Evening journal., 1904-09-24
THE SLOCUM REPORT
Federal Authorities Say II viii
Not Prevent Prosecution of
Steamers Owners.
CORONER BERRY INDIGNANT.

Declares That Inspectors Have Tried
to Conceal Their Own Shortcomings
Behind Indictment Of Captain Van
sehaiek - Collector stranahan Ex-
poets Congressional Action.
New York. Sept 24.-Judglng from
interviews obtained from those closely
concerned in the prosecution OF the
seven persons indicted as responsible
sor the great loss Of life in the Gen.
eral Slocum disaster, says the Herald
the report Of the local board Of steam.
boat inspectors. made to Robert s.
Rode, supervising inspector Of steam.
boats Of this port. will not influence
the court proceedings.
General Burnett. United States dis.
trict attorney. declares that NE will
push vigorously the prosecution Of the
indicted officers Of the Knickerbockef
Steamboat company and that he sees
no reason 10 recede from the position
ne has already taken because Of the
assertion by the local inspectors that
the whole blame for the disaster rested
upon Captain William II. Van Schalck,
Edward Van Wart the pilot. and Ben
jamin f. Conkln, the chief engineer
of the General Slocum.
Coroner Joseph J. Barry OF the
Bronx denies the statement made in
the report that he had evaded service
Of q subpoena directing him TO appear
before the board OF local inspectors.
lie characterizes the report as an at
tempt 70 whltewash the members OF
the local board and to obscure the real
issue in the prosecution Of those re-
sponsible for the loss Of $50 lives
William NJ. X Olcott, who will de-
fend Frank A. Barnaby and his fellow
officials Of the steamboat company,
was the only one who saw in the re-
port any advantage to his clients.
Sees Need For Congress TO Act.
Nevada n. Stranahan. collector OF
the port Of New York, was at first
averse to making any comment upor
the report of the local steamboat in
spectors His office, he said, was per
functory in that his duty was simpl,
to enforce any penalties which nigh
/ be ordered by the courts. Mr.. Stran
ahan added
''The subject, however, Is a live one
and one which | believe will be takei
up by congress.
Il assume that the whole matter vii
be taken up by the president upon th'
recommendation OF the department o
labor and commerce The present Law
| governing the inspection of river Graf
is in wretched shape. 1t divides re
sponsibility and confers no powers al
regards the proper construction o
steamboats,. That is a matter whicl
/ believe to be vital in the prevention
of such disasters as that which caused
the loss Of so many lives on board thu
General Slocum."
William NJ. X. Olcott Of the law firm
Of Black. Olcott. Gruber & Bonynge
who has charge Of the cases of the In
dicted officers Of the Knickerbocke
Steamboat company. was elated owe
the report Of the local steamboat in
spectors.
"The findings in the report" salt
Mr.. Olcott. "are in line with what
have contended. that the president
treasurer and secretary Of the steam
boat company can in no way be he'll
personally accountable for the grea
loss of life on board the General Sic
cum.
"Our defense will be that Mr.. Barna
by ms president OF the company ha
II provided everything possible for th
\ preservation of the lives Of those wb
pntronized the boats of the Knickel
booker company. We will show tina
when Captain Pease was engaged q
commander of the company's feet an
when Captain Van SchaiclS was hire
to pilot the General Slocum both weT
required to furnish credentials whic
proved beyond doubt their competenc
to ill the positions"