The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-17
REPORT ON THE
SL0CUM HORROR
Result Of investigation by the
United States.
LETTER FROM ROOSEVELT
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE
MATTER.
LETTER FROM ROOSEVELT


steamer General Slocum was made
public today.
In connection with the important
findings of the commission presented
in the report, President Roosevelt, to
whom the report was submitted has
written a letter to Secretary Metcalf
of the department of commerce and
labor, briefly summarizing the report
and directing him to carry into effect
the recommendations of the commits
sion. He also directs that Robert S.
Rode, supervising inspector of TIE
Second district steamboat inspection
service, and James A. Dumont and
Thomas II. Barrett local inspectors i'm
charge 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 dis
aster was directly attributable.
Appended 10 TIE report is a report
from the department of justice on the
criminal proceedings connected with
the disaster and the life preserver
, cases.
Presidents Letter.
Metcalf follows dated Oct. L:
81 have received the report of the
commission Of the United States on
the investigation Of the General Slo
cum disc ster" and the report of the
department of justice Of Oct. u, re-
captivating what has been done by
the department Of Justice in cOnuec-
ton with the criminal proceedings
taken against various individuals be
disaster. I send herewith both re-
ports. Punitive action by TIE govern
ment can of course only take two
forms: One, that of legal proceedings
against those either within or without
the service. and two. removal from Of
fee OF those within the service. 1t ap-
pears that the department OF justice
has already secured indictments
against the master and captain of tie
Slocum and against the managing di-
rectors Of the Knickerbocker Steam
boat company. to which company the
Slocum belonged. for misconduct.
negligence and inattentiOn TO duty by
the captain and for aiding and abet-
ting therein by the managing directors.
Indictments Secured.
Furthermore, the department Of
Justice has secured indictments
against Henry Lundberg and JOHN
W. Fleming. the assistant inspectors
of the steamboat inspection service
who actually inspected the SlOcum. for
fraud, misconduct and inattention TO
duty. Lundberg has been appointed
merely on probation in the service and
has been dropped. There can. Of course
be no further action taken about
Fleming until his trial has been fin
ished; although il does not follow that
an acquittal would prevent the de
partment from discharging him from
the service. In addition. the depart
ment of justice has secured indict-
ment of the manager and three en-
ployes of the Nonpareil Cork works of
Camden. ". J.. for putting uDon the
market compressed cork blocks for use
in making life preservers. each of
which blocks contained I'm it's center a
piece OF bar iron weighing several
ounces. This last offense was of so
heinOus a character that it is difficult
to comment upon it with proper self
restraint. It appears that the ma
tional legislature has never enacted a
law providing I'm set terms for the
punishment of this particular species
Of infamy. doubtless because it never
entered tie head of any man that so
gross an infamy could be perpetrated.
i suggest that you report this whole
matter to congress-, transmitting these
two reports and at the same time
calling special attention to the needs
of imposing an adequate penalty for
the making or selling Of defective life
saving appliances.
Action Advised.
80 much for what the department
OF Justice has done in reference to the
disaster. But in addition to the men
put on trial by tie department Of
Justice, action should be taken against
those employees whose responsibility
for the state Of things producing the
accident has been brought out in the
report of the commission. According
10 this report it appears that I'm addi-
ton 70 the two assistant inspectors
wkO are now on trial the supervising
inspector of the Second district Mr.
Rode, and the two local inspectors Of
the port OF New York. Mr.. Dumont
and Mr.. Barrett. should all three be re-
moved for laxity and neglect i'm per
forming their duties. As regards the
conduct OF Mr.. Rode Mr.. Uhler dis
sents from the conclusions Of the four
other commissioners. / agree with the
conclusions Of the other four Laxity
and neglect, where the consequences
may be so terrible as they have been
proved in this case cannot be passed
over even where there has been good
conduct in other respects by the pres
ent men implicated. Accordingly the
three officials named viii be removed
from the service. Moreover. you will
please direct tkeir SUCCESSORS in Office
10 at once conduct a thorough ex-
animation OF the entire inspection
force OF the port Of New York. with
the object OF wedding out all the men
whom such examination shall show to
be untitled to perform the very ardu-
Gus and responsible duties Of their
positions
THE supervising inspector general
has at present no headquarters force Of
special agents, 50 that it is undoubtedly
very difficult for him to exercise any
adequate and direct supervision over
the various local divisions of the in
spectiOn service. In each division he
must rely chiefly on the fidelity and en-
ergy OF the local heads. and IL these fail
10 perform their duty they must be
held accountable. He must. however.
exercise as thorough a supervision as
the means at his disposal allow. IN or
der that I may be informed as to the
exact condition of the service i'm all
its parts, direct you to order a search
investigation Of the commission into the
investigation Of the commission into the
conduct Of the central Office ard OF
every OUTSIDE subdivision Of the serv-
ice save that in New York
Changes Ordered.
You will also make such change. in
the regulations as are recommended by
the commission, and you will therefore
call a special meeting Of the board of
supervising inspectors for this purpose.
You VIII also lay before the congress
a request that the law be changed In
the various particulars recommended
by the commission. / wish particular
emphasis laid upon the proposal OF the
commission that there be created by