New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-05

stlbSeduept enactments Affect only Shall ue-
tails Ten wears is not so long time that the
general demand has been forgotten; nor mas
if been materially changed, except that It has
somewhat strengthened. The demand which 1t
WAS the purpose of the law To supply called lor
. connrebcnsivc system of official inspection
Obviously frequent and searching visits are es-
sential 70 the efficiency of the scheme IL GER
family was not the idea of the public III de-
handing the law, and there are no indications
that il was the intention of Congress III passing
!, that the administration of II might vary III
,Lo different districts assigned to various III
e,,oo+ors according as one officer might he
,;cilont and Jealous, another irrc>olutc and ac-
communicating. third sickly or busy with other
,h;ncs q fourth corrupt. The nature OF the
plan requires that making frequent visits shall
be obligatory. g..
Now for fine framework of the law. As 1t
stands in the Revised Statutes 1t MS sky
three sections; and these prescribe III great
detail what shall be done. 1t creates super
wishing in,pector-gcncral and ten supervising
insncctors each charged with experimenting
the administration of the law ana the uolhGH Oh
local in.ncctor, in one of ten districts i'll which
,ho country i divided The inspector general
and the supervising inspectors are directed 10
assemble annually at Washington ami are
authorized. nay, directed, while sitting Is Il
hoard to establish all necessary regulations
rcourcd" u carry out in the most efficient
manner the provisions of the law. Moreover
tbc closing section declares that the Secretary
of tLc Treasury shall make such regulations ~
,,,v Lc necessary to secure the proper cNccu-
tion of the law. Now, n some ruir prescribing
crooururv of examinations Is of the utmost nm
uort,ncc. if seems undcniahlc that the board oi
iusncctors ,honld. and that the Secretary III
ease Of their failure may, prescribe one Tbs
secures general mnctuality and reasonable
uniformity.
But an official inspection may hcc"mr I'M
rortant 10 the owners OF the steamer, either -
nm additional a~-urlucc To th"m al hri good
condition. or as necessary condition Ter "h-
tanning license To sail Accordingly another
section GO. lll7l directs that thr local III
snc,tnr, shall once in every ycar, at l'.a-t ur"n
onrlicl,inn in writing of the Wa>t'; or owner.
r,Irfully inspect the hull OF each steamer
within their respective districts. And other
mn, i.ion, direct umcrou, details To- which
/ the examinations shall extend.
! Now if is easy to Sc that if the above were
all. special cast, calling for an extra NI'd ""Hi"
| stand unproyidcd for. Information mi-ht h'
laid before a supervising inspector That >ncl
and such steamer had lost hci boats. sold hci
| lifc-prc>clvcr,, damaged her boiler. OF hired
| sn m>hilful engineer. The inspector might ga
ou hoard to ascertain the truth, and hc con
! frontcd with the objection lou cannot com"
for thi, /, not time appointed 10y the board
nor have the master or oWurrs asked an in'
spcction. To meet this objection was the pul-
pose of saying: Each supervising inspector
SHALL ,rLcncrcr hc thinks il cIpcdicmt visit any
vessel, licensed and examine into their condi
ton. The power l. conferred IN addition L" 'h'
duty Of visiting under the general regulations
The common scn,c Interpretation of the >chrin'
as a whole j.: Let the hoard or the secretary
prescribe the frequency of inspectors, visit
throughout the country. With these require
mcnts every supervising inspector must com
ply. And, in addition, hr shall have the ro"r
TO 90 whenever special occasion Is made know
| To him.