Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-04
Assistant Secretary of Com
merce Discusses Charges
Affecting EastIand Inquiry.
ALLEGATIONS OF LAxITY
NOT SPECIFIC, HE SAYS
Samuel Gompers Writes President
Wilson Urging an Investigation by
Disinterested Commission.

Acting Secretary Sweet of the De-
partment of Commerce put very plain
~ this morning the attitude of the
department toward the complaints of
labor organizations against the East
land investigation as conducted by the
department and against general al
legged laxity of the inspection service
on the great lakes.
In no instance that ! recall have
labor leaders brought to the attention
of the department specific charges OF
negligence against any one Inspector
Mr.. Sweet said. IF these organizations
did not have specific information against
certain specific inspectors as to any NAL
feasance of duty, they ought not to have
made sweeping charges against them as
group. If they did have specific charges
against specific men they should have laid
their information before the Depart
ment of Commerce at once"
MIR. Sweet declared that the so-called
complaints of the labor and seamans
union men have been generalities, AMI
as a group are protected by the civil
service, under which they are classified,
from such general attacks en- masse.
Tangible Evidence Required.
The fact that these inspectors are
under the civil service makes it i'm
possible for the Department of Com
merce to undertake to remove one or
more of them merely upon a general
complaint. They cannot be removed in
such manner. If the labor people or
any one. elsce had brought anything
tangible against the inspectors the de-
partment would have acted with the
greatest speed" declared Mr. Sweet.
The feeling in the department, from
Secretary Sweet down, is one OF in
tense loyalty to Secretary Redf1eld.
who. employees of the department feel.
is endeavoring to conduct the hearing
in Chicago with fairness to all
Officials of the department are some
what sensitive over the row which the
Eastland disacter investigation has
caused. When a visitor to the depart
ment this morning showed one oniciaI
a copy of the Department of Commerce
history, as gotten out for the Panama
Pacific exposition. and inquired il the
history of the steamboat inspection
service had been given the last place
in the book on PURPOSE, the official
smiled. but looked somewhat panied
Appeal Of President Gompers.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation OF Labor. has
taken a hand in the investigation of the
Eastland disaster at Chicago by writ
ing a letter to President Wilson. urg-
ing that the federal investigation of
the disaster be conducted by "a COM
mission of disinterested. fair-minded
citizens"
"Since all our inspection agencies
have proved woefully inadequate the
letter says, would it not be a travesty
on justice to permit an investigation
- - hn h.,
the inspection officials who are in some
degree. at least. responsible for the dis
aster that has taken place? In this
connection. also, let me urge upon your
attention how completely the Eastland
disaster refutes all of the arguments
that have been urged to bring about
amendment Or repeal of the seamen's
act. If, as a nation. We have regard
for the value and sacredness of human
life; If we esteem human beings high
er than property or property interests.
we shall insist that the seaman's
act shall not only not be weakened,
but shall be strengthened in order to
provide greater safety and greater Sc
curity for future water tramc or
travel"
The letter states that the attention
of the government had been drawn 10
serious charges against inspectors on
the great lakes a year ago by the
Chicago Federation of Labor, which
also reported overcrowding of excur-
sion steamers on the lakes
"There is a vicious circle which viz
tually renders ineffective regulations
and legislation that are intrusted to
inspectors" the letter adds mys
FERROUS influence has always operated
FOR the elimination of all inspectors
who perform their duty without regard
for the favor of the shipping inter