New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-23
THE QUESTION OF REryspEc7Ioy.

Owners Of excursion boats seem 10 be agreed
that an official reinspectiOn such IS Secretary
COrtelyOu has ordered will serve no useful pur-
pose Said one Of them on Monday: An In
'spector who only few weeks ago swOTe that
"a vessel was fully qualified 10 carry passen-
gers safely would not, a few weeks later. on
'reinspection report that she was in any way
unsafe when there had been no change in her
equipment. No man would thus convict him
self Of perjury, negligence and incompetency
This argument is not without force though we
must believe that some inspectors. impressed
with a sense of somebody's responsibility FOR
the horrible consequences of negligence, would
dare 10 make a second report thorough and
truthful even at the cost of scf-cOnvctOn.
Moreover Il does not seem necessary 10 as
same that the task of making n second inSpec-
ton Will have 20 be performed by the man who
made the first.
But there IS another view of The question
which we venture 10 suggest 10 steamboat own
ers. Some of them are led by the cancellation
Of contracts 10 believe that the excursion bust
hess has been hard hit, which cannot be a
cheerful reflection at the beginning OF the sea
son. II is obviously to their interest, there
fore. TO reduce the effects OF the blow as
soon and as far possible; and do not
believe that n we'll directed effort 10 accom-
pish that object without waiting for the
official reinspection, would he futile in the
case Of boat which is Stanch and in gen
eral well appointed casual report that
certain company has re-exa mined its vessels on
hs own account and made them safe should
not he. and probably will not be. enough 10 re
store confidence: but the publication OF an at
tested statement by a competent man Of good
reputation that he had ransacked a certain YES
sci from stem 10 stern. under orders from the
owners to-note every defect; that he had done
SO. and that every defect had been remedied,
would deserve and command large measure
Of respect. The public would then have reason
IN believe that the fire apparatus on that vesse!
was sound i'm all it's parts. properly disposed
and sure 10 be put in use the moment It was
called for; that every one Of the life preservers
not a sample here and there-was I'm good
condition and perfectly accessible; that the
small boats and their tackle We're ready for
service, not for show; that there were no
closets filed with infammable materials in
WHICH il the custom TO strike matches
whenever n light was required; that the decks
were not so misernbly supported rs 10 be sure
OF cOllapsing If fire touched them; that the
means Of signalling between engine room and
pilot house would nor prove worthless when
most needed.
But some owners may object, presumably not
Tor publication, 10 the cost OF establishing such
'SPtSahs Oh oiu DOais winch tney
DO not expect 20 run much longer What then.
do they propose? To take the hideous responsf-
bility OF inviting another disaster like that Of
last week? Do they consider II absolutely i'm
perative tina. they should try 10 make money
out Of their investment az the risk OF DESTROYING
thousand lives and sinking all their capital
besidesf II they are resolved 10 accept such
chances. We are afraid that the law will not
/ prove strong enough. or be enforced with suffi-
! Gent rigor, 20 hinder them. Moreover human
1 memories are short and apprehensions soon
'ade away. and we hardly dare TO hope that the
present dread will last long enough TO put foat-
ING finder boxes under reckless ownership ou,
of commission even for the rest OF this season
| Because OF these considerations il is indis
! pensable that the local and federal inyestiga.