Evening journal., 1904-10-17
THE SLOCUM REPORT
President Promptly Approves
Recommendations of Nation
al Commission.
BOAT INSPECTORS REMOVED.

Washington, Oct. 17-Investigation
Of the General Slocum disaster by the
national commission created for the
purpose has been completed and the
report of the commission made public.
In connection with the important find
lngs Of the commission presented in
the report President Roosevelt. to
whom the report was submitted, has
written letter to Secretary Victor H.
Metcalf OF the department of COM
merce and labor briefly summarizing
the report and directing him to carry
into effect the recommendations Of the
commission. lie also directs that Rob
ert s. Rode, supervising inspector of
the Second district, steamboat inspec-
ton service and James A. Dumont and
Thomas II. Barrett. local inspectors in
ehnrge of the port Of New York. be
discharged from the service, the com
mission holding them directly respon-
sible for the laxity Of the steamboat
Inspection TO which the Slocum disas-
ter was directly attributable.
The Presidents Letter.
President Rooseyelts letter 10 Secre-
tary Metcalf follows:
have received the report OF the com
mission Of the United states on the in
Nehtieation Of the General Slocum disas-
Ter and the report OF the department Of
Justice Of Oct. u recapitulating what has
been done by the department OF Justice
IN connection with the criminal proceed
lngs taken against various individuals
because OF their connection with the dis
aster. send you herewith both reports.
\ Punitive action by the government can
OF course only take two fOrmH-one, that
OF legal proceedings against those either
within or without the service, and, two,
removal from office OF those within the
service.
It appears that the department Of Jus
! tice has already secured indictments
against the master and captain OF the
slocum and against the managing di-
rectors OF the knlckerbocker Steamboat
company, to which company the Slocum
belonged, for misconduct, negligence and
Y innttention 10 duty by the captain and
for aiding and abetting therein BY the
managing directors. Furthermore the de-
lpartment Of justice has secured indict-
ments against Henry Lundberg and John
/ W. Fleming the assistant inspectors OF
the steamboat inspection service who ae-
tually inspected the Slocum. for fraud,
misconduct and inattention TO duty.
] AtuhNbtik ndu hftn appointed merely on
probation In the service and has been
dropped
There can. Of course. be no further ac-
\ tion taken about Fleming until his trial
has been finished, although It does not
follow that an acquittal would prevent
i the department from discharging him
from tho servioc In addition the depart
ment OF Justice has secured the indict-
ment OF the manager and three employees
OF the Nonpareil Cork works OF Camden,
N. j., for putting upon the market COM
pressed cork blocks for use In making
life preservers, each Of which blocks
contained IN It's center a piece OF bar
iron Weighing several ounces. This last
\ offense was Of 30 heinous a scharacter
that IL is difficult to commeRS upon Il
with proper self restraint. II appears
that the national legislature has never
the punishment Of this particular species
OF infamy, doubtless because it never en-
tered the head Of any man that so gross
an infamy could be perpetrated.
i ! suggest that you report this whole
matter 20 congress. transmitting these
4 two reports, and at that time calling spe-
cial attention TO the need of imposing an
adequate penalty for the making or SELL
ing OF defective life saving appliances.
inspectors Must Go.
SO much for what the department OF
aster. But In addition 10 the men put
on trial by the department of Justice ac-
ton should be taken against those en-
ployees whose responsibility for the state
OF things producing the accident has been
brought out In the report Of the commits
sion. According TO this report Il appears
that in addition 10 the two assistant in
spectors who are now on trial the super
visins inspector Of the Second district,
Mr. Rode, and the two local inspectors
Of the port OF New York, Messrs. Du-
mont and Barrett, should all three be re-
moved for laxity and neglect IN perform
ing their duties. AS regards the conduct
Of Mr. Rode, Mr. Uhler dissents from
the conclusions Of the four other COM
mlssioners. ! agree with the conclusions
OF the other four. Laxity and neglect,
whore the consequences may be so ter
rible as they have proved TO be in this
case, cannot be passed over even where
there has been good conduct IN other re-
spects on the part OF the man implicated.
Accordingly the three of1cials named
will be removed from the service. More
over, you will please direct their sue
cessors IN ONCE at once 90 conduct a
thorough examination OF the entire in
spection force of the port of New York
with the object Of wedding out all the
men whom such examination shall show
TO be united TO perform the very ,ardu-
Gus and responsible duties Of thsiiNposi-
tions. The supervising inspector gsheral
has at present no headquarters force OF
special agents, so that Il is undoubtedly
very difficult for him TO exercise any ade-
quate and direct supervision over the va
rious local divisions OF the inspection
service. In each division he must rely
chiefly on the fidelity and energy OF the
local heads, and II these fail to perform
their duty they must be held accounta-
BILE. He must. however. exercise as thor
ough supervision as the means at his
disposal allow,
In order that I may be informed as te
the exact condition OF the service in al
its parts I direct you to order a search
ing investigation, In continuance OF the
investigation Of the commission. into the
conduct Of the central Office and OF every
outside subdivision Of the service saw,
that In New York.
You will also make such changes in IN,
regulations as are recommended by th'
commission, and you will therefore cal
a special meeting Of the board OF super
vslng inspectors for this purpose. Yoi
quest that the law be changed In th'
various particulars recommended by th'
commission.
wish particular emphasis laid upon tn
proposal Of the commission that there b.
created by law q special body thorough
ly 20 investigate the laws which are sup
posed 10 pravide for the safety OF pas
sengers ph ON ey
Cursion buai U f...4l causes ol
danger are tae crCrcroWd.ng and IN,
nlmsy and mghly nhsmmable character
Of the superstructures.
The report shows that the t6esl loss
Of life by tho Slocum disaster was 81;
! narcona an1 the nuluher. ini1rpl IL