The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-15
The Matter Before the Con.
gressiOnal Committee.
An Enormous Amount Of "Fake1
WORK Turned Out.
A Former Employee of tho Steel Plate
Manufactures Gives the Whole
schsme Away - Spite Was
His Motive.
BIZ the Associated PrsSs.

By the Associated PreSs
WASHINGTON, June IA. Charles Ed
ward Sill, former Carnegie work man,
who made the chief disclosures concern
ing the defective armor plate, was before
the congressional investigating commit
tee today. He said he made q written
report on the result of certain process
of manufacture. After Superintendent
Kline changed the reports to make them
show the process conformed to the re-
quirements and specifications OF the
government contract, they were returned
to Sill, who made a complete report,
including Kline's alterations, to be cub
mitted to government officials. Kline
had directed this to be done.
Kline said he had not made any alter
ations in the original report.
Mr.. Sill said he had kept tab on these
alterations, and be had his notes with
him. Kline changed dates so that the
government inspec tors could not detect
that the work as reported was not with
in the capa city of the mill.
The books as kept by Superintendent
X inc 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
mings, "fske" work was used by the
committee and witness to designate
these alterations.
"What was the percentage of this fake
work ?" asked Mr.. Cummings.
From rs to 80 per cent was fake
work. | think that would be fair
average"
Mr.. Sill related how Superintendent
Kline had given orders for re'treating
ends of plates to cover up defects. The
order wss written and verbal ana by dia-
gram. He showed a rough diagram
which constituted one of the orderH.
| The diagram. which was closely scruti-
| nized by the committee, Sill said was
made bv Kline, and the wording on it
was in Kline's handwriting. Witness
had bundle of these diagrams.
"Do yod mean to say" asked Repre-
sentative Dolliver, THAT these diagrams
were for the purpose of deluding false
returns on the government?'
II do"
+ "And ne left the evidence of this
bogus work in your hands?"
"He did,"
"How much did you get from the
government as an informer?" asked Mr..
Doliver.
'Six thousand dollars" answered
Sill, who said he was led to make the
disclosure through the ill-treatment re-
ceived from Kline. The latter, Sill
said. was human brute"
Witness laid be submitted his story
to Pittsburg attorneys and then to ex-
Solicitor jerks. 1t was then given to
the secretary OF the navy.
In response to close questioning Sill
said he and the attorneys had talked
over the amount to be derived from the
government He and other informers
had hoped that they would get govern
ment position. Sill said on further
cross-examination that the workmen
had no motive or interest in the irregu-
larities. They were led on and we're not
benefited by a larger output. The
company and the superidtendents were
the ones that got the benefit. II the
government officers had known the act
ual condition of the work they would
nave rejected rs per cent of such work
as was accepted.
Sill read from his notes the specific
plates with plugs and blowholes. They
included two plates of the coming tower
of the Oregon. Each plate had a hole
as large as a mans hand, which was
plugged up.
Mr.. Cumminge asked what had be-
come of the books which showed the
real work done.
Sill said he had seen Superintendent
Kline burn two of the books. The other
three had disappeared after the infor-
nation was given to the department.
He had seen Mr.. Frick about the plant
occasionally. He did not know that
Frick knew about the books which had
been burned.
The committee was told by Charles
Craig. one of the informers, that the
workmen were giving information to the
navy department.. Craig had tirst in
formed department and had gone to the
company and offered to sell out cheap.
Craig was Immediately paid by the
government for his inform alton. The
committee then took up SLIPS books and
notes, and be explained in detail the
irregularities and the alterations of the
reports made by perintendent Kline.