New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-01
WILL APPEAL TO TAFT.
Supervisor of Steamboat In
speCtors Attacks Uhler.
SAYS HE BLOCKED REFORMS
Captain Harris Also Charges
That His Superior Drove
Him from Service.

Because he was notified by his superiors
I that he must resign his place as Supervisor
OF the local Board Of Steamboat lnspec-
: tors. Captain Ira Harris has written let
ter 10 Secretary Nagel Of the Department
/ of Commerce and Labor, In which he
/ charges Inspector General Uher with driv-
| ing him out Of the service and blocking
reforms I'm the department Captain Harris
SAYS he proposes to appeal to the Presi-
/ dent.
The captain takes mp the charges made
against him by Uher that he had said the
inspector general had recommended the di-
vision Of the Second District, in order TO
force Harris out and that he wrote to
/ Calvin Austin. receiver Of the Eastern
Steamship Company. that it was not neces-
sary TO keep sounding machines on the
company's ships. Captain Harris's state
I ment reads:
/ The Secretary aaI1 that this letter was
, in plain disregard of a regulation Wnlch !
! had no business Ia set aside, and on the
enforcement of which the supervising IN
| spector general had insisted. ON May -
| answered.
! In brief said that the division Of my
/ district was first attempted I'm 1891, and
/ that ] then said the same thing' tnat l
considered that ] had right TO express
J W
| Der of the board most interested. Many
members of Congress from New England
| vessel owners. underwriters ana ncenSeu
officers protested that on the New Eng
/ cidents were caused by collision, deck
/ officer instead Of an engineer should ne
supervising inspector. These protests had
received no consideration.
In regard To the sounding machine letter
| said the assistant inspector, VINO de-
manded that Mr.. Austin keep the machines
! bolted on the fantail with an outrigger ana
! sheave over the stern. exceeded his au-
! thority and showed his ignorance. The
charge was based on information abso-
! lutely false for there never had been any
| such regulation.
Harris goes on TO say that prominent
men all over the country OF both parties.
the Marine Engineers Association. tugboat
| captains. the national executive commit
tee of the American Association OF Mas
ters. Mates and Pilots and others sup
ported him and wanted him retained
Captain Harris declares that ON June 20
| Senators Root, Wetmore. Briggs and Du
Pont presented his case to the Secretary
and obtained for him the promise of a per
Sonal hearing. He writes:
on June 20 the Secretary gave me few
minutes hearing. but was called away
| and. retaining my brief. promised To sehd
for me again. lie did not do 50, but on
| the .6th Of this month wrote again, calllng
| for my resignation. l asked until to-day
| to prepare my answer and nile formal &C,
cusations against Mr.. Uhler. lie granted
no delay, and on the 2Sth wrote that the
name OF my successor had been sent 10
! the Senate.
! am this dav sending charges against
! Mr. Thler 10 the Secretary. and ! have to-
| dav appealed 10 the President, asking not
! TO he reinstated. but calling MS attention
| 10 the unjust treatment have received
from the Secretary Of commerce and