New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-03
THE GRAND JURY ON TIE PARK PLACE
DIS1STER.

DIS1SIEN
Tho Grand Jury yesterday made present.
ment in the matter of the Park Place disaster
There is no doubt that they have made dill
gent and comprehensive investigation of that
melancholy affair, having listened to the testl-
mony of everybody who might reasonably be
supposed to have valuable information to COM
municate. The result of their prolonged labor
cannot be considered altogether satisfactory,
though we have no disposition to crltlcse it
harshy The conclusions of a painstaking and
intelligent Grand Jury are always entitled 10
respectful consideration. And yet we believe
that the presentment in this case will cause
general regret inasmuch as it fails to bring
home to any one the responsibility for dread
full loss of life.
The Grand Jury conclude that the testimony
submitted to them, owing to the fact that 1t IS
inconclusve and conflicting, does not warrant
criminal action, the strong probability beng
that conviction could not be secured Since
this is their opinion the presumption doubtless
is as they state it. Indeed the testimony al
the Coroner'S inquest was so contradictory as TO
afford slight hope that anybody could be pun
ished for the destruction of scores OF lives.
And if a mistrial would be inevitable there would
be little or no advantage in a prosecution.
The Grand Jury do, nevertheless, censure the
lithographers who occupied the upper part OF
the Park Place building for their neglect to
inform themselves of the fact that they were
subecting their floors to an excessive strain
This is the only censure of individuals which
the prcsentment contains. No doubt it is fully
deserved, but it appears TO us that there are
30 ho.
The preSentment, for example, makes no note
of the fact that the work of exploring the ruins
and taking out the dead was prosecuted at first
without energy or skill. No alluslon Is MADE
TO the fact that several days after the search
had been declared complete, and exploration
had stopped, the ghastly discovery of two more
bodies was accidentally made. Nor is any re-
proach put upon the Building Depal tment for
its failure to know what the condition OF the
structure was for long period before 1t fell ;
though it is fair to say that it is almost impos-
sibe that complete knowledge even OF every
suspected building should be possessed by the
department as it is now constituted. 1t Is easy
70 perceive that the Grand jury, though ac-
knowledging that the theory OF an explosion
was defended by some respectable witnesses
Mace little confidence themselves in that theory
Turning from the facts Of the disaster to the
conditions which made it possible, the Grand
Jury Justly say that it is a matter OF the utmost
concern thai under the laws of this State such
a catastrophe can occur, and their suggestions
of legislation to make such things impossible
hereafter are, we think, wise and commendable
This community is used to seeing the number
of its servants constantly augmented, and 1t Is
a melancholy fact that there seems to be no
end 10 such accretionS but the building force
is we believe, too small to do the work which
ought to be DONE and VIC approve the recon-
mendaton that additional inspectors should be
APPOINTED that periodical examinations OF all
buildings used for storage, mercantile and man
ufacturing purposes should be required; that
the reports should be made part OF the perma-
nent records, and that every inspector should
be he'd ligidly responsible for faithful work
in his own district. Not less valuable Is the
suggestion that the subsection of any building
10 greater weight than it is capable OF sup
porting safely should be made felony, and
that, the fact of such Overlooking having been
established the owner and the occupant should
be held prima facie guilty. The coming Legs-
Iature will have few duties respecting this city
to perform of greater Impotence than the
amendment of the building laws in the line
of these recommendations.