The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-04
STEAMSHIP INSPECTION.
An Assertion That II Is Of Rare DC,
currence In This Port.

To rHE'EpiToR or FIN suN-sir. The
editorial article in THE SUN of July 80
headed Secretary Redheld Qualities as
an Efficiency Expert Is timely and
straight to the point. Mr.. Redfeld put
his foot in 1t badly when he said the
stability of steam vessels was not within
the purview of inspectors of steam ves-
sells. II a vessel Is unstable sire cannot
DO ~seaworthy. She may be the best
built vessel obtalnable, equipped with
every device for the saving of life and
property, commanded, differed and
AIMED by the most capable of officers
and men,. but II she is unstable she is
dangerous, she Is ~unsoaworthy, she is
unit to navigate, she should not be al
lowed to carry either passengers or
freight, a certificate OF Inspection should
be REUSED in her case. Stability Is a
fundamental requisite in the safety OF a
steam vessel. Section AIS, Revised
Statutes of the United States, says
The inspector OF hulls shall be a person
Of good character and suitable qualifca-
lions and attachments to perform tho SER
vices required OF an Inspector OF hulls, who
from his practical knowledge of ship
building and navigation and the uses of
steam In navigation is fully competent to
make a reliable estimate Of the strength.
seaworthiness and other qualities Of the
hulls OF vessels and their equipment
deemed essential to safety Of life In their
navigation.
IL the inspector liz competent TO pass
upon the sea~worthiness of steam vcs-
sells. then the stability OF the vessel is
"A matter that necessarily must come
under his purviaw. as, being unstable,
she would be unseaworthy, and there
fore could bot be deemed essential to
safety OF life in" her navigation"
Again. Section 4il7, United States Re-
vised Statutes. says:
The local inspectors shall. once In every
year, at least. carefully ins pect the hull
OF each steam vessel within their respec-
tive districts, and shall satisfy themselves
that every such vessel So submitted to
their inspection is Of q structure suitable
for the service In which she Is to be EN-
pioyed, has suitable accommodations for
passengers and the crew. and is tn a condi-
tion to warrant the belief that she may be
used In navigation as a steamer, with
safety to life.
IL n steam vessel is unstable her
structure Is not suitable for any SER
vice, and she cannot be In a condition
to warrant the belief that she may be
used in navigation Us a steamer with
SAFETY to lie. When an inspector of
hulls passes a steamer that is I'M
stable ne mas passed a vessel that is
unseaworthy ana unfit for use with
safely to lie. IL he is unable to pass upon
stability. which is but another word
for safety, he is unfit 10 be an Inspector.
And when he issu. a certificate OF IN
spectIon TO Il steam vessel. solemnly
swearing that she is seaworthy. II she
is unstable the inspector has cert.hcateI
a possible death trap, because she Is
unsafe. as the Eastiand was.
Th!r;y-nve years ago the Sound
steamer Seawanhaka caught fire n the
East River and was destroyed with large
loss OF life. she had been Inspected by an
assistant inspector OF hulls and an assist
ant inspector of boilers. 1t was nrst in
tended to !nd!ct these assistants for
ma~nslaush;er, and try them in the Fed
eral court, but II was found that al
though these assistant inspectors had
inspected the vessel the local inspectors
had solemnly sworn that they, the locals.
had inspected her. on the strength OF
this the assistant inspectors who had
inspected her were not tried for man
slaughter and the local inspectors who
had not inspected her but VINO had
sworn that they had inspected her were
tried for mansllughter. II was then es-
tabl.shed that assistant inspectors We're
not authorized to Inspect steam vessels.
What has happened since then? II is a
rare thing for local INSPECTORS to inspect
steam vessels In this port. But they
swear, in issuing each inspection cert.h-
cate. that they have inspected them.
They do this on the strength Of the re-
ports of assistant inspectors whom they
ass.g 10 the duty VI examining for
inspection" the steam vessel, and the
assistant inspectors report * merely an
examination for inspection" not an in
speCt!on.
30 We ave the anomaly ~ assistant
inspectors actually conducting all OF tho
inspection that steam vessels receive,
men declared Unauthorized 20 inspect
them and because OF this lack Of au-
thority to inspect them the local in
spectors falsely swear that they ave
inspected the vessels. thus becoming
criminally and penalty responsible for
the acts OF subordinates, and liable. be-
cause OF the peculiar cond lions under
which inspection Is conducted. or not
conducted, to be sent to prison for man
slaughter II an accident happens to 4
vessel they swore they inspected but did
not inspect, Is this not a condition of
affairs that should be remodied2
No one can read the requ rements OF
law regarding local inspectors OF hulls
or regarding the Inspection OF steam
vessels and properly absolye such in
s?ectors from the requirement OF. first
OF all. finding that the vessel Is stable.
a. r. SMITH,
Editor the Marine .Ners.