New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-28
THE c1ByFGJE COMPROMISE.

special Washington dispatches respecting the
armor frauds at the Carnegie works has pcch
officially confirmed When these accounts w"r'
published The Tribune was accused OF trump
Ing up charges" against Mr. Carnegie In rctalia-
ton for his high treason To The PROTECTION
cause in advocating the passage OF The wilson
bill We RETAINED from commenting "llher Oh
these partisan structures or on the allegations
Of fraud. although W, were well assured mat
the information was correct. and mat
grave scandal had been brought 10 light. the
intelligence and Judgment Of our Washington
bureau have been vindicatcl by The Official re-
ply made by Secretary Herbert 10 The resolution
OF inquiry adopted by the House The time has
now come when plain talk about this scandal
Is pertinent and wholesome.
Concerning the frauds in the arinor we have
nothing to say. While Mcssrs. Carnegie Frick
and IIunsickcr have dSclaimcd knowledge OF
them they have accepted responsibility for
them by paving 10000 90 10 the Government
and S:}5121 -, 10 the informants. They may
desire the public to believe that they have been
the victims Of y conspiracy among their en-
ploycs. entered into as an act OF revenge for
Mr. Tricks contest with the labor unions
With that branch Of the subject we have moth
ing 10 do II il with the compromise effected
with President Cleveland himself that the pub
lie IS concerned. When the frauds were discov
cred the Bureau OF Ordnance recommended
fine Of - per cent upon the amount of armOr
furnished under the contract. Secretary Her
bert informed Mr. Frick that the Navy Depart
ment intended to approve the report Of Captain
Sampson and TO the penalties. Mr. Frick
appeacl 10 the President On December 20
Mr.. Carnegie, Mr.. Frick, Mr. Hunsckcr and
their counsel appeared before the President and
argued the case on January 10 the President
made n decision. RENTING onc-thirl of the pen
allies and limiting the amount Of armor on
which the fines should be assessed. Moreover,
all possible precautions were taken to suppress
informal ton about the frauds and the compro-
mise and TO protect the reputation Of Mr.. Car
ncgc.
Mr. Carnegie whether he was the victim
Of n conspiracy or not, had undoubtedly made Il
good arrangement. The per cent RENTED
amounted to over $4,000. and the limitations
Of fines TO material furnished between certain
dates was n valuable concession. 1t was also
Of the first Importance to manufacturer and
public man Of his reputation to have every
body's lips sealed. The Presidents decision was
highly favorable to Mr.. Carnegie Had Mr..
20. when the case was argued and January 10,
when the decision was rendered, done anything
to influence the President strongly In his favor?
That question is a probe which reaches the
very core Of the scandal
Mr. Carnegie was one OF the most influential
manufacturers and Protcctionists in the coun-
try. On January 3. midway between the arl,l-
mcnt and the decision, he wrote n letter to The
,rr fln DrofactiouiSt al N
America. advocating the passage Of the Wilson
BILL which was about TO be brought up in the
House for debate. This letter was published on
January 4 and the Presidents decision was
rendered on January 10. The coincidence GER
tanly Is most significant. Mr. Carnegie at the
moment when the President was considering
the penalties which ought TO be imposed upon
the defective armor renowned his principles on
the tariff question and employed his great ntlu
encc to secure from Republicans and fellow
support for the Wilson bill. The
President, moreover, when Mr.. Carnegie was
rendering assistance TO the lowtarif cause re-
mitted one-thrl Of the fines, limited the amount
of armor subjected to penalty, and greatly
modified the report Of the Ordnance Bureau
which Secretary Herbert had expressed his in
tention Of signing.
There may be loyal friends OF Mr. Carnegie
who will persist in believing that he had no
thought Of influencing the President when he
wrote his letter In favor Of the Wilson tariff |
and that it was an entirely spontaneous, disin-
tcrested contribution TO economic controversy. |
There may also be zealots knccling I'm rapturous
ecstasy before the shrine OF the Consecrated |
One, who will sprinkle themselves with holy |
water when the suggestion Is made that the |
President granted to Mr.. Carnegie a special |
Indulgence and remission Of penalties on re- |
ceiving evidence Of his change OF economic |
faith. But this is, In the main. an incredulous |
md common-sense world. The great majority |
Of Americans, who read Secretary Herbert's |
report, will put the tariff letter and the Presi-
dents decision together, where they belong. !