The Washington times., 1915-07-29
NEW,PROBE STARTED
IN CHICAGO HORROR
Secretary RedfieId Doubts
States Right to Prosecute
Federal inspectors.

CHICAGO. July 2s.-With six men
held to the county grand Jury as a
result Of the coroner's inquest to fix
the blame for 100 to 1.4GO deaths on
the Eastand, presentation Of testimony
was begun today in two new probes.
They were the formal investigation
by the Government Steamboat Inspec-
ton Service. headed by Secretary Of
Commerce Redfeld in person. and the
first session Of the Federal grand jury.
United States District Attorney Clyne
planned personally to present evidence
and examine witnesses before the lat
ter body.
The men held by the coroner's Jury.
which. throughout its verdict Of man.
slaughter, emphasized that greed for
gold was responsible for the disaster,
are:
w. X. Greenebaum. Of the Indiana
Transportation Company, which char
tered the Eastland from the owning st.
Joseph-Chicago line.
Robert Reid, United States boat in
spector. who granted the request OF the
steamboat officials to raise the passen-
ger-carrying capacity of the boat.
Harry Pedersen. captain of the East
land.
Joseph NJ. Erickson. chief engineer
spector R. NJ. Reid.
c. C. Ecklifr. United States boat in
William H. Hull. vice president and
general manager Of the st. Joseph
All these men except Hull are now
in custody or under close surveillance.
One fact that loomed up today to dis
turo officials investigating the dis
Redheld. The Cabinet member, with
permission Of States Attorney Hoyne.
told the county grand jurors he be-
heved they have not authority to in
could not lawfully prosecute Federal
steamboat officials
He declared he has found they vio-
lated no Federal statutes. and conse-
quently could not be blamed for obey.
they work
The verdict Of the coroner's Jury Bit
terly arraigned Federal laws which per
mitted inspectors arbitrarily to Increase
with regard only to nine feet of space
stability.
The Jury found that not only do ex-
ereed of shipowners. but even these
Laws Laws are many times administered with
The inquest verdict. handed down
1T is our Judgment that the steam
snip Eastland was both Improperly
constructed for the service employed,
and improperly loaded. operated and
are responsible.
I'VE further recommend that states
attorney and grand Jury investigate
carefully the circumstances of con-
struction of this boat to ascertain II
there can be found legal methods by
which those responsible for its defects
TN construction can be held account
able.
I'VE further recommend that the
states attorney and the grand jury
sale of the different common carriers
which have owned the Eastland with a
view of determining whether knowl-
edge OF the instability Of this boat and
the hazards attended thereon have
been known to the seller and have not
been disclosed by the sellers to the pur-
chasers.
ut is our opinion that the Federal
Government system of permitting the
construction Of vessels for use by
common carriers is unscientific and
menace to the public safety. There
ls not now, or has there ever been,
an Inspection service maintained by
the Federal Government for the pur-
pose or determining the stability Of
boats offered for passenger service.
1t is the judgment of this jury that
the present method of determining
the passe nger-carrying capacity ~
vessels Is not founded on any proper
lasis.
In recommending that Inspectors
Reid and Eckliff be held to the grand
jury. should the courts Of Illinois not
nave jurisdiction, we recommend to
the Department of Justice Of the
united states that they undertake to
mete )usice to these parties"