, 1878-03-22

carrying capacity did not exceed one hun
dred and sixty persons; that the boats
were not and could not be lowered by the
undisciplined and insufficient crew; that
the captain of the "Orpheus" sailed away
after the collision and did not remain by
the Pacific" to ascertain the amount OF
damage she had sustained.
But you will naturally ask, Was there
no investigation into this case of the "Pa
citlc,' SO glaringly wrong, so wiltuly in
human? All, yes but for the sake of ma
tional honor and public decency ask
me not what pure, strong-minded and
intelligent men composed that toard of
investigation. The very men who in
Spected and passed the rotten hulk of the
Pacific as safe passenger steamer, the
very men who were themselves guilty of
the crime, were appointed by Secretary
Bristow to inquire into the causes of the
disaster. am sure the veriest novice could
have predicted the result OF the investi-
CATION. Had they found TRUE VERDICT
1t would have presented to the world the
extraordinary spectacle OF a court or jury
finding itself guilty OF wholesale murder.
AS Nero, when charged with great crimes,
tried to eyade the responsibility by laying
them upon the Christians, so in this case
an innocent party was made to bear the
the burden Of responsibility. The "Pacif-
ic" was pronounced seaworthy, safe and
staunch, and the captain of the collid-
ing vessel was charged with negligence.
If a master purposesy loses his vessel in
order to gain the insurance he may have
upon her, the penalty under the law is
death; and when men, paid to protect us
on the highways of the ocean from dan
gers on the deep, for private gain betray
us to ocean burial, the crime is surely
much greater, and the penalty should be
quite as severe.
1t is needless to number instances
though it would be easy, even with my
limited experience. Neither would |
waste time in attacking any individual,
when the primary fault lies in the system
itself. The facts and probabilities agree.
A premium is offered for rascaity in the
present system, and that pecuation aud
wrongdoing do not in any case occur is a
happy accident.
The question naturally arises, How can
this be changed. with the least inconYen
ience, attaining the best results? The
practical remedy-the easyway of securing
the desired end, is In the manner suggest
ed. Let the duties OF steamboat inspectors
be performed by the officers Of the revenue
marine corps. They are found at every
port where steamboat inspectors are need
ed. Engineers of the revenue marine
could act as inspectors of boilers, and the
deck officers perform the inspection Of
hulls. These officers have to pass rigid
examinations in every grade; they are
fully competent, and are commissioned for
life. They have something to lose il de-
tected in fraud. 1t would be a saving to
the government. The cutters would be
ofgreat assistance in the performance of
the duty, AS both the steamboat inspec-
tion and revenue marine bureaux are un-
der control of the Treasury department,
the change could be made without much
difficulty, and any officers now in the
steamboat inspection service of special
merit and reliability could be commits
stoned into the revenue marine.
The claims made are simply as follows
First, THE NECESSITY FOR A CHANGE.
Under the present system honesty is the
worst policy. Three hundred lives were
lost through the neglect or criminality OF
the inspecting officer on the "Pacifc,"
and where the next sad blow may fall no
one can tell. Second, THE ADvIsABILTTY
AND FEASIBILITY OF THIS CHANGE. 1t Sc
cures competent officers commissioned for
life, and by simple consolidation of two
burcaux of the Treasury department.