New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-03
WESTERN MEN TO INSPECT
CORTELYOU SNAPS Whip.
President Says That Red Tape Shall
Not Preuent Public Safety.

Following Supervising General Uhers at
tempt TO delay the reinspection of steamers in
this port ordered by Secretary Cortelyou dis
patch received last night from Louisville Ky.
announced that the Secretary of the Department
of Commerce and Labor had instructed cap
tain J. +. Abraham and Captain J. J. Dunn,
steamboat inspectors stationed there. to proceed
at once to New-Yorl and assist in 4 reinspec-
tion of all passenger steamboats, at this port.
The order TO reinspeCt all the steamboats, in
this port was issued by Mr.. Cortelyou two days
ago. Instead of at obeying the order.
Supervising Inspector General Uhler went 70
Washington to try to avert the consequences
OF such reinepection. 1t is understood that
are asfSSi Secretary t-iyou tIIar ATS ciIisPer-
ton Of boats be made by the local inspectors.
they being more familiar with the work, and
that. because Of pressure Of work in getting the
summer excursion ffeet into commission the
inspection be deferred. Both of these requests
were refused and tho Supervising Inspector
General was informed that the order for rein
spection issued 10 be obeyed aid that the
red tape surrounding the department was not
to prevent action.
President Roosevelt himself is responsible for
this firm stand, and is determined that every.
thing possible shall be done to satisfy the pop
uar demand for a thorough inspection Of hus
and equipment ana the laying up OF some OF the
floating fire traps OF the harbot, well the
demand for the punishment of those whose
criminal negligence and incapacity caused the
Socum horror
REINSPECTION MAY BEGIN MONDAY.
Secretary Cortelyou's order backed by the
President mad not yesterday afternoon made
much impression the local board of inspect
ors Uhler refused to say anything about when
the order would be obeyed although it is under
stood that probably the renspecton viii begin
Monday as the inspectors from Louis
Vile arrive. James A Dumont, chief inspector
Of hus in this district, repeated yesterday. in
regard to Secretary Cortelyous order, that the
work of the steamboat inspectors was governed
by sundry acts Of Congress and that there was
no law empowering the Secretary OF Commerce
and Labor to issue such order. Another in
sp4ctor said it would though there was
no law compelling the inspectors to obey the
order While 40 inspector viii refuse TO make
such a reinspection they say that the steam
boat owners refuse reinspection of their
boats. since the law insists on only one in
spection yearly. If the owners refuse TO sub
init to Il renspection, local inspectors believe
that they have legal right to insist on one.
Miss NJ g. Hall, the bookIeeper Of the
Knickerbocker Steamboat Company. who is
wanted TO testify before the Federal Grand Jury,
is still missing, Marshal Hcnkels men being
unable all day subpoena her The Federal
Grand jury will continue its investigation next
Wednesday.
The Knickerbocker Steamboat Company,
owner of the Grand Republic. three days ago
sent n letter to the steamship inspection Of
fee requesting a reinspection Of the Grand
Republic This was refused, the inspector say
ing that I'm view of the recent order of Secre-
tary Cortelyou II would be tantamount to in
suDordnation the part or the local inspectors
10 reinspect the vessel
At the office OF the inspectors in the White
hall Building all information relative to the
affair was refused yesterday, and at the office
Of the KnickerbocIer company President Bar
nabv said that such request had been made,
but that no satisfactory answer has as yet been
received"
The Grand Republic was laid up all day at
her pier at West Fiftieth-st. Stewart Grant
said that her captain received message in the
morning before the time for the boats first
trip to Rockaway Beach, not to start No eX-
planation was made to the captain by the COM