Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-14
SILL IS SENSATIONAL
Testimony Of the Informer at the
Armor Plate Inquiry.
SOME ENORMOUS FRAUDS EXPOSED
From Seventy-five to Ninety Per
Cent of the Work Defective.
DETAILS OF THE CONSPIRACY

Charles Edgar Sill, the former Carnegie
workman who has made the chief disclos-
ures concerning defective armor plate fur
nished the government, was before the con-
gressional investigating comIaittee today.
The hearing drew together many interested
spectators, including naval experts and
members of Congress not directly prosecut-
ing the investigation. Sill had before him
several rolls of manuscript, to which he
referred at times for memoranda he had
made from day to day as to irregular prac-
tees at the works. There was little of
eliminating character in the testimony un-
til Sill told of the manner in which he
made written reports on the result of GER
tain processes of manufacture.
Superintendent Kline's System.
These reports We're then put on the desk Of
Superintendent Kline. who changed them
SO as to make them show that the processes
cCnformed to the requirements and specif-
cations of the government contract. Sill
took his report from original entries on
states used by the workmen showing what
they had actually done
After Kline had changed the reports they
were returned to Sill, who made up a COM
plete report. including Kline's alterations, to
be submitted to the government officials
the record of what had been done. Kline
had directed this to be done. Kline made
many alterations in the original report Mr.
Sill said he had kept tab on these altera-
tions and he had his notes with him.
Some Plates Not Treated at All.
Another set of reports was made by Sill.
covering the labor done on plates through
the preceding nights. One of these reports
went to the government inspectors and was
accurate except that certain plates partially
finished were not reported as touched. They
were carried forward from day to day until
Superintendent Kline ordered them to be re-
ported to the govei nment officers. In some
cases sponsor plates and the side armor of
ships received no treatment at all. Sill said
his notes would show TO which ships these
untreated sponsons and plates went
Returning to the alterations made by
Superintendent Kline. the witness said that
Kline changed dates In order that the gov
ernment inspectors should not detect that
the work as reported was not within the
capacity of the mill.
Enormous Percentage of Defective
Work.
The books, as kept by Superintendent
Kline showed the actual work in black
ink and the alterations as submitted to the
government officers were in red ink.
At the suggestion of Chairman Cum
nlings, fake work" was used by the COM
mittee and witness to designate these al
terations
What was the percentage of this fake
work'?'' asked Mr.. Cummings.
From 13 to 30 per cent was fake work
/ think that would be- fair average"
Supt. Kline gave him instructions and
cautions repeatedly. The book, showing
red ink false entries, was guarded under
lock and key. Kline directed him not to let
the government officers see these records
under any circumstances. A cupboard was
built in which TO keep the altered records.
Fraud Exposed in All Directions.
He said that plate treated a few min
utes, CT not at all, might be entered as
treated from one to five hours. The same
Justification occurred in the oil process, the
time varying up to four hours. In other
processes the classification ran up to 80 and
10 hours, and in some cases up to 80 and
60 hours. Supt. Corrie of the armor de-
partment Okline being superin ntendent of
the press dcpartmenO had books showing
the fake reports.
Sin related how Supt. Kline had given
orders for retreating ends of plates to cover
Up defects. The orders were written and
verbal and often by diagram. Sill showed
rough diagram, which constituted one of
the orders. The diagram was closely sc-u-
tiniZe1 by the committee Sill said 1t was
made by Kline. and the wording on it was
bundle of these diagrams
Sill Received $4,000.
do you mean to say" asked Represen-
tative Dolliver. that these diagrams were
for the purpose of producing false and
fraudulent results on the goverlment?
II do"
work in your hands?"
He did"
How much did you get from the govern
ment as an informer?" asked Mr.. Doiiver
six thousand dollars" answered SILL
He said he was led to make the dis
closures through the nl-treatment he and
others received from Kline. The latter Sill
said, was a human brute" Sill submitted
his story to Pittsburg attorneys. and then
to ex-Solicitor General jerks. 1t was then
given to the Secretary Of the Navy.
Hoped to Get "a Government Position.
In response to close questions Sill said he
and the attorneys had talked over the
amount to be derived from the government
He and other informers had first hoped they
would get a government position. Sill said
on further croSs-eXamination, that the work
men had no motive or interest in the irregu-
larities. They worked on time and We're
not benefited by a larger output. The COM
pany and superintendents were the ones to
get the benefit. If the government officials
had known the actual condition of work
they would have rejected 40 per cent of such
work as was accepted
Sill read from his notes the SPECIFIC plates
with plugs and blow holes. They included
two plates OF the coming tower OF the Ore
gon. The two plates made the complete
circuit OF the OreSons tower. one plate
had hole as large as mans hand, which
"as plugged up. Other plates were desig-
mated by letter and number.
A recess was taken until o o'clock
ASSH.NEn Tn