The record-union., 1894-06-15
sreclal 10 the REcoRp-UN1or.

/ Snecial to the RECORD-UNION.
| WASHINGTON, June 14-Charles Edgar
Sill. for the men-Carnegie workmen-
who made the chief disclosures concern
ing the defective armor plate, was before
the Congressional Investigating Commit
tee to-day. He said he made written re-
ports on the results of certain processes
of manufacture. After Superintendent
Kline had changed the reports so as to
make them show that the process con-
formed TO the requirements and specifica-
tions Of the Government contract. they
were returned to Sill, who made COM
plete report. including Kline's altera-
tions. to be submitted to the Government
officials. Kline had directed this to be
done. Kline said he had not made any
alterations in the original report.
Sill said he had kept tab on these alter
ations. and he had his notes with him.
Kline changed dates so that the Govern
meut inspectors could not detect that
the work, as reported, was not within the
capacity of the mill. The books as kept
by Superintendent Kline, showed the
actual work i'll black ink, and the altera-
tIons as submitted to the Government
officers were in red ink.
At the suggestion of Chairman Cum
mings fake" work was the term used
by the committee and the witness to des-
ignate these alterations.
"What was the percentage of this fake
work ?'' asked Mr.. Cummings
''From 10 to % per cent. was fake
work. | think that would be a fair aver
age"
Sill related bow Superintendent Kline
&
plates to cover up defects. The order was
written and verbal and by diagram. He
showed a rough diagram which consti-
tuted one of the orders. The diagram
which was closely scrutinized by the
committee, Sill said was made by Kline,
and the wording on it was in Kllne's
handwriting. Witness had bundle OF
these diagrams.
''Do you mean to say" asked Dolliver.
'that these diagrams were for the pur-
pose of deluding false returns on the
Governments"
Il do.''
And he left the evidence of this bogus
work i'll your hands?"
He did,"
How much did you get from the Gov
ernment as an informer?" asked Mr..
Dolliver.
six thousand dollars" answered Sill.
who said he was led to made the dis
closures through the ill-treatment re-
celved from Kline. The latter, Sill said.
was human brute.v Witness said he
submitted his story to Pittsburg attor-
neys. and then to ex-Solicitor jerks. 1t
was then given to the Secretary of the
Navy.
In response to close questioning, Sill
said he and the attorney had talked over
the amount to be derived from the Gov
ernment. He and other informers had
first hoped that they would get Govern
ment position. Sill said on further cross
examination, that the workmen had no
motive or interest in the Irregularities.
They were led on, and were not bene-
fitted by larger output. The company
and the Superntendents were the ones
that got the benefit. If the Government
officers had known the actual condition
of the work they would have rejected 70
per cent. of such work as was accepted.
Sill read from his notes the specific
plates with plugs and blowholes They
included two plates on the coming tower
of the Oregon. Each plate had hole as
large as mans hand, which was plugged
up.
Mr.. Cummings asked what had be-
come 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 informa-
ton was given to the department. He
had seen Mr.. Frick about the plant occa-
sionally. He did not know that Frick
knew about the books which had been
burned.
The committee was told by Charles
Craig, one of the informers, that the
workmen were giving information to the
Navy Department Craig had first in
formed the department, and had gone to
the company and offered to sell out cheap.
Craig was Immediately paid by the Gov
ernment for his information. The COM
mittee then took up SLIPS books and
notes, and he explained in detail the
Irregularities and the alterations of the
reports made by Superintendent Kline.