The evening world., 1894-08-23
LAST EDITION.
GUILTY OF
ARMOR FRAUDS.
House Committee Sustains
Charges and Scores the
Carnegie Company.
ELEVEN SEPARATE COUNTS.
Plates and Bolts Falsely Treated
Before Being Put to
Tests.
INSPECTORS STAMP STOLEN.
Testing Machine Tempered With
and Cavities Plugged--.Speci-
mems Substituted.
INSPECTORS STAMP STOLEN.
Thy Associated Press


WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug 2-Rep-
resentative Amos J. Cummings, Chair
man of the House Committee on Naval
Affairs, presented to the House to-day
the preliminary report upon the investi-
cation of the armor plate and bolts fur
nished to the Government by the Car.
negie Steel Company. .s
The investigation has peen in progress
for weeks, and during its course testi-
mony has been given by the principal
officials of the Carnegie Company, by
workmen and by Government officials,
The report Is remarkably completes
and minute review of tn case.
The committee finds that the charges
OF fraud have been sustained scores the
company severely ana recommends mar
hfty-nine suspected plates In use should
be tested as the only method of proving
their fitness or unfitness.
1t also finds that the Government in
spection was negligent and defective.
but no charge of dishonesty rests upon
the inspectors. The charges against the
Company are summarized as follows:
First-The plates did not receive the
uniform treatment required by the spe-t
cifications of the contract. -
Second-False reports OF treatment OF
the plates were Systematically made to
the Government inspectors. II
Third-No BOTS received the double
treatment provided for in the specifica-
tons OF either contract. A report of q
double treatment however. was made TO
the Government inspectors.
Fourth-Specimens taken from the plates
both before AM after treatment to as
certain the tensile strength OF each plate
were stretched without the knowledge
of the Government inspectors, SO as to
increase the apparent tensile strength
when actually tested.
Fifth-Faise specimens taken from
other platse were substituted for the
plates selected by the Government in
spectors.
Sixth-The testing machine was fire.
quentiy manipulated by order of the SUI
perintendent of the armor-plate mills to
increase the apparent textile strength Of
the specimens. These specimens were
jugg.ed in measurements SO as to In
crease their apparent ductility. 8.
Seventh-Various specimens selected
by the government inspectors were, re-
treated without their knowledge before
they were submitted to test
Eighth-Plates selected by the govern
treated with the intention OF improving
their ballistic resistance without the
knowledge of the government inspec-
tors; In one case at least the conclusion
is almost irresistible that the bottom of
an armor plate was substituted for the
top half OF plate A 6l9, after II had been
selected by the government while await
ing shipment TO Indian Head.
Upon this ballistic test group Of
plates containing SiS tons, valued at
about $4,000, were to be accepted or
rejected. In three cases. at least. the
spectors were retreated in this manner
without their knowledge. These ballis-
tic plates represtened Tss tons OF armor.
represented by these three plates had
all been submitted for the premium Of
$50 per ten If they passed more Sc.
we're test than required for acceptance.
Ninth-In violatioi of the specifications
OF the contract pipes or shrinking cavi-
ties, enormously called blowholes, in the
plates were plugged by the contractors
eminent inspectors, These cavities In
some cases diminished the resistance
and value of the plate.
.Tenth-The inspectors stamp was
either duplicated or stolen, and used
without the knowledge of the Govern
ment inspectors. 3
Inspecting bolts was deceived by means
of false templets or gauges.
Much of the testimony given Is re-
viewed in the report. 1t Is said that the
and that the Specifications meant that
the plates should be OF uniform quality
before treatment. when practically uni-s
form results would follow.
The second charge is said to he proved
by the rough records of the Company
of over 700 plates and lots of bolts,
the bolts never received but one treat
ment, while 1t was of the utmost i'm
portance that they should receive two
treatments. The peculiar shock to which
they would be subjected in battle from
projectiles and from ramming required
it,
Experiments had been made showing
that unless this treatment was given the
bolts would break under heavy blow.
rendering the armor, in a measure, use
less 1t Is a bad result of thiss acknowl-
edged fraud that to-day the armor OF
our ships Is held in place by bolts which
the Company acknowledges have ~