National Republican., 1883-08-30
THE RIVERDALE DISASTER.
Gen. Dumont to Investigate the Matter
What He Says About Investigation by
Local Inspectors.

Gen. Dumont to Investigate the Matter
What He Says About Investigation by
Local Inspectors.
"What are you going to do about the terri
bic explosion on tho Hudson river steamer
Riverdale, general?" queried q REPUBLICAN
reporter yesterday evening, addressing Super
visinS Inspector General of Steam Vessels
James A. Dumont.
ave will investigate the circumstances
surrounding ard the causes which led to the
accident" he replied. 81 will leave this
evening for New York to consult with the
supervising inspector of that district in rela-
tion to the matter"
The general thinks that the prescribed
method of investigating casualties to steam
vessels should be radically amended by law,
because in majority of cases the local in
spector investigates himself. For instance,
an inspector will have to inspect the ma
chinery, &C., of a certain steamer in his dis
trict, and while later should the boiler of
the same vessel explode, an iitvestiga-
tion is ordered, which, by law, must
be made by the Same inspector who
made the examination or If there is q col
lision caused by an inefficient pilot or MASTER
the local inspector who granted such pilot OF
m9ster his papers is called upon to investi.
gate "the attending circumstances" &c.
''It stands to reason, therefore, that the
officer will not inspect himself very severely
The section of Revised Statutes under
which such Investigations are made is as fol.
lows:
SEC. 4450. The local boards of inspectors shall
investigate all acts of incompetency or miscon-
duct committed by any licensed officer while
acting under the authority of his license and shall
have power to summon before them any witness
within their respective districts aud compel their
attendance by similar process in the United
States circuit or district courts; and they may ad-
minister all necessary oaths to any witness thus
summoned before them; and after reasonable
notice in writing given to the alleged delinquent Of
she time and place of such investigation, such wit
nesses shall be examined under oath, touching
the performance of his duties by any such licensed
officer and ii the board shall be satisfied that such
licensed officer is incompetent or has been guilty
of misbehavior, negligence, OF unskilulness, ol
has endangered life, or willfuy violated any prvi
sion of this title, they shall Immediately suspend
or revoke his license.
Supervising Inspector General Dumont
recommends to the secretary of the treasury
that the following be adopted in lieu of tn,
above, and thinks that it will work much
good in investigating disasters involving the
loss of life and property:
The secretary of the treasury shall make such
regulations as may be necessary 70 secure The
each supervising inspector the limits ef erritor,
within which he shall perform his duties, anC
may, whenever he shall deem II necessary to dc
SO, convene court of inquiry which shall inves.
tgate acts of local inspectors in granting licenses
TO oihceTs ana inspecting steam vessels or thel
outfits, which court of inquiry shall consist o
three supervising inspectors of other districts thar
the one In which said local inspectors shall be-
long; and the three supervising inspectors desig
mated, when 80 convened as a court of inquiry
shall have power to summon before them any
Witnesses, and compel their attendance by pro
cess similar to that of the United States circuit Of
district court, and they may administer ali neces
sary Oaths TO any witnesses then summoned be
fore them. And If the court shall be satisfied tina
any such local inspector OF inspectors have beer
guilty of neglect of duty IL shall report to the sec
retnry of the treasury who, If he deems the causI
sufficient shall remove any officer found delin
quent
Before starting for New York last evening
Gen. Dumont received the following dis,
patch from Inspectors Fairchilds and Mat
thews, of the latter port, regarding the ex
plosion of the steamer Riverdale:
Have no details as yet. Vessel still sub
merged. Investigation will be made as sooI
as practicable