The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-24

ASDExw cAEsEaTE.
the government inspection was negligent
bat no charge of dishonesty rests upon the
inspectors.
The charges against tho company were
that the plates and bolts did not receive
the treatment required by the contract;
that false reports we're made 10 the gov
eminent inspectors; that specimens for
testing were retreated before being sub
mitted; that the testing machine was
fraudulently manipulated; that substitu-
ton was made in the case of q plate de-
signed for baliistic test. and that the gov
eminent stamp was either duplicated or
stolen and used without the knowledge of
the government inspectors. The report
states that the number OF furnaces used
was totally inadequate to fulfill the
specifications of the contract on the
amount Of armor plate turned out. After
the first investigation of the frauds
the number of furnaces was increased from
four 20 ten. In regard to the '.jockeying"
of the test machines. IL is asserted that
the company made private tests of mate
rial. and If il was below the standard
manipulated the machine at the official
test so that it would show the required
tensile strength. The charges of retreat
ing and substituting plates designed for
baiiistic tests the committee is satisfied
are true. The charge of using duplicate
or stolen government stamp Is not sus-
tanned.
The report says the government inspec-
ton was negligent and defective. but this
is attributed to the fact that there were
not nearly enough inspectors TO do the
work. Ii is ~asserted that the fraud has
been traced homo TO the general superin-
tendent. who is a stakeholder IN the Car
negie company. OF the feature of Grimm
Atty involved, Chairman Cummings says:
''The frauds which the committee have
found are worthy TO be called crimes. The
servants of the Carnegie company
whether with or without the knowledge
OF the company--to increase its gain, de-
llberately continued for many months TO
commit acts whose natural probable con-
sequences would be a terrific loss of men
IN times OF war, and perhaps the defeat
of the nation. To fine or make mere
money O compensation Is an inadequate
atonemant for such wrongs Your COM
mittee does not consider II within their
province TO draft criminal statute, but
they do feel under obligations 10 call the
attention of the public TO the Importance
of protecting the lives of our seamen and
the safety OF the nation by appropriate
legislation. denouncing as crimes all such
acts as the frauds practiced upon the gov
eminent in connection with armor-piate
aud other msierisi OF war. and making
such acts punishable in all persons who
commit them or aid their commission"
In recommending a test of plate the
committee says:
Notwithstanding oil the admissions
Il a.
the Carnegie company. they claim that ali
the plates paid for by the government are
up 90 the specifications Of the contracts
The contract Of February =, 1898, states
the obligation imposed upon the con-
tractors TO satisfy the inspector that
everything has been done in strict accord
anee with the terms OF the contract. Ii
has been conclusiyely shown that the in
spectors have been satisfied and the armor
plates passed by the most notorious
fiaudS. The efforts Of the company and
all its superintsndents, Cline. CORY and
SchwAb, have been TO satisfy the COM
mittee that the armor is up to
the requirements OF the contract,
Notwithstanding false reports to the IN
spectors, dOctoring OF specimens, plugging
o. plates. fraudulent re-greatlng Of test
plates and jOckeying of the testing ma
chine. The unblushinE character OF The
frauds 20 which these men have been par
ties, and the disregard Of truth and hon
esty which they have Shown ia testifying
before the COMMITTEES. render them un-
worthy of credence, aud everything bears
against their contention. Ii IS not 10 he
supposed that such manifold frauds we're
continued for so long time without an
important object 60 be gained
As the individual plates and groups Of
plates we're passed in many eases by fraud.
the fair conclusion is that without the
frauds they would not have passed. Tao
questions remalas bogsyers FIRST
whether Notwithstanding the frauds and
the failure 70 attain the aigh standard re-
CURED by the contracts. the armor Is not
good steel aud fair REmus; second, the ex-
tent % which the government has been
damaged oy the frauds and irregularities
practiced upon H. TAs terms Of TIE reso-
luton under which your committee
j. acting require them 10 ascertain tie
amount OF the damages. Ii IL impossible
for shem 20 DO This sita their present
pegeFs- he 0aly WAy 10 ascertain The
actual strength and condition of the srmnr
- 20 subject certain plates ct the groups
Passed 70 halllstac tests. Your commit
Tee has 40 more worS 30 do Tor the infar-
mAtloa Of tAS house. Ia relation 10 far
taeE continuing ths Investigation by
making sgeh 9altsstle tests. your commis-
tee have ascergasRed the whereabouts Of
hfly-nIue representative plates alleged 10
haze oeea falsely treated"
The pilates recommended for testing are
four on she Monterey. eaght on the Aanad-
mock. four ca the NsN York. four on tie
AmphytFite. three on tie Terror, three on
the Oregon, taree on the Olympia flour
ineh cssesuentsl. seven on the Indiana.
four on the Massachusetts, and one on th~
oregon. 81 tie fouF-ineh Sponsors there
are three on tie NeN YORK. fw0 GA the
Ca,ambla. ghrse on TIE Minneapolis, shree
GA tie olympia. Two ca the Cincinnati
and tuo on he Raleigh. The rsposi con-
{. aides.
The committee can - no further into
thls investigation @sfho1t N204gnE tae
actual tAiiisile rssistAnce - fhe groups q
plates passed ~ iess q plates taat dgd
Egt really represent these gFuap& Ihs
COMMITTEES has admitted t1ss charge. IL
Ehe goyeEaIsaE Is pres. aae4 from making