New-York tribune., 1903-03-13
TREASURY AXE. FALLS.
lGEN. DUMONT RESIGNS.
Steamboat Inspection Service To Be
Thoroughly ReorgantSed.
FRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


washington March 1s.--With the appointment to-
day Of George Uhler. Of Philadelphia as snperv1S-
ing inspector general of the steamboat inspection
service of the Treasury Department. Is peeuE the
complete reorganxation Of that service, which mas
beer IN contemplation by Secretaries Shaw ano
cortelyou for some weeks. The appointment OF Ar:
Uhler was made on the joint recommenoatlon oA
the two Cabinet officers named. The steamboat IN
spection service goes under the administration or
secretarv CcrteIyou on July l. and before that time
Mr. Uhler will be expected TO have 1t placed as 10
personnel ana regulations on decideoly more up
to date basis.
Mr. UhIer will succeed General James A. Du-
mont who resigns after service of over quar-
ter OF a century General Dumont is seventy'ntne
years old and s understood to be desirous OK con-
tinunE his service in some less exacting position
The plan Of placing General Dumont IN the ciAssl'
fed Civil Service and giving him employment IN
accordance with his wishes has been adopted AL
though no place has been selected for him.
Complaints regarding the general laxness OF the
steamboat inspection service have been ma0e 10
the Secretary of the Treasury for some time, ana
it was determined to bring 1t UP to date as to ad-
vanced scientific engineering methods. the re-
newell of these complaints when the steamship %.
Louis came limpins into port recently many Gays
late and with her boilers defective In manner
which could have been prevented by proper In
spection, brought the matter to a head It was
determined to overhaul, the service completely and
inject blood into 1t all along the line. inns
could best DC done by appointing o vigorous man
place was offered to Admiral Melville who Will
retire from tire navy shortly. The adInlral' now
ever. although greatly interested in seeing tne
service built Up, could not see his way clear TO
accept An effort was made to induce captain
]. ". Collins, chief of the revenue cutter service
the place To accept however, would nave
meant the loss of considerable pay to Captain Col
lins besides forfeiting his retirement rights ana
he too refused. Mr.. Uhler who has accepted
the appointment, has been for the last eleven
vars the national president Of the Marine En-
Gineers' Association of the United States and was
formerly chief engineer Pacific passenger
steamer. He is regarded by the appointing omcers
as exactly the man for the place at this time. as
he not 1nly the technical knowledge necessary
but has demonstrated his administrative ability
as the head of the engineers association In this
capacity Mr. Uhler has a close personal acouaint,,
with the marine engineers OF the country, ana
is thoroughly familiar. also, with the personnel OF
the steamboat inspection service througnout me
country. For this reason it is predicted that the
axe will fall sharply on many heads IN the service
within short time. A..
Criticism is also made in many quarters OF the
inspection regulations which are in force IN ne ne
| service. This criticism reached Congress at the
| each house proposing commission OF five expert
engineers and shpbuilders to remodel these regu,
! intslaw, that there might be uniform interpre.
ta&3h throughout the country. One of the present
criticisms is that the regulations are not inter
one inspector would pass under the regulati@ons ions
has been rejected by his chief greatly to the loss
o1 f the Of eds oopn fo M ESeT been
| ington for the last few days, and has Decoms
| familiar with the nature of the task he Is expect ed
in favor of the suggested commission to revise the
regulations, ana Undoubtedly this matter will be
iutions were introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Frye
| and IN the House by Mr.. Dalzell Of Pennsylvania.