The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-25
FRICK ON THE STAND
FURTHER TESTIMONY TAKEN ON
THE ARMOR-PLATE FRAUDS.
The "BlOw Holes" Said to Be Unim-
pOrtant Defects and Not Such as to
Render the Plates Defective.

WASHINGTON, July "a - Chairman
Prick, of the Carnegie Steel Company, was
the witness before the naval committee in
the armor-plate investigation to-day. Mr.
Frick asserted that he had opposed enter
ing on the work of making armor plate
since the necessary plant would be costly
and the company would have but one Gus
toner. While the company's output of 1893
had been more than three million tons only
fifty thousand tons plate. 1t
was a comparatively unimportant branch
of the works, and he had left the details
entirely to Superintendent Hunsicker. Mr.
Prick regarded the penalty levied by the
Navy Department exorbitant, and had
appealed to the President as he was per-
mtted to under the law. He considered the
Presidents decision unjust in the amount
exacted, since all the company had stipu-
lated to do was to furnish the best armor.
Like the other witnesses, Mr.. Prick as
serted that the tensile tests of plate were
of no Importance compared with ballas-
tic tests. He did not regard the information
to the government conspiracy on the
part of former strikers for revenge, but
rather as a money-making scheme. Inform
er Craig had come to him before the infor-
nation was given out, intimating that a
conspiracy was on foot, and giving as his
motive for the visit gratitude toward
member of the company who had assisted
his sister in obtaining an education. Mr..
F'rick told also of visit from an unknown
elderly woman, who said she came from
Washington. and intimated that for money
she could give some valuable information.
eff the government inspectors had done
their duty there would have been trou-
be," said he. II knew they were there to
see that the work was properly done and
depended on them. You gentlemen will see
how that was when you come to the
works" Mr.. F'rick could not see how it
benefited his men to slight their work, as
1t was of no financial advantage to them
ceiving the inspectors, and thought they
should have explained when it was neces-
sary to deviate from the regular methods
to secure the best results. Since taking
the armor-plate contracts the company had
invested s., 100000 in the plant and had
never refused to buy any machinery that
was recommended as necessary. Probably
the plant could be duplicated now at less
cost. Until the recent troubles the govern
ment inspectors had always told him they
were greatly pleased with the work.
Willard Hunsicker. assistant to Chairman
Frck and who had been in charge of the
armor plate department since last Janu-
ary testified that he had no personal
knowledge of the frauds Mr.. Hunscker
described certain plates for the Monterey
e,
he said, had a number of small bIowholes,
not sufficient to hurt the plate 1t was re-
jected al first, but subsequently the board
of ordnance accepted it at reduction of
800 per ton. The largest blowhole he knew
of was in the barbette of the New York
about inch and half deep. MIR. Hun
sicker said the man who claimed to nave
manipulated the test machine was an in
experienced boy, who probably exaggerated
the manipulation in order to get money
from the government. AS to another wit
ness, Shepard. Mr. Hunsicker said he was
favored employe, whose wages had been
advanced and who would have been given
an important position. yet with a view of
securing a profit from the government he
turned up as witness against the COM
pany
Representative Dolliver asked about the
fake record testified to kept by SUI
perintendent Kline. Mr.. HunSicker said he
knew nothing of such record. but he con-
sidered the explanation given in Kline 5
testimony a reasonable one. He believed
the action of Kline was done with good
reason Witness had no knowledge OF the
plugging of blowholes in armor plates
inspectors Mr.. Hunsicker furnished a
statement Of the number Of armor plates
made from the beginning of the old con-
tract November, 1Sg1D to June |, 1894. This
showed "A total of 1906 plates made, of
which 905 were shipped, l53 condemned and
forty-eight were on hand OF the 905
shipped. Coz were regular armor plates and
ming towers etc. Most Of the plates con-
demned had been condemned by the ac-
ton of the company itself. As some of the
members Of the committee wanted TO go TO
the Senate, an adjournment was taken at
this point until tomorrow