New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-02
HYACINTHS

: lar in character and quantity to the fraudulent
ones would have been from $4,000 to $4,000.
The substituted plates were like. in general
appearance. those which had passed the ac-
ceptance tests The detection OF fraud by the
Representatives OF the Government was, there
/ fore a matter Of extreme good luck. When
armor plates are manufactured. dressed and
| otherwise prepared for being placed on vessels
their exterior does not denote any internal de-
hclencies. II is supposed by several ordnance
| experts that Lieutenant Wilmer must have been
told that the Government armor pile contained
plates which were lacking In the required quail
/ lies. Il seems improbable that he could have
discovered their defects under other circum-
The appearance on December II OF Mr.. Car
neeie I'm Washington. accompanied by ii. g.
Frich his partner and active manager Of the
Carnegie Steel Works, excited a good deal OF
comment at the time. 1t was said that these
two gentlemen had come 10 tell the Secretary Of
the Navy that the Carnegie Company would be
compelled 10 close some OF its works and incl
dentally to throw up certain Government con-
tracts.
DIDN'T LIKE THE BILL THEN.
The impression prevailed that Mr. Carnegie did
not approve Of the proposed new tariff. wished
10 tide over tn. period Of transition and expert
men: without taking either trouble or chances.
Thcs. Impressions were strengthened by con-
versations which Mr. Carnegie had with differ
ent people about town. in none of which did 1t
appear that he was consumed win any very
ardent desire to see Mr. Wilson's bill promptly
! enacted into law ON the contrary n" gave
/ everybody who had "A chance 10 talk with nm
td understand that the adoption ~ ne ne" Dem
ocratic policy mcIrt. in all probability serious
loss 10 HIM and further reduction IN wages
his workmtn had just been compelled u submit
t. rather severe one.
ON December u The Washington Post con-
tanned the following in its local columns:
shortly before o'clock yesterday afternoon Mr.;
Andrew Cnrnesic. accompanied by MI. Ml'ard
Iiunsilcr Of Pittsburg and another gentleman ar
rived at thu White House ana YER uSt.r'G m,o
the Presidents room. Few minutes idt"r So,
/ emf of the carnegie Works. cam" OVER together
from The Navy department and Joined the party
cirvcland uut.l : o'clock when Mrssrs. Carnegie;
FrIck and Iunsi!er left hnrrrdy to cat,h tne t.
under discussion the contracts held by the Carntkie
Works furnish armor for the cruisers now p'ih8
II Was announced some days ago that Mr. car
rrrir and Mr Fricl had decided to close The works
down regardless 81 any contracts that might b" un-
completed and Yesterdays consultation Is Sa'H -
carnegie s UNDERSTOOD to have told the President
that would h. impossible to continue their proP'I
ties IN operation So long as the present uHSrat t
state Of affairs brought about by tie t'rlh as'i'-
ton continued
Notwithstanding that these and similar state
,u.uts wen. artfullv fostcrri 10y M,Ssrs Carnegie
and Frici there still remained peoP" in Wash
iagipn. notably about the Navy Department
who continued - follow win good d"Al "i III
ierrst the movements Of thcS" Two ron mag
mates and were not satisfied with the eXpllna-
lion given by The Post" for their presence in
thr capital The fact that Mr.. Carnegie stayed
Al fh. Shor,iam instead If a. the Arlington. as
had been mia custom for many years; tndi.
though taking rooms at the former hotel. hr
dincd regularly AZ the latter; thdt ne drhrl
himself ip most callers. that b." desired II To be
known THAI b" vas aing an Invalid. In iact,
though many people who saw him en'"r and
leave the big Navy Department building ana
rf'rrw.rI cross 10 th- White IIpus' and ascent
th. stairs 10 M. Presidents private office win
the ABILITY 90 man ~ thirty doubted this
I'D contributed - surround his visit Win more
90 Jess o.. ~i"rt.
MADE NEcEss,RY BY TIE DISCOVERY.
II can now Joe stated with absolute certainty
that MIR. Ctru,eie'' presence In Washington was
rendered necessary JOS the discovery OF the
frauds already aii'drd 80.
AZ this point 81 may Dee wril To- emphasize Tie
fie, jha, neither Nj Carnegie nor Mr.. Frict was
c,euizlu, ~ thc frauds az the ,imc of their
commission T. ~ impossible 20 believe that
they would hav" ben guilty %, such know-
r'gr. Iu' b. is quite cr"Ilhl" mat these fduHs
wrf. lustgtf"I hy an rmplo}r % their works
Tine record f,r 'i..ency OF th" foreman 81 Il
furule" depends 100 measure" upon oh" number
81 successful castings hr makes IN given time"
n among his castings ih"re SHOULD h~ 4 nunn"r /
2 deficient ONES. such Wnu'I ID doubt r"ilr. {
upon his efficiency as workman IL would
also mean loss Of tW" - his employers az
we'll ts m.iay. fur th" Government refuses - /
a.D'p, plates .Is' from material one" used /
Tney mus. in li cases De- made from ucw I'M .
T,ts tn" interest ~ M" foreman, therefore, I
is primarily I'm the direction ul mailng ~ /
many perfect castings as possible. II IA. doei /
upi his employers are very likely o. find a more 4.
@kilfIl man o. take mis- place.
II Is sI:" Tor these reasons to assume that the T
frauds committed upon the Government were "X- b
clu7t"'" IN" work. 81 the contractors employees. /
sun b. involved interests 81 such magnitude /
that M"-srs. Cirncpi" and Frick deemed il wise +
70 Dpmr here in person. II such frauds were /.
capable ~ being pcrprtrated upon the Govern /
mont thnt had am inspector ou the spot what /
guarantee would private Gust toners OF the COM !
pany-Who had no such prlvilege-have that !
they would not be treated similarly?
INSISTED rPOE SECRECY.
I'm the negotiations between the Administration |
and the Carnegie Company which followed. /
secrecy was the one point upon which Mr..
Carnegie IL understood TO have laid the greatest
stress. He was willing TO acccde 10 any terms
which the Government might see tit To- impose,
but the story Of the discovery 81 the frauds
must not be- told.
The matter having been submitted To the Presi-
dent h" gave has assent to the proposition,
especially as Mr.. Carnegie agreed to supply
plates and 10 max. good financially any loss that
the Government might deem It had incurred.
The details Of the settlement left to Sec
rotary Herbert
50 FAR as can be- learned. the Secretary did not.
a. is usual I'm cases involving technical matters,
call upon his bureau advisers. Instead of pursu-