New-York tribune., 1904-10-17
lrBom TIE rRIBuSE suREAu.l


employees Of the government whose neglect Of
their duty rendered them contributory 20 the
General sIocum disaster IS the keynote Of the
Presidents letter on that subject 10 V. Il Net
calf. Secretary Of Commerce and Labor. upon
receiving the report of the United States COM
mission which 7v-~ Il
Nr Rode. slps.E. aspector OF the Second
District Of New-York he two local inspect
ors Aessrs. Dum0nt and Barrett. viii be
prou,ptIy discharged. he hrst despite Mr.
Uhler's recommendation 90 the contrary. More
over. the President intimates that the
aeuulttal Of Inspector rIeTuing. now under in
d,c+rnenr. may not establish his fitness 10 be re-
sained IN The government service
A thorough investigation OF the entire inspeo-
ton force Of the port OF New-York. with the
object OF wedding out ali the men whom such
examination shall show 70 be united 10 per
form the very arduous and responsible duties
Of the,- positions and a special meeting OF the
board Of supervising inspectors for the purpose
If making such changes II the regulations as
are recommended by the commission" are also
ordered by the President
Els letter 10 Secretary Metcalf is as fo!lowss
PRESIDENT TO SECRETARY METCALF.
Washington, October L., 1905.
Ny Dear Sir: have received the report OF the
"Commission OF the United States on the IN
wesLgarion Of the General Slocuha DlsAste
and the report of the Department OF Justice OF
October l.. recaPirulating what has been done
by the Department or Justice u connection Win
me criminal proceedings taken against various
Individuals because OF their connection Win tne
disaster. I send you herewith both reports,
hz- ne
course, only take two forms: One, that OF legal
proceedings against those either within or with
those within the service IL appears that the
Department Of Justice has already secured IN
dictrnents against the master and captain OF
the Slocuns and against the managing olrecloIs
n the Knickerbocker Steamboat Company. 70
which company The SioCuEn belonged, FOR mis-
CONDUCT negligence ana lnaItentlon 10 ouly oy
rhe captain, and for aiding and abeIting therein
~ the managing directors. Furthermore. the
Department OF Justice has secured indictments
zzafnst Henri Lundberg and John u. Fleming
the assistant inspectors % the Steamboat In
spectsnn Service who actually inspected the Slo-
cum. Tor fraud, misconduct and inattention 10
duty. Lundberg had been appointed merely on
probation In the service, and has been dropped
There can. Of course, be no further actlon taken
about Fleming until his trial has been finished.
although il does not follow that acQuittal
would prevent the department from discharging
hiEa from the service.
In addition, the Department OF Justice has Sc
cured the Indictment Of the manager and three
employees OF the Nonpareil Cork Works. Of Cam
den. n. J.. for putting upon the market COM
pressed cork blocks for use in making life pre-
servers, each Of which blocks contained IN its
centre q piece OF bar iron weighing several
ounces This last offence OF so heinous a
Character that IN Is 6ifcut 10 comment mon n
with proper self-rest-aint. Il appears that the
national legislature has never enacted a Law pro-
V9ding IL SCI terms for the punishment OF this
particular species of infauy. doubtless because
y never entered the head Of any man that
gross al infanny could be perpeLrated. I sug-
gesr that you report this whole matter 10 Con-
9ress, transmitting these Two reports, and at
taat time c-lling special attention 10 the need
q imposing an adequate penalty for the making
or selling Of defective life saving appliances.
REMOVALS RECOMMENDED
So much for what the Department Of Jus
zee nss done IN reference 70 the disaster. But
- aoo@uon 70 the men put on trial by the De-
LLcnent OF Justice. action should be taken
s1sAlnst those employees whose responsibility for
me state of things producing the accident has
zen brought OUT IN the report Of the commits
zlon according 10 this report II appears that
- aucluoa 70 the two assistant inspectors who
elS second District, Mr.. Rode, and the two
..-al inspectors Of the Port Of New York.
H-e-sfs- Dumont and Barrett, should all three
- Ieiiogea tor laxity and neglect IN performing
Iher ouues. As regards the conduct OF Mr..
L.o--es Ar- Lhler diEsents from the conclusions
=, --S Iour other commissioners. agree with
tile conclusions Of the other four. Lazity and
u7eiect, where The consequences may he so ter
-loie IS they have proved 70 be in this case,
--l--ot pe passed over even where there has
neen good conduct in other respects on the part
.. me man implicated Accordingly. the three
vice -'04'' '--
Moreover. you win please direct their sue
eessors N ONCE a. once 70 conduct q thorough
~ellfl+Llon ot the entire inspection force Of the
Fort Of Aew-YOrlc with the object of wedding
o1t all the men whom such examination shall
SHOW 70 be unitted TO perform the very ardu-
Gus ard responsible duties Of their positions The
supervising Inspector General has ~ r-esent
70 headquarters force Of special agents so that
. Is undoubtedly very difficult for him 10 exer-
Csc any adequate and direct supervision over
E@Llous loca! DIVISIONS OF the inspection ser
.lee In each division ne must RELY chiefly on
- Aoellty arc energy Of the local heads: and
slese fail 10 perform their duty they mus
Nsl1 accountable He must. however. exer-
~. as thorough supervision the means az
- alspcEal allow. IN order that I NAV be in
%-.ea as 10 the exact condition Of the service
sa g rs parts, direct you 10 order a search
- investigation. in continuance OF the fnvesti-
Ss--'9n OF TIE commission. into the conduct OF
- - es1tra5 Office and OF every outside sub
-Elson oI the service, save that IN New-york
-9e WI also make such changes in the regu-
-cSns 2s are ro~1uIsneaded by the com mission,
* you win therefore call a special meeting,
= tle Board OF SEpe-visinE INSPECTORS for this
1Lpo9e You VIII also iay before the Congress
-FQaest that the law be changed Ia the val
- PARTICULARS recommended by the commits
80 wish particular emphasis laid upon the
1-oPosal of tie commission that there be Gre
-es ~ law special body thoroughly TO in
sIeate tho laws which are supposed 10 pro-
-.-e 1or the safety % passengers cn steam boats
-yecially on excursion boats where the r,rtrne
st-9.es Of danger are enc overcrowding and the
-..-Ey and higiisy fnfiannlabie character OF the
'eDerstructurss. Very truly yours
~ THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
H2a; Y 3. Metcaif. secretary OF Commerce and
DISASTER NIGHT BE DUPLICATED.
hhe commission. in it's report. declares that
ne steamer General Socum was .typicaI. not
normal" and that the catastrophe which II met
-..shs b duplicated with any one OF similar ves-
stu running in New-York harhor and else
hair Trr~