St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-25
CARNEGIE'S DEFENDERS.
CHAIRMAN FRiCK rs INNOCENT or
THE ALLEGED FRAUDS.
OBJECTS TO THE PENALTY.
The Information Was Furnished
by His Old Employees for the
Money They Received - Their
Statements Not Correct - AS
sistant Hunsiclker Tells What
He Knows.

'
was the witness before the naval COM
mittee in the armor plate investigation
today. Mr.. Frick asserted that he had
opposed entering upon the work of
making armer plates, since the neces-
sary plant would be costly and the COM
pany would have but one customer.
While the company's output of 1898 had
been more than 100000 tons, only
5000 tons was armor plate. 1t was
comparatively unimportant branch of
the works. and he had left the details
entirely to Supt. Huusicker.
Mr.. Flick regarded the penalty levied
by the navy department as exorbitant
and had appealed to the president. as he
was permitted to do by law. He con-
sidered the Presidents decision uni ust
in the amount exscted, since all the
company had stipulated to do was to
furnish the best arinor.
Like other witnesses, Mr.. Prick as
serted that the tensile tests of plate
were of no Importance as compared
with ballasting tests. He did not regard
the information to the government as
conspiracy on the part of former strik-
ers for revenge, but rather as a
MoNEY-MAKING SCHEME.
lnfOrmer Craig had come to him be-
fore the information was given out, ln-
tlmating that conspiracy was on foot
and giving as his motive for the visit
gratitude toward member of the COM
pany who had assisted his sister in OBJ
tanning an education. Mr.. Frick told
also of visit from an unknown elderly
lady, who said she came from Washing
ton, and ihtimated that for money she
could give some valuable information.
''1f the government inspectors had
done their duty there would have been
no trouble" said he. II knew they
were there TO see that the work was
properly done, and depended on them.
You gentlemen will see now that was
when you come to the works."
Mr.. Frick could not see how it bene-
fitted his men to slight their work, as it
was of no financial advantage to them.
He did not indorse their conduct in
deceiving the inspectors, and thought
they should have explained when it
was necessary to deyiate from the regu-
lar methods TO secure the best results.
Since taking the armor plate contracts
the company had invested So, 000, 600 in
the plant. and had never refused to buy
any machinery that was recommended
as necessary. Probably the plant could
he duplicated now
AT LESS COST.
Until the recent trouble the govern
ment inspectors had always told him
they were greatly pleased by the work.
ord iI.Iy, -S.-t.,
man Fricl, and who has been III charge
of the armor plate department since
last July, testified that he had no per
Sonal knowledge of the frauds.
Mr.. Hunsicker described certain
plates for the Monterey which had been
criticised. One of these, he said, had a
number of small blow holes, not suffi-
cient to hurt the plate. 1t was rejected
at first, but subsequently the board of
ordnance accepted it at a reduction of
500 per ton. The. largest blowhole he
knew of was in the barbette of the New
York, about an inch and a half deep.
MIR. Ii unSicker said the NAH who claimed
to have manipulated the test machine
was all inexperienced boy, who proba-
bly, exaggerated the manipulation in
order to get money from the govern
ment. AS to another witness, MrShep-
herd, MIR. HunSlcker said he was a
favored employe, whose wages had
been advanced, and who would have
been given all important position. yet
with view OF securing profit from
the government, he turned up as wit
ness against the company.
Representative Dolliver asked more
about the fake" record testified to as
kept by Supt. Kline. Mr.. Hunsicker
| said he knew nothing of such record,
but ne cOnsidere d the explanation given
i'll Kline's testimony a reasonable one.
| he believed the action of Kline was
done with good reason. Witness had
no knowledge Of the plugging of blow.
holes i'll armOr plates Without the sane
ton of the government inspectors. Mr..
Hunsicker furnished statement of the
number of arnOr plates made from the
beginning of the old contract (Novem-
Der, 1890 70 June l, 1894. This showed
total OF l,5U6 plates made, of which
905 were shipped, 153 condemned and
44S were on hand. OF the 9O5 shipped,
662 plates were regular armor. and the
remainder were small plates for con-
ming towers, etc. Most of the plates
condemned had been condemned by the
action of the company itself.
As some of the members of the COM
mittee wanted 10 go to the senate, an
adjournment was taken at this point
until tomorrow.