New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-20
OVER SLOCUM'S COURSE.
Continued from first page

sng evidence and exact information TO the
course pursued by the General Slocum-"
why did you not take Captain Van Schaick
or Chief Pilot Van Wart?" was asked
'-They are both too fl. but had another pri-
szte reason which this replied the coro-
xer. II considered Weaver a less interested
party more truthful and more inclined to give
as exact information"
Are you satisfied with the result?" was asked
Perfectly" the reply.
Coroner Berry said that he had issued or
der for the detention OF the captain. pilots engt
neers and crew.
zone OF my officers" ne added. made af1-
cavft that the crew were trying 70 escape. ana
asked the police to detain everybody who was
employed on the boat witnesses We shall
probably put every OF them on the witness
stand. Some os them have escaped, and we may
never be able to get them; but we are after
them and VIII leave stone unturned 10 get
them within our jurisdiction. Engineer Conklin
has been subpenaed, bat has not been brought
before me yet"
do you credit the statement OF Captain Van
Setback that he did not learn Of the fire until
between sunken Meadows and North Brother
1sland?" asked.
IT decline TO discuss that
Coroner O'GorTnan was asked the same ques-
zion regarding the statement of Captain Van
Setback
81 do credit the statement certainly" he
said. because why should he have stayed
aboard so long If he had known It before reach
ing that point?"
SECRETARY CONTIGUOUS TRIP.
To familiarize himself with various details to
be covered in the governments investigation OF
the Slocum disaster Secretary Cortelyou OF the
Department of Commerce and Labor came here
from Westdeld Mass. yesterday and went over
the route taken by the Ill fated steamer. With
him went Herbert Knox Smith Deputy Commits
sioner Of Corporations who has been specially
detailed TO this investigation by Secretary Cor
telyou; George Uhler. Supervising Inspector
General, and Supervising Inspector Rode. of
The Second District.
The party left Pier 4 on the tug z. J. Ber-
wind soon after ! p. m Around the Battery
and UP TO the Recreation Pier at Third-st., and
from there on up the East River, the tug kept
The same course as that taken by the Slocum
last Wednesday. Opposite North Brother Island
the tug stopped, while the Secretary and his in
spectors watched the recovery Of bodies
Twenty-nine were brought up while they waited
Then they continued 10 Hunts Point, where the
wreck is. and went the wrecking vessels to
watch operations. Returning. Secretary Cor
telyou left the tug at East Forty-second-st.
going directly TO the Hotel Manhattan He left
here for Washington at midnight.
The Secretary refused to discuss his trip or
the pending investigation Inspector General
Uher and Inspector Rode gave out the follow
ing prepared statement:
tbs Trip was preliminary 10 the Investigation
10y the federal authorities Of the causes that led up
way and every effort is being made bv the federal
officers TO collect The evidence necessary 10 cover
20 make the inquiry complete and thorough in
every respect
Besides the inquiry prescribed by regulations
hearings in which win probably begin on Thurs
day Secretary Cortelyou has delegated Law
rence o. Murray. his assistant secretary, and
Mr.. Smith 70 search for themselves From
their observations, facts VIII probably develop
which VIII bring about many changes in the de-
partnnent's regulations Representatives Of the
District Attorney VIII also have a place at the
hearings, and the county officials and the fed
era officials will work in harmony in the investi-
cation.
If the inquiry shows that some official has
been at fault he VIII be punished, Il is asserted.
II an officer Of the steamboat company an
officer the steamer has been guilty, certih-
cate and license may be revoked, and hnes ad-
,linstered This punitive power lies with the
BOARD OF Inspectors
From the time Secretary Cortelyou took over
the Bureau OF Inspection Of Steam Vessels ne
has been dissatisfied with the condition in which
DE found affairs ia that important department
and the facilities for working. Among his first
efforts toward reform was an application for
special agents who should investigate the COM
Tnerce OF this country and Canada and Euro
pean countries, but more particularly for men
10 be attached 10 his own Office, who should
investigate inspection bureaus and inspectors
whenever necessity arose. This appropriation
nld not go through, and as A result the anti
quatec system Ct allowing the bureaus 10 inves-
uEate themselves IS still in force
There was a great mass of legislation affect
ing Inc work OF Mr.. Cortelyous department
some OF il in direct conflict with other laws MT
smith was set 10 work 10 bring order out OF this
chaos. lie prepared tentative measure de-
signed 10 remedy several Of the Objectionable
Ieat0Tes-the sliding salary scale, according TO
lhe NUMBER OF vessels inspected, which put a
premium on law Inspection; the regulation as to
Sae number or fire axes, buckets and barrels OF
wafer ana the cut-and dried workings of the
3oard o. inspectors, which practically in
osleicec OF the orders OF the Secretary
ms Dlll senator Frye introduced in the SEN
ele where IL was passed that same day In
from certain sources. which finally sidetracked
Ahd killed IL IN his first report as Secretary ~
me department OF Commerce and Iahor NJ
t.oflelyou recommended that the TR,,raa, 80
Marine Affairs, the Bureau of Steamboat In
kPecton and the Coast Survey be put rDdar on
Eeaa' 10 Insure uniform working but there Was
some opposition 70 this. also, and IL was not
Ar. smith, who accompanied secre.sr,y cor
..sNu. saw Assistant District Attorney Cav
$3.50 80 az ms apartment IN the Royalton M
,satFaa SAID later thar Mr.. Smith had assured
sa.n or tne hearty cooperation or the fedaroI
s with the investigation OF the coro,,e-
enc the District Attorney - -'' S'i0Her