New-York tribune., 1904-08-04
GRAND REPUBLIC RUNS.
PORT COLLECTOR ACTS
Sends Rodie,s Letter to Washington
Penalty, $500 Trip.

The Grand Republic. owned by the Knlcker-
booker Steamboat Company. which owned the
General slocum. and chartered by the Dream
land Company yesterday made four trips 10
Coney Island II was crowded with passengers
on each trip. Inspector Rode sent letter 10
Ne1 ada =. Stranahaa. Collector Of the Port
telling him that Re did not consider the boat
adequately equipped with life saving appliances
The letter was forwarded at once by the Col
Ieetor 10 the Secretary of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor.
II the Dreamland company persists in running
;ho Grand Republic after she has been found
inadeouately equipped, the case viii probably
i,e turned over 10 General Burnett. United
states District Attorney. and she viii be lbelled
lsy the Department Of Commerce and Labor.
For each trip she makes IN violation of the or
ders OF the inspectors she is liable to A fine Of
$500 As she is scheduled to make four trips
day. It will cost The Dreamland company 5000
q day II il persists in running her in violation
Of the order Of the federal authorities.
Inspector Rode waited until the Grand Re
public had started on her first trip yesterday
morning before sending his complaint TO Col
lector Stranahan. He called the attention Of
the collector 10 the fact that the Grand Re-
public had been inspected and found to he
carrying defective equipment, that the lifeboats
were rotten. that her boats had no roWlocks,
that her life belts and were rotten, and that
her RATS did not meet the necessary require
Enents He also informed the collector that he
had made several attempts TO inspect the boilers
OF the Grand Republic and that the master of
the steamboat had refused his request three
separate times. He said that it necessary
20 stop the operation of the vessel and asked
that the proper steps be taken at once by the
collector
The Collector Of Customs Is the federal official
empowered 10 collect fines should they be i'm
posed the inspectors not having this authority
Inspector Rode said yesterday that the Dream
land boats would all be inspected whether or not
there were any applications for reinspection
from the owners. The officers Of the Dreamland
company. he said had taken the attitude that
the boats could not be reinspected unless they
made an application for reinspection apparently
basing their Interpretation of the statute from
the law as it stood before amended. 1t then
read
Section 4,417-The local inspectors shall, once
IN every year at least, upon application IN writ
ing OF the master or owner, carefully inspect
etc.
This section was recently amended by the In
serrion OF ''or" before the words npon appica-
fion by the master" which makes it possible for
the inspectors TO inspect boat as many times
as they may deem necessary without awaiting
any request from the master or owner. IN addi-
tion the annual inspection, Section ], f93 states
that local inspectors shall examine at proper
times the steamers so often TO enable them
10 detect any negligence in complying with the
regulations or any Deficiencies which may be-
come apparent after the annual inspection.
Francis z. Hamilton solicitor TO the collector
said that the Dreamland company could not
take refuge in the fact that the Grand Republic
had undergone the usual annual inspection and
that those controlling the boat. in refusing a
inspection of the steamboat laid themselves
liable 10 a fine of $500 for each trip exactly the
came as though they had persisted in operating
the boat after refusing to allow first nspec-
ton.
Two inspectors were detailed by Solicitor
Hamilton keep tally the number Of trips
made yesterday by the Grand Republic. II
stated that if the fines incurred by the Grand
Republic were not paid tonight Mr.. Hamilton
would put the case IN the hands of Attorney
General Burnett, who would libel the vessel for
the penalties she had incurred.
Captain George Beebe, manager Of the Dream
land Company's feet. said yesterday. in giving
the oompany's version Of the trouble:
Supervising Inspector Rode wrote letter to
rhe Dreamland Navigation Company some time
ago requesting an inspection to be allowed
This, OF course, We agreed to. and date
set, It being Of course. understood that the boat
was 10 be kept running while the inspection was
being held. II it should take more than one day.
several days ago the day Of the big Storm
inspector Rode made trip the Republic To
see how things were run, and a fire drill was
held for his benefit. The signal was rung when
the Republic was off the pier at Conev Island
The storm was bowling bout us and there was
difficulty in even navigating her and preventing
her coliding with the pier. The men first at
tended TO the landing and then undertook the
Grill This accounts for the lost time betwee.
The giving OF the signal and the work Of the drill
AS II is there was but one minute and fftv-fve
seconds from the time Of the giving of the signal
TO the time the first boat struck the water.
Captain Beebe said that out Of 1900 odd life
preserveTs on the Republic only $50 had failed
20 come up 70 q most rigid inspection and most
OF these were thrown out on account of small
rips In the seams which several women were
employed to mend and did mend Those which
were not good were destroyed
Ex-senator Reynolds said last night that he
held exactly the same position regarding the
Grand Republic as he did the night before
She is stlll running" he said and have not
the slightest intention Of stopping her The
boat is in good condition. The fire drill the
other night was made in remarkably uuick time
Her hose is OF the best and stood an unusual
test well There is fault found with her ex-
cepting in regard to her life preservers"
He WAS asked if he considered the conrnuni-
cation from the inspector an order TO dscon-
tinue the service of the boat. or as a warning
only.
Il viii not discuss that communication at ALL
he said. II have said all am going 10 about
the subject. The disposal of the case is in the
hands OF my counsel"