:
This Carter case said the apologist,
sis one of the most yoluminous that has
ever been presented to any President for
consideration. The actual papers in the
case when they were first submitted to the
President would measure FIVE feet in height
laid one upon the other. / distinctly re-
member the impression that was made III
the Cabinet meeting when the formidable
array of records was first brought TO the
Presidents attention. 1t was almost i'm
possible for anyone present TO overlook the
half Humorous side to the situation; and
believe all members of the Cabinet felt
deep sympathy for the President in con-
templating the work ahead of him.
1T so happened that when the Carter
papers were first presented at the White
House the President was busily engaged
with what seemed TO him matters of larger
Importance. He simply could not at the
time give the subject personal examination.
/ think that is the reason why Mr.. Ed
munds was requested to review the case.
The President desired 10 do justice to all
concerned, and as he was unable to take
up the subject at that moment he passed
il over TO one whose character and ability
were ample guarantee that the question OF
Captain Carter's guilt or innocence would
be accurately and fully determined. When
Mr. EdmGnds resubmitted the case TO the
Eracfdnnr Canfaiu Gartarfs rnnnCal and
! friends sought Mr.. Mckinley TO give the
! subject, if possible, his personal attention.
/ The situation was again difficult for the
/ President, as he really could not spare the
] time 10 go through all the papers. He as
sured Captain Carter's counsel and friends
that he would try TO do what was right
and just in the premises. few weeks
went by and work accumulated on the
President The Philippine outbreak was al
{ its height He was loaded down with g
hundred different duties and anxieties. Al
4 length. he admitted that he could not spare
/ the time to attack the papers in the Garter
case, and decided to pass the subject over
to his Attorney General. Mr.. Griggs
As the legal adviser of the President Mr.
Griggs was, OF course, the natural person
to whom the papers should have gone; and
there is no reason why Mr.. Mckinley
should be criticised for requesting the At
torney General 10 examine the papers and
report his conclusions on the case.
Il cannot believe" continued the Pres
idents apologist that Mr.. Griggs would
neglect so important a duty, and / will not
believe that he would seek to evade the
responsibility of sending a decision in the
Carter case. / ann inclined TO think that
the reasons which prevented the President
I from examining the papers in detail may
! be cited with equal force in defence of Mr..
Griggs. / know that the Attorney General
/ has been worked almost into illness by the
constantly pressing duties of his Office
When the Carter papers were submitted to
/ him he was up TO his ears in the Central
Pacific case. Since that tinne he has been
worried and engaged with numberless
demands upon his attentioa. Almost every
other department leads to the Attorney
Generals office. The Department of Ag-
riculture. for instance, has no legal ad-
wiser. When the Western farmers want
the oleomargarine law enforced they al
ways wind up at the Attorney General S
Office. The same thing is true of other
departments. AS far as / can make out,
there are always about seventy million
people pounding away at the Attorney
General. and each one expects to have his
wants Immediately attended TO.
Il expect the Attorney General to give
the subject proper attention just as soon
as he can manage to take it up. / believe
that Captain Carter desires a decision in
the matter, and / think that the Admins
tration will crafty his desires as soon as
practicable