The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-09-01
ARMoR PLATE FRAUDS.
Cummings Report of the
Investigation.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-The special com.
mittee of the House which has been investi-
eating the charges affecting the reliability of
The material for the new ships furnished by
the Carnegie Company of Pittsburgh, laid
their report before the House today. The
report shows that the contract with the com
pany covered period of two years and three
months. from November, 1890, to February,
1898. The amount of armor plate contracted
for was 1913 tons, costing SIS, AL 800.
In opening the report, Mr.. Cummings, the
Chairman of the committee, gives the ten
charges made against the company, and fol-
lows it with the admission made under each
charge. Mr. Schwab admits under the first
charge that the plates did not receive uniform
treatment, explaining this by saying that uni
form results alone were required. The COM
mittee construes the specifications to mean
uniform quality before treatment, and practi.
cally uniform treatment, when practically
uniform results will necessarily follow. IT
uniform results alone were meant, there
would have been no necessity for requirements
as to process.
The second charge, that false reports of
treatment of plates were systematically made,
the committee holds, is proved by the rough
records of the company itself OF over 7O9
mates and lots of bolts which came into the
examined show that the figures in the reports
were almost invariably changed, and in some
cases entirely new reports were returned.
There were fake reports of treatment OF
plates that received no treatment whatever,
says the report, and over 95 per cent. of the
records show similar changes which were evil
IDENTIFY made for the purpose of deceiving
Government inspectors. The reports were
made to make it appear that the plates had
received the uniform and efficient treatment
required by the contract.
Il is evident to the committee, the report
continues. that there were not enough fur
uaces to turn out the work reported, ii plates
were treated according 10 contract specihca
,ions. AT first there were but three furnaces,
which did all the work up to August /, 1893,
when a fourth was added. After the charges
of fraud were made, and penalty had been
exacted by President Cleveland, other fur
naces were added, until today they have ten.
The charge that specimens taken from the
mates both before and after treatment, to as
certain the tensile strength of each plate, were
stretched without the knowledge of the Gov.
eminent inspectors, so as to increase their
apparent tensile strength, IS admitted by
Superintendent Corey, as is practically the
allegation that "false specimens taken from
other plates were substituted for the specimens
SeleCIfU
also practically admits the charge that the
testing machine was 'jockeyed'' with, to de-
ceive inspectors.
Superintendent Corey admits that plates
selected for ballistic test by Government in
spectors were reiterated without the knowl.
edge of the inspectors, but confines his adj
mission TO three plates-''A 46S, 531, and
6l9."
The report severely critised both the United
STATES inspectors and the contractors. The
inspectors, it says, were not corrupt, hut the
work Of inspection was negligent and detec-
tive. The inspectors assumed that the COM
pany was watching its superintendent ana
employees. The company, on the other hand,
relied upon the inspectors.
Both company and inspectors, the report
saws, were culpable. The manufacture OF
armor was going on night and day. Sundays
included. The inspectors were on duty eight
hours q day. Their inspection covered only
forty.eieht out of 1853 hours a week. The
frauds are characterized by the committee as
crimes for which no fine or money compensa
ton can adequately atone. The committee
do not feel the necessity of drafting criminal
statute, but the interests OF the Treasury ana
the lives of our seamen demand that such acts
shall be severely punishable in all persons
connected with them.
1.-The efforts of the company and OF It's
superintendents, Cline, Corey, and Schwab,
the report concludes, shave been to satisfy
the committee that the armor is up to the re-
ouirements of the contract, Notwithstanding
The false reports to inspectors, doctoring of
specimens, plugging Of plates, &c. The nn-
blushing character Of the frauds to which
these men have been parties, and the disre-
gard Of truth and hoaesty which they have
shown before the committee render them IN
worthy of credence."