The Washington times., 1904-06-22
SEARCHLIGHT ON
INSPECTION BUREAU
Commission to Probe the
SlOcum Horror.
LUNDBERG UNDER CHARGES
Will Go Hard With Him Unless He
Can Clear Himself-A Thorough
Investigation.
LUNDBERG UNDER CHARGES

A commission composed OF Federal Of
tcers is 10 probe deeply into the causes
Of the Siocum disaster. and to fix the
responsibility therefor Should the guilty
escape city and State authorities of New
York the United States viii take up the
matter OF prosecution.
This was announced this morning by
an officer of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor. II was intimated that
1t will go hard with Henry Lundberg,
the United States steamboat inspector.
who passed the Slocum as in good con-
ditiOn If certain charges are proved
against him
A Thorough Investigation.
Acting Secretary of the Department of
Commerce and Labor Murray, who is
TO be the head Of the investigating com
mittee said today that the whole mat
ter would be gone into thoroughly. and
number OF changes investigated.
According 10 reports there are GER
tain matters which have come to the
ears Of President Roosevelt which re-
fleet anything but credit upon the
Steamboat Inspection Bureau as a
whole. II is more than probable that
the committee will make an investiga-
ton OF the bureau. as we'll as the dis
aster.
Personnel of Commission.
The commission appointed by secre-
tary Cortelyou. with approval OF the
President. is composed Of:
l. O. Murray, Assistant Secretary of
the Department OF Commerce and
Labor: Major John NJ. Wilson. Com
mandor Cameron MGR winslow. L. s.
N; Herbert Knox Smith, Deputy Com
missiorer OF Corporations, of the De-
partmcnt OF Commerce and Labor. and
George Uhler Supervising inspector gen
eral of the Steamboat Inspection Ser
vice.
The commission is to act entirely in
dependent of other investigations.
Secretary COrtelyou yesterday wrote
&c Mayor Mcclellan of New York. ac-
knowledging receipt of the letter in
which the mayor complains that local
authorities have little or no power I'm
Int matter OF determining whether or
not excursion boats are safe the IN
ederal Government, and asking that
the department take action. The mayor.
also asked that all excursion boats in
New York Harbor be reinspected.
Secretary Gives Assurances.
The Secretary says:
In concluding your communication
you tender the services Of experts OF
TIE fire. health. and building depart
Hcnts Of your city 10 facilitate and ex-
pedite the work.
''As the head of the Department of
Commerce and Labor. TO which the
Steamboat Inspection Service is as
signed beg 10 assure you that the in
vCstigatiOn which has been for several
days in progress ordered by this de-
partment-wih be thorough and ex-
haustive. 1t would be unfair 10 assume
that the inspection already made was
iunranrufa rrfnr a Ra
investigations. but. controlled by rea-
sons such as those you mention, ! had
already ordered a reinspeCtiOn.
The Secretary then recalls the cir
cular he sent out several weeks ago.
calling attention to the opening of the
excursion season, and cautioning in
sTectors TO be rigid in the enforcement
OF the law He also says he has asked
Congress TO revise the present inspec-
tiun laws.
VIII Cooperate With City.