New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-04
DEFECTIVE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION.

An important railroad decision has been given
at Springfield, Illinois,
DEFECTIVE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION.
THE RESULT OF IMPERFECT LAws-DIvIDED RE-
sP0NsIBnIrY-A REORGANIZATION OF THE sYs-
TEM NEEDED-THE INSPECTION OF GOVERN
MENT vEssETs
by TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyE.l
| WASHINGTON, July 3.-The Bureau of Steamboat
Inspectors Is being made the object Of considerable
severe, but nndeserved criticism. General Dumont
! is undeniaby the most efficient chief which that
bureau has ever had. and has within his limited
sphere made number Of valuable improvements.
The defect in the work of steamboat inspection
seems to be in the laws under which the work is
carried on. These seem to have been devised With
a view to the diffusion of all respon-
sbty as widely possible. The
Supervising Inspcctor-General has neither
the power of initiation revision, except to a very
limited extent The local inspectors are
charged by law with the work of
insDectOn. and when disasters occur they
are made Investigators to report upon the efficiency
OF their work. If they report that their
original inspection impcrlectiy done, then the
Supervising Inspector General may recommend
removals.
II the recent disasters bring about reorganiza-
tior OF the system upon basis similar to that of
the Life-Savlng Service the Signal Corps
or the Lighthouse system, with a CEN
tral responsible head directing and review
ing the work OF all subordinates, the
terrible sacrifices will not have been entirely unpro-
duct;vc of good results.
g There is no reason," said gentleman hold
ing Il high official position, himself
expert in maritime matters, ''why that
service should not be made benefcent as the Life
q. -.
system or the Signal Service. | would have
full powers aud responsibility at Washington. Then
there should be a small corps of travelling nspcc-
tors, with functions analogous to those of post Office
special agents, with their own eyes that life
SAVING appliances are in working order, and that
boats crews not inefficient in manipulating
them. The importance of the work would
warrant much more stringent laws than
now exist. and although steamboat men would |
squirm at first, good would result.
once accompanied an Inspector of Government |
vessels on an official tour continued the gentleman.
" We boarded a vessel and remained upon her |
for Whole day At a moment when he was m
Observed. the inspector stepped to the bell aud !
rang fire alarm Officers and crew seemed to have /
lost thclr wits, the engines did not STOP men
rushed about FOR buckets bur there seemed to be no
system III their procedure. Tire insp2cfor
stood, watch III hand, noting the occurrences and
when they over, he gave the commanding
officer to understand that there must be
an immediate reform in respect of |
alarms and a more stringent state
of discipline enforced We boarded another vessel
where the same experlment was tried The bell had
not stopped ringing when the engines stopped. Men
rushed at once to their places, and in
less than three minutes hose pipes had been cou-
leced and two streams were beiug forced throuah !
hem, while men stood, buckets and axes in hand,
'eady for orders. In both instances the officers and
rev believed the alarms to be genuine"
AN IMPORTANT RAILROAD DECISION.
I-R..yftG q A ROND pPFFrRREn Tr ,,,t, N.t,
DECISION BY JUICE DRUMMOND AT SPRING
FIELD, Ill.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRTBUSEl
washington, July 3.-The decision rendered bv
Judges DrummOnd and Treat in the United
tates Circnit Court at Springfield. Illinois, on The
Sih ult, IN the case Of Green b. Ranm and John
Y. Mitchell AGAINST the Cairo and Viucennes Rail
Dad Company and J. w. Drexel and Charles +. n.
'racy receivers, determined an interesting point of
lw.
In 1878 Raum and Mitchell became sureties for
he railroad company, at the request of General
lTnside, IT'S president, upon appeal bond in a
lse which was taken TO the Supreme Court of
illinois. While the case was pending the property
the company was placed in the hands of receiv-
rs. The Supreme Court of Illinois affirmed the T
ldgment against the company.
J. Pierpont Morgan who had in the meantime .
rexel aud Tracy, trustees for the bondholders i
nd j. S. Morgan, OF London. principal owner of o
le stock and bonds of the company all refused to u
~ the judgment. Raum and Mitchell, as sureties p
the bond. then compelled to pay the debt !
the company. h
At the time Raum and Mitchell became suretles y
e rolling stock of the company was encumbered, p
1t before the payment of the debt by them the re-
ivcrs of the company, its president, trus- h
es etc. borrowed money, to secure the 81
yment of which they issued chattel mortgage o
the rolling stock. The Court allowed this to be
ne and at the end of the year the rolling stock q
as sold for about one-fourth Of its value TO pay I
c loan. j. :. Morgan becoming the purchaser. y,
Raum aud Mitchell objected in Court to the execu- 7!
N of tho mortgage and fled petition PRAYING for N
order requiring the receivers To pay their debt
After five years delay the case came on for trial
on q statement of the facts. Judge Drun-
md held that where surety upou
appeal bond of IA railroad company was com
He'd to nay the debt the property of the com w
~ being in the hands of receivers, and subject to wi
orders Of his Court he would require the pay tr
mt of the debt "A preferred claim. 20
THE LIFE-SAViNG SERVICE. n' rS
;oBLE RECoRD-NEED OF EXTENDING THE SER 81