New-York tribune., 1894-06-18
THE ARMOR PLATE FRAUDS.
DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT.
INCOMPETENT INSPECTORS APPOINTED TO ST.
PERvIsE THE WORK OF MANUFACTURE
THEIR UNFITNEss DEMONSTRATED
on THE WITNESS STAND.
tBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE 1RIBuxEJ

tBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBuEE.J
Washington. June 17.-If there is anything that
has been demonstrated more clearly and conclu-
sively than another in the course Of the tosu-
mony so far submitted to the House Committee
investigating the astounding frauds committed
upon the Government by the Carnegics. 1t Is the
utter incompetency Of the ordnance officers de-
tailed for the work of inspection The men chosen
for this responsible duty were In no case ap-
parently trained for the task devolvins upon
them. Their detail seems. the contrary, to
have been, as Is the case In large number Of
commands the result OF intrigue and favOritism
II the Secretary OF the Navy or the chief OF the
Ordnance Bureau had made his selections blind
ly without reference to fitness previous eX-
perience or had the applicants for these inspec-
torships been chosen Unfortunately from a
bunch Of blushng ballroom beauties such as the
Navy supplies every winter to the dizzy whirl
Of Washington society. the choice could not have
been happier had the object been to give the
Carnegies opportunity to initiate a carnival
OF fraud and deception upon the Government
without fear Of detection
The inspection was. the testimony disclosed,
OF the most perfunctOry character. II a
travesty. There were. TO begin with. not a suf-
ficient number Of inspectors the ground But
even those who appeared occasionally in the
WOlKS. abandoning lOT the uUe ptlnG the more
arduous task Of holding down chairs in the Du-
quesne Club, Of Pittsburg. were not by training
experience fitted TO discharge the duties OF
competent inspection. How could they be? They
had never before. probably. been inside steel or
a rolling mill. Their knowledge OF the manu-
facture Of plates was based largely upon per-
functory study Of foreign books, and Of this there
was In all likelihood not overmuch. They were
not even engineers. in any senss. They had
been trained To command. ships. no. u build
them. Much less were they In position to con-
fTpl "A D1f,lfN afa1 1sli irqs
and difficult. as that Of heavy amor plate. The
ease, Indeed. with which they were hoodwinked
by the rascally superintendents and tOremen II
the Carneges would scarcely be believed II IT
had not, through the testimony elected before
the House Committee become part of the official
record.
II was the boast OF the Secretary Of the Navy
at the time The Tribune first drew attention
to these frauds. that 50 far the Department
was concerned nothing had been left undOnc to
protect the Interests OF the Government. He
laid. In fact. special stress upon the efficient
service done by the Ordnance Bureau. In view
OF the testimony thus far taken these assertions
do not prove to have been ill-fOunded only but
to be positively ludcrous. II IS doubtful whether
any bureau OF the Government within the last
quarter Of a century has succeeded IN exhibit
ing equal incOmpetcncy, imbccility and cOucelt
Not single palliatinH circumstance has been
far adduccd 10 mitigate IN the slightest de-
gree the folly, the negligence. the criminal con-
ii1cnCe OF these victims OF Carucgies rasCally
foremcn. The most obvious precautions We're
neglected. II appears. Everything taken on
trust-rcturns. figures. tests records everything.
There scarcely anything lying around loose
IN the Carnegie works. which. II properly doc
torcd. plugged or Immersed IN n bath. would
not have been successful IN passing the ordeal
OF the Government inspectors. From n bolt - a
twelve-inch armOr plate T. was all the same
thing--to these sharp-w -witted inspectors ~ the
Navy Department.
The astounding revelations before the House
Committee. all foreshalOwed by The Tribune.
are beginning to bear fruit Ia questions which
express the doubtful wisd fm ~ employing naval
or military IN branches Z ne scrv!c" whiD p
require the experience u engl> crs and experts.
II cost the people Of the District u Columbia a
round million 10 pay FOR this s1-callel 'inspoc-
ton of Government engineers This was s"V-
eral years ago and occurred In the construction
~ q tunnel to connect two water reservoirs.
The engineer. an officer Of the Army was court
rnartialled and sentenced 10 The awfIl punishment
OF a transfer to Western post. The hole IN
which a million was sunk remains - this day a
hole and nothing else. The District is out of
pocket 81 90 OO0. but the Army s,iN retains the
services Of this eminent engineer. In The case OF
the Carnegie inspectors the damages can hardly
be computed AT this time. They may run INTO
the millions but AZ present no one IA authority
seems inclined 20 hold these inspectors respon-
slble FOR the criminal negligence exhibited by
them nor TO take 70 task those who appointed
them and. who therefore equally guiIty OF
neglect OF duty. II not more 50.