New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-27
CLARKSON,S FARMING.
SurUeyOr Says Laacs Are Inadequate
for Protection of Life on Water.

According to the reports Of the customs fnspeesor,
assigned TO the work Of preventing overcrowdins
the big excursion fleet that assembled IN tn.
North River on Saturday. only third OF the avail
able accommodations was taken. II was estimated
that about two hundred and fifty thousand persons
were ahoat. but thar there was ample accomnoda-
ton for at least three times that number
The accident TO the fsrryboat Hopatcong which
was rannn.d by the Ward liner Seneca on Saturday
evening with the loss of life, brought out the
fact yesterday that the Surveyor OF Customs
jurisdiction whatsoever the Hteeavinz equip
ent the number OF passengers carried By ferry
boats. Surveyor Clarkson said yesterday that he
fears day a serious accident will occur. on
ferryboats used FOR excursion purposes. and that
amendment to the steaneost inspection law will
come too late.
zatiou of federal Officers was definitely assigned TO
ths enforcement OF the steamboat regulations on
excursion boats said there division OF author
ty and responsibility which bound 70 CONFLICT
and tend 20 Decentralization In the enforcement of
the law.
Concerning the preservation of life on all occa-
sions. especially ons Ike the parade on satur-
day. the Surveyor said:
Il feel that IL is almost duty on my part 20
speak few plain facts concerning the preserva-
we're approximately two hundred and fifty thousand
persons on the water. but this number was KEEP.
down BY the high prices asked by excursion boat
owners. However. people travelling In masses are
panic are likely to rush 10 given point and bring
about a disaster.
AT present there Is divided authority In the
administration of the laws in question hersabout.
Where there is divided authority there Is divided
responsibility. and where there Is divided respon-
sbility there Is sooner later. GENERALIZATION
worse IN any branch OF government Not the
least feature Of divided authority. the curse OF
the federal service. Is that. where blame Ia 20
hxed. subordinate official Is often lett shoulder
the blame. Just often his superior officers
receive the credit that is his due.
''Nonlinslly. the Department OF Commerce and
Labor IN in charge OF the inspection. In all its
aspects. this port. but its force here consists
OF only about twenty-five men. in charge Of two
excellent supervising inspectors. who are. how
ever, almost helpless In covering district OF
over two hundred and twenty-five miles with such
an inadequate force. Consequently great deal
OF this administration has been internationally
transferred 10 tho Surveyor defined By the statutes
as the outdoor executive officer OF the port This
transfer has occurred only In times OF emergency.
as Illustrated by the Surveyors supervision in tho
harbor during the summers OF 1a7-Os and again
In the present week. The Surveyor. however. never
inspects boilers or hulls-
such a tremendous crowd Saturdays. with
from a million and half 20 two million visitors
added 20 the nearly five million residents OF greater
New York. Jersey City and Newark and other large
cities near by certainly emphasizes in a way never
shown before the great responsibility the federal
government has taken on itself in assuming full
charge OF the protection OF human life on all the
waters OF this great port. with neither the state
nor tbs city authorities having control OF such
matters. Such event should undoubtedly slim
uIatc Congress into such revision OF the nayiga-
ton laws as modern conditions demand. instead OF
depending on the I'D fashioned and outworn reg
ulations we now have. ali OF which practically
enacted In tho days of sailing ships"