The sun., 1904-07-12
SHAM STEAMBOAT INSPECTION
Striking Facts Showing tho InadeQuac cy
OF Government Methods.

To THE EDITOR oP The SUS-Sr: To the
lay mind. the Slooum disaster has proved the
inadequacy Of the United States inspection
of steam vessels; that an annual inspection
by two assistant inspectors on a day set by
the owner Of the boat or well known to him
in advance. when he will be ready for inspec-
tion, does not insure any measure OF safety
to passengers.
A United States Government guaranty. in
the shape Of framed inspectors certificate.
on board every steamboat. stating that the
entire equpment-the hull. boilers. engines,
life preservers. fire and bilge pumps. hose.
lifeboats. RATS railings. etc.-has been duly
examined by Government inspectors and is
sound, capable and in good condition for
instant and ergetic use. ought to be as
Trustworthy and reliable as United States
Government report on the assets Of national
bank; and II the steamboat inspection ser
vice is so lax as to permit OF violations Of
existing laws. the Government is responsible
for such laIity: and II the existing laws are
lax, their revision by Congress should have
been demanded by the Government with
sufficient emphasis to create a public knowl-
edge of their inadequacy.
The General Slocum was, structurally,
one Of the best wooden boats in the harbor
land I know whereof / speak>. Capt. Van
Schaick is a capable off1cer. with long and
creditable record. To use steamboat par
lance, ne ndQ BOOu utdl vi OOdt uiIIl,
and his action in heading for North Brother
Island, was in my opinion. dictated by his
acute realization OF the difficulties presented
in handling such huge sea castle--as long
as a city block and as high as three-story
house-in the swift flood tide. which was
bearing his boat toward North Brother Island
at the rate Of Ave or six miles an hour.
But to get back to my point OF lax inspec-
ton or lax laws the annual inspection OF
an excursion steamboat is much like the
swearing OF of personal taxes. with the differ
ence that, in regard to taxes. the aim is to
disown suspected assets. and thus avaid the
payment of legal tithes thereon; and in the
other case, the aim is to produce tif possibleJ
9E to create the in the mind Of
prescribed by law. 1t is physically impossible
anime ali the equipment Of a big excursion
boat in one day Even at the quick rate q
have required the entire time OF an inspector
for eleven and a half hours to examine all the
Also life preservers on the General slocum.
not she only % etqsm to bs made ss 81 the steam
boat Inspection Bureau. There seems to be
sort H "a hs " system
de mond was @ formerly called the Sohask' @ ,Sn snd
North shors @ staten Island ferTyboat @ boz and
drowned in the oapsizinE q his yacht Mo
on ths sSs. of NE che I
ne G n e srnns
offce in Washin gton: in 1908, as having been
built at Noans Conn.,. IN 70 1902 Also. the eH-
cation as being built in Port Richmond. n. Y.
in 1898. while to my own knowledge she is the
old Pomona. long a Staten Island ferryboat.
which was cut In half and heightened in the
boats are doubtless In as good shape to-day.
because rebuilt, as others Of their class; hut
they nre sailing under an alias which is sup
ported by the Government publication. The
Of i the Valley Glri, which is correctly listed
ss formerly the Thomas Hunt. and built In
keyport. y. J :. in 1851. ffty-three years ago.
The list names half dozen built in 1885.
The inspector who made the certihcaton
General Slocum is reported as saying at the
Coroner's inquest that his salary was 8? 600
q year, or nearly $40 week-which is pretty
good evidence that en- ough money Is furnished
to pay for proper inspection: but the custom
requisites demanded by law has apparently
become 40 much a habit that II takes good
deal Of backbone 10 a man to break through
Ss ow
tpsists in being satisfied as to the Quantity
and the quality Of the equipment laid down
MY contention /. that when a department
expenditure. solely for the insurance Off public
safety. becomes so Intellectual that II cannot
be relied on for more than mere perfun ctory
dischsree Of y. duties. II 4. high time to de-
washing Investigation. Such an Investigation.
Ike IKE cesars wife. should Be ,sboSs snspi-
STATEN rsLAxp. Juiyii