The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-29
Says He Wishe He Had Never
Gone to Making
ArmOr Plates for the United
States Government.
HAD HE DONE AS MUCH
For the British Government as
fOI Uncle Sam
He Would Have Been Given a
Peerage.

Washington. April 29.-The senate
committee on naval affairs has made
public the testimony taken in the armor
plate investigation This investigation
was directed largely at Commander
Folger, who accepted a position with the
Harvey company after his retirement
from the Office OF chief Of the bureau of
ordnance of the navy department.
In his testimony, Mr.. FOlger said that
he did not agree with the Harvey COM
pany to enter its employ until he had
resigned as chief of ordnance. He had,
however, received a proposition to &C
cept a place with the company about
eighteen months before he left the bu-
reau, but he had declined to consider;
nor was any offer Of shares Of stock
made to him then.
He says that he did not go to Europe
to arrange contracts with foreign gov
ernments as stated in the senate reso-
luton, but to settle a controversy with
the foreign agent of the company.
Referring to the charges of ]. r. Da-
vies. as developed in that gentleman's
suit against the company for $4,000 for
having introduced Harvey to him, Mr.
Folger quoted a letter which he had
written in which he said: Il did not
make Mr.. Davies acquaintance until
became chief of ordnance and then in
no manner connected with the Harvey
process. I do not think I saw Mr..
Davies three times during the develop
ments Of the Harvey plate"
In reply to g question as to the cost
of manufacturing armOr plate and the
price paid by the government, Mr.. Fol
ger said he believed the cost to be from
$3.50 to $500 per ton, while the price paid
is $3.50.
Secretary Herbert explained in his
testimony many points investiga-
ton, among others the reason why Sec
rotary Tracy provided a fund of two
cents per pound on armOr plate made
by the Carnegie company in addition to
the price paid saying it was to indem-
Nifty the company against a claim Of
the Ochneider company Of Creusats
France, for infringement Of patent He
said the money thus provided had never
been paid and that its payment had
been resisted.
Mr. Herbert said that Commander
Folger had been approached on behalf
Of the Harvey company, but not until
after he had resigned his position as
chief Of ordnance He was still, how
ever, an officer of the navy.
Mr. Andrew Carnegie in giving his
statement said that ex-Secretary Tracy.
and President Harrison had been re
sponsible for forcing him into making
of armOr- IF 1t had not been for q
telegram received when I. was abroad
stating that Secretary Tracy had re-
Quested US to do so, as our duty to
uGlD LlE OIlllE4 states government out
of its difficulty when its ships were
standing in the docks and it could not
get armOr you would never have found
the Carnegie company engaged in the
manufacture Of armor. The Bethle-
hem company was too sanguine. They
did not know so much about armor
making as I think did. had often
visited the English works, and nothing
could have induced me to go into the
manufacture of armOr plate as a money
making business. If we had put the
money we have in the armOr plant to-
day, and the time and skill into our
regular business, we could have made
much more money than we have made,
and we would have had no trouble
Mr. Blaine had also urged him, say
ing 1t was feared that not q ship would
be finished in President Harrison's ad-
ninistration. He said he had entered
upon the work as a matter of patriot
ism Had We" he said, done what
we did for any European government,
a peerage or the legion Of honor would
have been offered us"
Mr. Carnegie said there was 50 ,o00, 900
invested in his armor plant, and the
reason the business did not pay was
because there were contracts for only
about 5000 tons a year The plant
often stops for six months, but interest
and expenses go on. He said the price
received was exactly the English price
and he had been amazed that the Beth
lehem company had agreed to accept
such a price because of the difference
in the cost of labor.
He said the government could not at
tempt to make armOr without going
into the steel business also He thought
plant for less than SIS 600 000 as it would
have to include a steel plant, and more
than q million would be necessary for
stock.