New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-03
Illinois Lieutenant Cover
nor Gets Report Pigeon
HoIed Nine Years.
REDFIELD UNDAUNTED
BY LETTER THREATS
Clasps in Surprise, However
When Manacled Inspectors
Are Brought to Inquiry.

Chicago, Aug. 1.-The pigeon-holed
report of a special Federal inspector
who recommended nine years ago a
careful inspection Of the Eastland be-
fore the ship be permitted again to
carry as many as $500 passengers, was
dug out of the records at the Redfeld
inquiry late to-day by Lieutenant Gov
ernor Barratt O'Hara' of Illinois.
1t was proclaimed by him as conclu-
sive proof of official and criminal neg
lgence, but for which the ship would
still be afoat and nearly a thousand
victims of the Chicago River disaster
would be alive.
THE letter is conclusive" said Mr..
OHara, "and if the offence has not
been outlawed by the passage of time,
it renders all concerned liable to in
dictment for criminal negligence or
malfeasance in office
The letter was written by George P.
Foulkes, a special agent sent to the
Great Lakes in 1906 to inspect the
Eastland and another excursion boat
Il stated that on one occasion that year
the Eastland carried $3.50 passengers
and that its upper decks were so
crowded the passengers could neither
move about nor sit down.
at would be advisable TO make a
thorough investigation before licensing
the steamship Eastland to carry this
/ number again. wrote Foulkes.
Relic of Roosevelt Rule.
The responsibility hits the admins
tration of Theodore Roosevelt The
records showed the report was made to
! the Treasury Department while George
I B. Cortelyou was Secretary. The
Treasury Department at that time verl-
! fed the truth Of the complaints re-
garding the Eastland and turned them
over for action TO the Department oil
: Commerce and Labor of which Victor
II. Metcalf was Secretary. The steam.
E ship inspection bureau of the com.
merce department pigeon holed the re
port and no action was taken.
Another clash between state anc
/ Federal authorities occurred late in the
+ day. Two men tightly handcuffed wer,
/ led into the room by a deputy sheri II
/ They were Robert Reid and c. II. Eek
! liff, OF Benton Harbor, inspectors Ions
/ in the Federal service. who are hello
because they approved the increase o.
+ the Eastland's carrying capacity L
/ $500.
1 Redfield Clasps in Surprise.
Secretary Redfeld gasped in surprise
as the inspectors entered holding THEN
manacled hands high above their heads
III have those men out tomorrow,
exclaimed A. L. Thurman, attorney fol
/ the Department Of Commerce.
He called up States Attorney Maclay
Hoyne and also started action for
writ Of habeas corpus before Federal
} Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands. Ar.
/ gument will be heard tomorrow morn.
ing.
Mr.. Hoyne said the government haG
been grabbing all evidence and wit.
nesses in the investigation of the dis
aster and he intended to stand pat anC
hold the two inspectors for the state
against all corners.
Mr.. Redfeid received two threaten.
ing letters to-day He seemed TO real
ize the damage done by his attitude
Of department defence, and began the
, hearing with a change of front. The
Secretary said he would sift every
charge made against the department
/ lie proposed thai all lake traffic condi-
tons be investigated by a committee
authorized by Congress and appointed
by the President, to be composed OF
naval and merchant marine experts
representatives Of labor, especially lake
Spdmen and citizens AZ LARGO