The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-10-17
INSPECTORS BLAMED
 FOR SLOGUM DISASTER
THE REPORT OF THE NATIONAL
 COMMISSION.

ChaFges That the Steamboat Inspection
 Service at New York Was Unsatis-
 factory, inefficient and Negligent in
 Many Respects-President Orders
 That Men be Discharged-captaIn
 and Pilot Taken to Task-RecOm-
 mendations.
 Washington, Oct. 1s.-Investigation of the General Slocum disaster by the national commission created for the purpose has been completed. and the report of the commission was made pub lie to-day. In connection with the im- portant findings of the commission pre- sented in the report, President Roose- welt to whom the report was submit ted, has written letter to Secretary Victor IT. Metcalf, of the department of commerce and labor, briefly sumtnar- izing the report and directing him to carry into effect the recommendation of the commission. He also directs Robert s. Rodie, supervising inspector of the second district, steamboat in- spection service, and James A. Dumont and Thomas 1T. Barrett, local inspectors in charge of the port of New York, be discharged from the service, the com mission holding them directly responsi- ble for the laxity of the steamboat in- speetion to which the Slocum disaster was directly attributable,
 The commission presents many recon- Imendations, all of them based on their examination into the Slocum disaster. These recommendations are principally of a technical character, relating to the laws and regulations governing the steamboat inspection service; laws reg ulating the construction of passenger steamers, and laws giving authority to the department of commerce and labor to enforce absolutely its orders issued to vessel owners, and to the officers and crews of steamers It is pointed out that the present laws relating to the safety appliances are inadequate in that they do not require specifically ljust what safety appliances and how many shall be carried on each vessel
 These recommendations will be trans nlitted to congress at it's approaching session and legislation will be asked along the lines of the report and recom- mendations of the commission.
 The evidence O. the pilots was that q Captain Van Schaick received the first notice of the fire when the vessel was fabout four lengths to the eastward of the sunken meadows. He ordered full speed ahead and directed that the yes seI be kept on her course. Subsequent- fly he directed the pilot Van Wart to Beach the vessel on North Brother Is~ Hand.
 The evidence before the commission lestablishes the fact that the master made no attempt whatsoever to fight the fire, to examine it's condition, or to lcontrol. assure direct, or aid the pas lsengers in any way whatever. It is lalleged that he was unable to reach the lplace where the passengers were by treason Of the fire, but this is contra Edicted by the evidence of many wit nesses and is obviously not true.
 .An essential fact of negligence is Ethe utter failure of the master to fight the. fire or aid the passengers In a Hess degree the pilots in the same man. ner after bleaching the boat, and while there were still many passengers on board, failed in their duty to assist and rescue the same passengers. Very lt. tie assistance was given or control ex- ercised by any of the officers or crew on behalf of the passengers.
 'sReviewing the whole testimony, { therefore, the commission believes that the first discovery of the fire on the main deck was before reaching Wards
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