The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-06-27

Wnuisoros, D. g., Juno 2a-supcr.
'ntendent Clinc, in charge OF tho armor
plate press shops at tho Carnegie works
atthe time Of tho recent irregularities
: IN nIl!ng goyernmcpt contracts, began
MS testimony before tho congressional
investigating committee to-day. The
Witnessca heretofore examined had
blamed Cline for mort Of tho ln!uui,ics,
80 that much Interest wau attached to
his examination. 10 was cross.exam.
ined by Chairman Cummings. lie said
he had general charge OF tho nrmor
plates and gave written and verbal d.
reciions TO the workmen. Ito construed
tho government specifications that
plates wero to have . uniform treatment
TO mean that there were TO DO uniform
results. Mr.. Cummings questioned
Cline closely OH tho charges made by
iniormor Sill that Cline changed tho
records OF treatment Cllnp saId no
gave to Sill and other clcrka written
directions OF how the plates should DO
treated. Then tho actual work DOM
was entered on the workmen'a states,
Tho Clerks thou returned TO Cline O
transcription from tho slates, He
changed the figures boioro tho reports
OF actual work wero submitted to tho
government ohlccra.
Cline then submitted diagrams o! tho
slGtes for tho purpose Of showing TINT
tho changes ho mGdo wop not for
fraudulent purposes. Ho made the
changes, he declared, as O result OF
practical experience. The chauges COW
erod prior work done on plates shown
BY tho workm0n's figures. Cliuocharped
TINT SiiPa testimony as 10 tho clerks
had suppressed onG-hali OF the cntrioa
on these aln,ea. There had novor been
a false entry for the purpose Of fraud.
Mr.. Cummings then drew out tho
statement that Cline had destroyed all
tho booka. He said he had dono this
because they contained "lot OF stuff"
be knew nothing abouL Sill and tho
other clerks had made these entries.
The books were destroyed alter tho set
tlement with the government had boon
made. Tho destruction OF tho books,
Cline asserted, had no: beon for tho pur.
pose OF destroying evidence Ho now
had no record OF tho treatment of ar
NOR plates.
Cline said aa whole the sheets wcro
misleading and showed only part OF
tho. record work done. Representa-
tive Money took up specific change on
q sheet. 1t showed that an amor plato
was actually in tho furnace eighteen
houra. ClinU's figures on tho aheot
showed that he had raised the number
OF hours to thirty.si1. Representative
Talbot asked why this specific change
had been made.
ITO pteventfuBaing,n answered Cline.
This fuss" no said would be madc by
government officers.
He wanted to please them.
"My Supporters knew what I was
doing" added Cline, who mentioned
Supt Corrle, Of tho nrmor shops, es ono
who know OF what was being done.
Tho clerks did not know the technical
details OF tho work and such informp-
ton ns they might glvo tho government
inspectors would be underatood and
uacd 10 create trouble at tho ordnance
bureau OF the navy department. Tho
naval officials did not understand such
information ~ they sreceivnd, Cline
said his changes In records were based
on starting from cold furnace, TINT Is,
no added, tho time necessary in getting
tho furnace hot enough for the armor
plates. Witness said he destroyed the
bcoks on his own responsibility, Cline
denied that no had stated tho capacity
Of the furnace wac insufficient to do the
government work properly.