Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-24
FRlCK ON THE FRAUDS
Carnegie's Partner Appears Before the
Armor Plate Investigation.
He Says the W Ork Would Have Been
spectOrs Had Done Their Duty.

Chairman Frick Of the Carnegie Steel
Company was the witness before the naval
committee In the armor plate investigation
today and attracted an unusually large
audience. Answering questions from Chair
man Cummins, Mr.. Frick told Of his con-
nectiOn with the company since 1883 and as
serted that he had opposed entering upon
the work Of making armor plates, since the
company would be at a disadvantage and
have but one customer. While the COM
pany's output of 1893 has been more thar
100000 tons only 5000 tons were armor
plate. 1t was comparatively unimportant
branch of the works and he had left the
details entirely to Superintendent Hunsiker
Regarding the penalty exacted by he
government Mr. F'rick said that he regard
ed the penalty levied by the Navy Depart
ment as exorbitant, and had appealed to
the President, as he was permitted to do
under the law. He considered the Presi-
dents decision unjust in the amount ex-
to do was to furnish the best arlnor.
His Opinion of the InfOrmers.
Like other witnesses Mr.. Frick asserted
that the tensile tests of plate were Of no
Importance as compared with ballistic tests.
He did not regard the information to the
government as conspiracy on the part OF
former strikers for revenge, but rather as q
money making scheme.
Informer Craig had come to him before
the information was given out, intimating
that conspiracy was on foot. and giving
as his motive for the visit gratitude toward
a member of the company who had as
sisted his sister in obtaining an education,
but Mr.. Frick did not go into details re-
garding CraigS information to him. He
told also of visit from an unknown el-
derly lady, who said she came from Wash
ington, and intimated that for money she
could give some valuable Information.
Criticising Government Agents.
IF the government inspectors had done
their duty there would have been no
trouble" said he. II knew they were there
to see that the work was properly done. and
depended on them. You gentlemen will see
how that was when you come to see
works.
Mr.. Frick could not see how it benefited
his men to slight their work, as 1t was of
no financial advantage to them. He did not
indorse their conduct in deceiving the in
spectors and thought they should have eX-
planned when it was necessary to deviate
from the regular methods to secure the best
results.
Immense Cost of the Plant.
Since taking the armor plate contracts
the company, he said, had invested three
million in the plant. and had never refused
10 Duy any machinery tnat was TeCOm-
mended as necessary. Probably the plant
could be duplicated now at a less cost. I'm
til the recent trouble the government in
spectors had always told him they were
greatly pleased by the work.
Mr. Millard Hunsiker, assistant to Chair
man Frick, and who had been In charge Of
the armor plate department since last jan
uary testified that he had no personal
knowledge Of the frauds.
No knowledge of Plugging.
Witness had no knowledge of the plugging
Of blow-holes in armor plate without the
sanction of the government inspectors. Mr..
Hursiker furnished statement Of the num-
ber Of armor plates made from the begin
ming Of the old contract (November 1880, to
June 1, 1894. This showed total of 1893
plates made, of which 9o5 were shipped, 1853
condemned, and AS were on hand. OF the
9O5 shipped, G62 were regular armor plates,
and the remainder were small plates for
coming towers, etc. Most of the plates
condemned were by the action Of the COM
pany itself.
AS some Of the members Of the committee
wanted to go to the Senate an adjournment
was taken until tomorrow instead Of until
this afternoon, as at first proposed.