The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30
THE ARMOR PLATE INQUIRY
THE TESTIMONY OF THE lNNES-
TIGATION MADE PUBLIC
TO-DAY
DISAPPOINTMENT 70 REPUBLICANS.
1t Failed to Besmirch the Present Ad-
istration-Carnegie Tells How
He Went Into Armor Plate Bust
ness Through Patriotism.

washington, April ZS.-lne SENATE
committee on naval affairs today made
public the testimony taken in the armor
plate investigation. This investigation
was directed largely at Commander Fol
ger, who accepted a position with the
Harvey company after his retirement
from office of chief of the ordnance bu-
reau of the navy department.
In his testimony Mr.. FOlger said he
had felt a deep interest in Mr.. Harveys
discovery from the beginning, but that
he did not agree with the Harvey COM
pany to enter it's employ until after he
has resigned as chief of ordnance. He
had received, however, a proposition to
accept place with the company about
eighteen months before he left the bu-
reau, but he had declined to consider it,
nor was any offer of shares of stock made
to him then. His resignation took effect
in January 1898, and he became general
manager of the Harvey company in
March. He says the he did not go to
Europe to arrange contracts with for
eign governments, as stated in the SEN
ate resolution, but to settle a contro-
versy with the foreign agent of the COM
pany.
In reply to Il question as to the cost
of manufacturing armor plate and price
paid by the government, he said he be-
lieved the cost to be from $3.50 to $500
per ton, while the price paid is 5000.
Il think" he continued, that the cost
should not be taken alone as measure
of the price that we should pay. There is
certain risk that manufacturers may
have armor plate thrown back upon
them, through failure to pass contract
inspection, and that enhanced the price
somewhat"
Secretary Herbert explained in his tes-
timony. many points. He said that up to
date 1882, 26S had been paid to the
Bethlehem company, and S4,467,33 31 to
Carnegie for armor plate. Existing con-
tracts call for 100000 more. He said
the manufacturers had agreed to reduce
the price in future contracts to S40O per
ton. but the plate at that price was not
to be Harveyized.
Commander Folger had approached
him on behalf of the Harvey company,
but not until after he had resigned his
position as chief of ordnance. He was
still. however, an officer of the navy.
Ex-Secretary Tracy, in testifying, said
that the Harvey process had been called
to his attention in 1890, and he (Tracy)
had concluded that if this process could
be applied to nickel steel we would have
an ideal armor, and after it had been
demonstrated that this could be DONE
the system was adopted.
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie. in giving his
or tapnnnt cniI that Snornto U'p, nv,
and President Harrison had been re-
sponsible for forcing him into making
armOr.
eff it had not been for a telegram re-
ceived while I was abroad. stating that
Secretary Tracy had requested us. as our
duty, to help the government out of its
difficulty when its ships were standing
in the stocks and could not get armor,
you would never have found the Car
negie company engaged in the manufac-
ture of armor. If we had put the money
we have in the armor plant today 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. saying
it was feared that not a shin would be
finished in President HarrisOn's admin
istration.
Ilc Suli lc luu clllereu upon the work
as matter of patriotism.
Mr.. Carnegie said there was S3OOO.OOO
invested in his armor plate plant The
plant often stops six months. but en-
penses go on. He said the price re.
ceived was exactly the English price. and
he had been amazed that the Bethlehem
company had agreed to accept such
price because in the difference in cost
Chief Constructor Hichborn of the
navy gave the opinion in his statement
that the armor plate plant could be es
tablished for S2.0OO,OOO.
$50 far" he said, from being gov
eminent plant. necessary or deSira bic, 7 |
am of the opinion that the present re-.
lations between the department and pr- !
vate armor plants are undesirable and
that equally good armor at much cbeon.
or rates would be obtained if the shin |
builder purchased his armor from thr
structural steel" ms