The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-06

The PittsburG Times yesterday said
"The Carnegie Steel company, limited.
has permitted itself to be made the vic
tim of big conspiracy. This in brief
is tho trnn exclamation of tho assessing
OF $llO le9,0l damages. or fine. laid by
President,Clevslani and Secretary OF the
Navy Herbert against the company Tor
furnishing the government with armor
plates which, to quote Secretary Her
bert, was good, all excelling the low.
est limit of tolerance in the Bpecitica-
tions, yet portions Of it were not up
to tho highest possible mark of
excellence which by thoir con-
tract the company was hound to
attain. The couspirators were four in
number, all we'll known workmen here
abouts, who, until recently. were en-
ployed at tho Carnegie's big Home
stead plant. The price they received
from the government as reward for
their conspiracy was about $780, 900, or
25 per cent of the damage assessment
made by President Cleveland against
the Carnegie company. This Quartstts
of scheming workmen were assisted in
getting in touch with the government
by Pittsburg attorney whose office ia
within the shadow of the court house
and by prominent eX-federnl official
whose home is in this state The man .
ner in 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 81. 600 out Of the S35, 900 reward
paid by the government, learning that
he had, in common parlancs. gotten
the short end of the deal, gave ex-
preston to his feelings while some
what under the influence of liquor and
skilful gu, s.ioning and more liquor
brought out of the entire story. The
story has been known to number Of
people for six weeks past In very
clever manner the conspirstors man
aged to place with the armor plats that
bad been passed upon and accepted by
the naval officers stationed Mt the works
RS inspectors, plates that had failed
to come up to the highest pos
sible mark of excellence but which
were good, all exeelling the lowest
limit OF tolerance in specification. The
substitution Of defective plates ex-
tended over period of time and was
done in n systematic manner. the con-
spirators keeping careful record oi
every plate substituted. Late last fall
} the conspirators made ready to realize
and consulted an attorney, who after
examination Of memoranda, etc, re-
fused to'have anything to do with the
matter until guaranteed contingent
fee, said to havs been $4,000, 1t was
also the unders anding that the gov.
ernment should not be put in posses
sion Of the facts until it was pledged tC
pay the reward the conspirstors were
after. The attorney then put himself
J in communication with the eXfedera
officer aud through him negotiation,
with the government were opened The
reward WAS promised aud the conspira-
tors then made oath to tho CORRECTNESS
OF their memoranda.
Then Chairman H. G. Frlck wa
summoned to Washington aud &C
companied by Vice President Lssh
, man, he went on. That was in D.cem
Der last, and they were then informed
by Secretary Herbert for what the,
had been summoned. They denle,
that what they were charged with hat
, been done, and the sworn affidavit
were then placed before them They
we're then Informed that damages were
to be assessed against them. The,
protested and appealed to Presiden
Cleveland. Andrew Carnegie was son
FOR and appeared on the Rcons soon af
terward lie and Mr.. Frick are said t
have gone before ths president in the
matter Of the appeal The presiden
sustained Secretary Herbsrt's levyiu
of damages, or fine, or blackmail, O
whatever it may be callod, and tn
. Carnegie company submitted to an,
paid over on Jan. II the $40. Asa 81, O
which the four conspirators got 2j pei
! cent.
1t now seems likely that work on tht
J proposed Washington aud Blltim1r'
D Electric raiwsy will soon begin. Tn
, distance is something like forty miles
1t is the purpose of the company I,
. equip the line with model veStibulC
2 trains, make the trip between the tw,
I cities in one hour and the rate of 81 TO
: the round trip. IL Ia also reported tha
the plan to connect the cities of Ne,
York and Philadelphia by trolle
q line has assumed definite shape.
: The decision of Judge GrOsscup, O
T tho United States District court l
$ Chicago, that witnesses were no
0 bound to testify in the case of tn
= Lake Shore road. which was charge
Q with violating the interstate law, W hel
. thoy choose to think or say that tn ell
, evidence will criminals Themselves
, amounts to a reatiirmntion of III
a Counselman case. though it Is full
u and more decisive. The decision vii
i probably holp the amendments to tht
interstate bill now pending in congress
II the law Is to be operative the com
mission must have mora power i
l. many directions. This, under tho de
cisions of Ju ge Deadly, Judge Brewer
e Judge Gresham, Judge Grosscup an
y many others, it has never had. In fac