The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-15

in order that the government inspectors
should not detect that the work As re-
ported was not within the Capacity of tie
mill
The books as kept By Superintendent
Kline showed the actual work in black ink
and the alterations As submitted to the
government officers were In red ink.
At the suggestion of Chairman Cumm-
ings flake work" was used by the Commit
tee and witness TO designate these altera-
lions. What was the percentage of this
fake W >rk?'" asked Sir. Cummings.
From 70 to 90 per cent was fake work
think that would be a fair average"
Mr.. Sill related how Superintendent
Kline had given orders for retreatiug ends
of plates to cover up defects. The order
was written and verabal aud diagram. Mr..
Sill showed a rough diagram which con-
stituted one of the orders The diagram
which was closely scrutinized by the COM
mittee MIR. Sill said was made by Mr.
Kline, and the wording on il was in
Kline's handwriting. Witness had book
OF these diagrams.
"Do you mean to say" asked Rep.esen-
tative Dolliver. that these diagrams were
for tue purpose of producing false aud
fraudulent results on the government
II do"
"And be left the evidsncs of this bogus
work in your handsf
de DID.
How much did you get from the gov
eminent as an iuformers" asked Mr.. Dol
liver.
six thousand dollars" answered Sill,
who said be was led 10 make the di--
closures through the i'll treatment he aud
others received from Kline. The latter,
Sill said, was d human brute" Witness
said he submitted his story to Pittsburg
attorneys aud then TO ex-Solicitor jerks.
1t was given TO the secretary OF the navy.
In response TO close questioning Sill said
he and the attorneys had talked over the
amount to be derived from the govern
ment. He and other informsrs had first
hoped that they would get government
position. Sill said on further cross-ex-
animation that the workmeu had no mo-
tive or interest in the irregularities. They
worked on time aud were not benefited by
larger output. The company aud super
intendeuts were the ones TO get the benefit.
IF the government officers had known
the actual condition of the work they
would have rejected 20 per cent Of such
work as was accepted"
Sill read from his notes the specific
plates with plugs aud blow holes. They
included two plates of the coming tower
of the Oregon. One plate had hole as
large as mans Land which was
plugged up.
Mr.. Cummings asked what had become
of the books which showed the real work
done.
Sill said he had seen Superintendent
Kline burn two of the books. The other
three had disappeared after the informs-
tion was given to the navy department.
Sill said he had seen Mr.. Frick about the
plant occasionally. He did not know that
Prick knew about the books which had
been burned. The company was told by
Charles Craig, one of the informers, that
the workmen were giving Information 10
the navy department. Craig had first in
formed the department and had then gone
to the company aud offered to sell out
cheap. Craig was ultimately paid by the
government for his information.
The committee then took up Sill's books
and notes and be explained in detail the
Irregularities and the Alterations of the re-
ports made by Superintendent Kline.