New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-17

rho Cornopie compromise with the Govern
mont effected two days after the publication
of his low-tariff letter in The Tribune has not
nrovcntcd the reopenng of the scandal we
have no desire TO enter prcmaturcly upon the
now, nhases of the controversy over defective
ormor platc When the Navy Department has
examined the evidence and made known the
results in official form. there will be an oppor-
,unitv for Intelligent and unparalleled discus
sion We hope the charge that as many ~
1Oo defective plates have been used Ill the hc"
crscrs and battlcships will prove to be grossly
cxaggeratcd and that the Carnegie company
will he able to rcf,ltc the fresh accusations OF
astounding fraud in Government WORK. we on
serve that the Chief Of the Ordnance Bureau Is
taking an optimistic view of the matter IN"
tr,Ist that he is not unduly credulous
Thorc is however one branch OF THIS SUBJECT
which can be dealt with comprchcnsvely with
out injustice either to the contractors OF 10 inv
Homestead workmcn. whose atiidavits are al
the service Of the department. mat Is 'ne
compctcncy Of the naval experts employed III
the inspection Of hull or armor plate we 'o"-
slider If safe to assume that if defective ma
tcrial has been accepted for the department anu
used I'm any Of the new vessels, Inc lrauuS nav
not been committed with the connvahrc oI 'iic
INSPECTORS If weak and vulnerable plates nave
been rcrolled and specially treated Tor the PuI-
nose of deccivinC the experts. the cothp'''h'!
Of the inspectors is to he qi'stloh'd r'''l 'i'''
their integrity This raises tho question Whc'h''
the officers detailed for this scientific "oIh nav
had the education and training when Wouiu
III them for employment as experts. Doubtless
there have been special instances at iioip'''u
and elsewhere Of gross carclcsSneSS Oh 'h' part
Of the inspectors. 1t IS hardly credible that ma
terial could have been rerolled ana 'doctor'u
over night, rs the informcrs nav" charE'u' "
reasonable precautions had been taken ny the
inspcctors in marking them. But entlr'F al''I'
from these considerations il may be cohilh'h'i!
stated that the system of employing me Officers
rs inspectors is open 10 criticism. Mlhy 81
those socallcd experts have been aSSlGh"i 10
work for which they have not had adequate
training and education.
Whom work was begun on the new Navy Inc
officers exclusively were detailed for duty rs
inspcctors. During recent years few Nom
b.rs Of the Engineer Corps have also hc'n ON
rlovcd * EXPERTS. but practically the work has
been performed by line officers. who were
trained 10 command navigate ana hght inc
ehius rather than ~ experts in metals - OH
c.rs of tho Construction Corps ar" Supl"~'u ~
mo Without seeking To revive iralousl'S pc
,,,ccn these branches Of the service. we may
cvnr..s the conviction that the inspection OF
ortnor plate ought to bc largely intrlStrd 10 inc
engineers. who have had superior scientific
training for this class Of work In the BRUSH
Navy line officers are not employed as exports
in the construction OF ships They have th'lr
own field Of operations and ar" not detailed
f,r scientific tests Of mclallurcy for which ill'y
are obviously incompetent. We believe that the
sam, rule. with perhaps few notable eXcep'
,ions could be- followed in the United states
Navy
Il is hardly reasonable 10 educate Il naVal
corps for n particular class Of work ana theh
IN employ another body OF men 10 do 1t. EnGi-
p,.rs have a training in technical schools ana
the Naval Academy which naturally fits them
for scientific tests ~ the materials used in the
construction 81 ships The line officers rs a
body lack the technical education ana expert
cucc which would enable them adequately 10
urrform the same work. II is prrcminenily an
nccuration Tor experts We believe that the
D.par,mcnt has men Of The right stamp VINO
can be- employed aS inspectors. II II VIII Only
look Tor them I'm the right place. II greater
care were taken In III" appointment or IN
sprctors. such scandals aS have arisen M Home
stead would never occur.