The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-05
WAS CARNEGIE A VICTIM?
4 STORY THlT rom OF hrs worm.
MEN SPOILED MS lRMoR.

Resuit of Conspiracy Ar-or Plate.
Were Mixed Up. ana Those OF Isssrior
Quality Imposed o. the Government, SO q.
the Recent Heavy FI.e o, the Company.
PIrTsBvRGH, March 4.-The Times to- morrow
will publish the following;
The Carnegie Steel Company. limited. has
permitted itself to be made the victim Of big
conspiracy. This In brief is the true explsna-
tlon Of the assessing OF $40. 4S991 damages
or fine laid by President Cleveland and Secre-
tary OF the Navy Herbert against the company
for furnishing the Government with armor
plato. which. to quote Secretary Her
bert. was good. all excelllng the lowest
limit OF tolerance in the speciflca-
lions. yet portions OF IL were not up to the
highest possible mark OF excellence. which
by their contract the company was bound to
attain
Tho conspirators were four In number. all
well-known workmen hereabouts. who until
quite recently were employed at the Carne-
Clio big Homestead plant.
The price they received as n reward for
their conspiracy was about S35. 900. or twenty
i've por cent OF the damage assessment made
by President Cleveland against the Carnegie
company.
The quartet OF scheminR workmen were
assisted In getting in touch with the Govern
ment by a Pittsburgh attorney whose office is
within the shadow Of the Court House. and by
a prominent ex- Federal official whose home is
in this state.
THE mnnnerin which these facts have leaked
out is similar to that in which the famous
Tweed conspiracy first became known in New
York.
"one Of the conspirators who got but
ant ~ Nha a
paid by the Government, learning that
no had In common parlance gotten the
short end OF the deal. gave expression
to his feelings while somewhat under the in
fuence OF liquer. and skilful questioning and
more liquor brought out the entire story. This
story too. has been known to a number OF
people for six weeks past.
The conspirators. In company with
everybody else. knew that tho Carnegie
Company was put to great expense
during and Immediately after the ever
memorable strike OF July. 1892. and. ac-
cordng to their story. they got the i'm
preston that number OF people. including
some OF prominence who occupy leading po-
sitions. were getting money from the Car
negie Company without giving an adequate
service In return"
The article then explains the well-known re-
qurements Of the Government in their armor-
plate contracts Continuing. 1t says:
by reason OF the big strike the Carnegie
Company got away behind in the armor r plate
tonnage it was under contract to furnish the
Government. some time after the strike.
after work had been resumed at Home
stead In all departments. Superintend-
ent John Potter. who had been the
heas man at Homestead during tho otrike
period. was transferred to ono of the ONCE de-
partments. and Manager schwab was placed
In charge at Braddock and Hon estead.
Manager Schwab pushed the work to the
limit to catch up on the armor plate tonnage.
and 1t was about this time that the conspira-
tors hatched their scheme.
In n very clever manner they managed to
place with the armor plate that had been
passed upon and accepted by the naval
officers stationed at tho works as in
spectors. plates that had failed to come
UP to the highest possible mark OF excellence
but which were good. all excellinG the lowest
limit OF tolerance in the Specifications.
Tbs substitution Of defective plates eI.
a systematic ma amer. the cons pirators keeping
careful record Of every plate substituted.
how the placing OF the Govern m emit ins pectors'
stamps on the unapproved plates was effected.
statements differ also. as to whether any
OF the defective plates were used by the Gov
eminent after their arrival ut their desti ma
ton. Washington. ID. C.. naval officials deny
People in this city who claim to know
whereof they speak claim tina I some Of the un-
approved plates Were used on the new battle
ships Oregon and Indiana.
Another point, yet to be made clear. Is
whether any carelesSness on the part of the
naval inspectors at Homestead made 1t possi-
BILE for the conspirators to work their scheme.
Late last fRll the conspirators made ready
after examination OF memoranda. &C.. refused
to have anything to do with the matter until
guaranteed a contingent fee. said to have been
$4,000.
II was also tho understanding that the
Government should not be put in possession
OF the facts until il WAS pledged to pay the re-
ward the conspirators were after,
The attorney thsn put himself In commu-
through him negotiations with the Govern
ment were opened.
" The reward was promised. and the con-
spirators then made oath to the correctness
G ,Frick was summoned to Washington.
and accompanied by Vice. chairman Leish-
m-n. he went on. That was In December last.
and they were then informed by Secretary
They denied that what they were charged
with had been done. and the sworn Rfildavits
were then placed before them.
They were then informed that damages
tested and appealed to President Cleveland.
Andrew Carnegie was sent for and APP
peared on the scene soon aftsrward.
lie and MIR. Friek are said TO have gone be-
The President sustained Secretary Her
beTt's leVying OF damages or fine or blackmAil.
or whatever IL may DO called, and the Carnegie
Company submitted TO and paid over on Jan.
"a the $40; 4stOl. OF which the four eonspira-
Then there was not = fair division. result
ing in letting the remarkable story out"