New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09
THE CRIME OF THE DECADE.
ARMOR FRAUDS INFAMOUS.
THE CARNEGIEs GUILTY OF TREAsoN-DELIBER-
ATE swINDLING. WHICH OUGHT NEVER TO
HAVE BEEN CoNDONED-AN ATTACK
UPON THE LIFE OF THE NATION.
From Harper's Weekly. September 5.

From Harper's Weekly September s.
There is something so essentially reasonable in
the armor-plate frauds that the general silence
is astonishing When the conduct of the leaaing
employees OF Carnegie Phipps 4 CO and that OF me
bend why the revelations concerning them have not
stirred up consuming blaze Of public indignation
One is nvoluntariy impeed to wonder II the senti.
ment OF Indignation Is dead In the country. ana II
the great manufacturing corporations nae 1ictateu
forgotten that their powers are usurped; that
institution have been partially ovcrthrown; and
that they accept as settled fact that the Govern
natural order Of hns by the despoic and selfish
autocrats of revenue laws Certain II Is, al all
received 'na' spr so Suesnen 80 ses. and in
different indicating such Inconsistencies OF the
70 suggest a doubt Of the soundness OF the morality
OF the medium al lenst through which revelations
" hen the arinoT frauds arst came to the know-
edge Of the country there had been settlement be-
! hipps & Co. II was then understood that the
frauds had consisted in securing unearned premiums;
that plates presented for balletc and physical tests
had teen overtreated IN order that they might APP
pear to be better than the ss1dard -ea ana a. might se
live excellence II was believed then that the plates
least up to the minimum required by the Government
and that they must nave been accepted what fraud
tcrmned upon: the measure OF damages being the
Son 10 This me reduced By rres 81
uen' 'fNPlHn1. against me protests, at FEAST
tain sampson the he al Of the Bureau OF Ordnance.
ment connected the hAaus Of the firm with the frauds.
and Il semi-oiiciay announced that 1t was
VINO were at the head OF the armor shop. one OF
whom at least had an interest In the Increased
bounties OF which the Government had been de-
frauded.
revelations OF fraud published than other accusa-
tons followed. The first Information was laid by
reward a substantial part Of the fine recovered by
the Government, This excited the cupldty OF their
frauds stupcndous. far-reachnp. 80 criminal.
that ne acSusets ana not me aScnsei bHcame the
has been reached, however. and the Committee or
reported that the charges nave been substantiated
Ii ic unnecessary TO go largely into the details OF
eminent at the Carnegie arfnor shops. Some Of the
daily newspapers nave published the report In full
Is here TO say say ih,t The report made by
members OF his committee. finds that in our ships OF
kcncd ~ internal detects and fastened to the
ships by bad and understood bolts. 1t has been
proved. to tho satisfaction ~ the committee. that
these frauds IN. -esilt OF conspiracy. In
which foremcn and superintendent were concerned
Holes In armor plates were hllcd mp 10 deceive the
Government inspectors The stamp OF the inspectors
prevail and acceptance might be put upon plates by
the manufacturers themselves. Plates that were be
under the Governments requirements were specially
treated In order that they might undergo the Gov.
~ sound plate was substituted for the half OF a
bad plate Intended for halllsc test False e:npets
made for the measurement Of bolts and false
records were kept which made II appear that proc
csses through which the plates had not passed but
which required by the specifications OF the
Navy Department hal beer applied So widespread
| and involved were the Qualifications Of fraud that
II is difficult TO believe that the swindling was not
deliberate and that the members Of the firm were
| not cogniznnt OF II As for the inspectors who
were officers Of the Navy, nothing has been said In
explanation % their lack Of their fitness or
in defence Of those who selected amateurs TO super
I,,fq .be orb ~ eLf lteta m
| The grave character OF the offence which has
| been committed makes II incumbent upon the law
officers Of the Government to probe IN" case 10
| the bottom. and TO bring the guilty parties TO
| justice. The frauds essentially an attack upon
| the HE ~ the Nation. To corruptly furnish de-
| fec;ive armor 10 battle-ships bears strong
| resemblance 10 treason IL would assuredly be
| that crime II the fraud committed In time
| Of war. and when public enemy was In arms
| There has already been too much conformation OF
offences against the Government. II IL high time
| that an example shout. be made for the behoof
| .Ir,a La tItI,nta Oh ~