Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-12
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE PERILS OF STEAMBOAT
PASSENGERS.
cross Negligence of InspectOrs-NO
Regard for Safety-The Surgeon
Generals RepOrt-HeaIth of Ghe
Army-Arthur and MaeVeagh.

WASHINGTON, November 11.-Supervising
Inspector General OF Steam Vessels Dumont
to day submitted his report for the fiscal
year to the Secretary of the Treasury. The
report shows that the total number of acci-
dents during the year to steam vessels, re-
sulting in loss OF life, was: From explo-
sions l9, fire 3, collisions z, snags, wrecks
and sinking 8. The total number of lives
lost by these accidents was 26S. In his re-
port, General Dumont makes the following
startling statement concerning derelictions
Of duty on the part of Supervising In
spectors:
During the year, the Supervising Inspec-
tor General made an extensive tour through
several inspection districts. During his
tour there were frequent revelations OF lack
OF supervision by supervising officers.
Steamers were found soon after the annual
inspection to be deficient in life saving apph-
ances. Life boats were without oars, plugs
or life lines For life boats of sixty passen-
ger capacity there were substituted in
some casss small fiat bottom sklffs unsafe
for half dozen people. The Implement
Of life preservers was deficient, and those
on hand were without straps. The fire
hose was worn and useless in case of fire.
The boiler rooms were unprotected by
metal, as required by law, and he found
many other evidences of disregard of the
law. This condition of affairs was some
times the fault of the licensed officers
of steamers, who might be careless about
keeping up their compliments, or might
deceive the inspectors by borrowing equip
ments to pass the inspection and returning
hav INT
ally certificates were granted by inspectors,
when the equipments were known to be
deficient, upon the promises of the parties
| interested TO supply them before navigating
their steamers, which promises were not
fulfilled.
Whatever the causes of these abuses they
! could not exist IL the supervising officers of
the service were faithful to their duties.
After quoting the law, detailing the duties
Of supervising inspectors, Gen. DumOnt
SAYS It will be observed that the law leaves
the visiting of steamers by such an officer
| to such time as he thinks it eXpedient, and
IT, can be demonstrated that such
visiting was the exception and not the rule.
The department cannot enforce duty the
time and fullflment of which are left to
| individual discretion.
THE SURGEON GENERALS REPORT.
The annual report Of Surgeon General
Barnes was submitted to the Secretary of
War to day. The cost of the medical and
hospital supplies actually issued during the
last fiscal year was $lS3, ,253 43. Tue Sur
geon General calls attention to the necessity
for an increased appropriation to meet the
| expenses of the medical department for the
| fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, and says
| that $250, 900 will be required for this pur-
| pose. One important reason mentioned for
! recommending an Increased appropriation
| is the fact that the department is obliged to
| furnish medical and hospital supplies for
| the use of several thousand Indians hell as
| prisoners of war. Respecting the health of
/ the army during the past year, the report
| shows that among the white troops the
i total number of deaths from all causes was
| 1877 or 9 per thousand of mean streng 9Th,
| and he total number of deaths of cOlOred
/ soldiers reported from all causes was As, or
20 per thousand.
ARTHUR AND MACvEAGH.
| PHILADELPHIA, November 11-Attorney
! General MacVeagh has returned from New
! York, where be visited President Arthur,
and he stated to a representative of the As
sociated Press to day that the relations be
| tween them have always been and
| now are of the kindest posi-
| BILE character. The statements
| published to the contrary, including the
| pretended Cabinet scene, were sheer fabri-
| cations. He says the sources from which
| they originated were, however, so well
| known, and they were so improbable on
their face, that no denial was necessary.