The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-22

that the conracts might be given to so,,,
other concern. but his own personal on,,'
lon was that the change would NO, p' -,
made.
l talked with Lieutenant HoIcomho 4.
night. He said the charges made nv 40
torney Wallace would not amount 10 AZ
thing. He thinks the employees 90 ~
| company who committed the fraud III, .ns
be called upon to answer for their a ,aa'
Doubtless" said tie Lieutenant ",han.
are many men In the Homestead rn,I,s
who feel q certain amount OF aninoss,,,
toward the COMPANY for some aI,anes
| grievance In the past. Why should 80.
not attempt some scheme of thjs LIZ
to vent their spleen on the companv T.,
cannot be denied that they would ~
abundant opportunities to do so. 7, q.
true there are three Government insnec-
tors at the works very day. but could
they follow each plate from the start to
the finish, through It's different stages ~
development, and watch the moyementa
and operations OF every workman in con-
nection with those plates? 1t would he
simply impossible. IL there were five
hundred spectators at the works tbev
couldn't prevent Irregularities If the men
saw fit to carry them on. II is prenos-
ferrous to suppose that three Inspectors
can watch the Movements Of the five
hundred or more nen In the armor-plate
mills at Homestead and prevent frauds
or detect all fraudulent practices.
1T Is certainly desirable that the most
thorough Investigation such as the Her
aid calls for should be made. The in
spectors would all like to see everything
brought to light, as they. too, have been
subject to public ensure and want to be
cleared of the charges Of carelessness or
negligence In the discharge of their du-
ties.
1T is limited by some that the Govern
ment officials MAJ get disguised and
give the contracts 10 some other steel
company, but q, not believe that will
be done"
When asked IL ie had any side source
of Information to he effect that the Gov
eminent officials are considering the mat
ter Of giving the contracts to some other
company, Lieutenint Hocombe said he
had heard ii talkd about, but where he
heard IT he declined to say.
Attorney j. X. Wallace, who has been
In Washington To- several days in con-
ference with Secretary Herbert Of the
navy, regarding he alleged defective
armor plates furnished by the Carnegie
Steel Company 70 the Government, re-
turned home to-dly. Speaking to-day of
the result OF his rip, Mr. Wallace said:
my interview with the Secretary of the
Navy was perfectly satisfactory. My case
covers the manufacture Of armor plate
by the Carnegie company from the be-
ginning to the present. time. My case will
come before the secretary of the Navy
within the next two weeks. At present
L can give out no letails.'
The attempt OF Attorney Wallace and
his clients to get money from the Govern
ment for alleged valuable information
has stirred the American Manufacturer,
an Industrial weekly paper, TO denounce
them under the caption Of Doodle Pa
triots and Blind Fools" II says: IF
there has been any crookedness in the
manufacture of armor plate at Home
stead IL should b. known; but II seems
TO us that it is both undlgnitled and I'M
wise for the Navy Department, so long
as IL has It's own inspectors, and full
power under the contract 10 make tests
inquiries or Investigations as it pleases
to enter into blind pool, in which IL
has three-fourths sake, with a lot OF
informers who are only after money.
The result will simply be that fresh crops
of informers will spring up every day,
and the country will begin TO inquire
what are the inspectors for?'