The Washington times., 1915-07-28

mass Of rubbish was fotind in the
had been stuffed with gunnysacks and
the like; these particular conditions be-
ing charged to some Of the disaffected
members Of the old crew who wanted
to compel the ship to return to port
after starting on her voyage.
Complained of Conditions.
Assistant Engineer McClarity. utterly
disgusted at the condition Of the ship.
without consulting his superiors. and
thinking he was perfectly correct In his
| course. wrote a letter to the inspection
officials in New York describing Sondi-
tions and complaining that such condi-
tions were passed by the inspectors.
The facts got into the newspapers at
Rotterdam. and thus the Hamburg
American officials were forewarned and
given opportunity to defend.
When the chip at length got back to
amazement that he. instead OF the
steamboat inspection. was on trial.
| One director Of the Hamburg -Ameri.
can line openly made threat that Nc
! CLARITY would be prosecuted for making
his report and complaints. The attitude
| OF the inspection service was such as to
suggest that McClarity was a malefac-
| tor to be punished. and some of his fel.
|
cussing the case with public men inter
ested In it. that McCiarity very prob
ably would have had his license revoked
II his fellow officers had not stood Wig
| When he was summoned before the
| inquiry which the inspection service
held. McClarity's chief advised him to
take counsel with him. He engaged a
the inspection service that he would not
| be permitted counsel. Thereupon Nc
| Clarity refused TO appear at all; and
| he never did.
Saved His License.
This refusal TO appear might have
provided ample pretext to revoke the
! offending officers license; but for
, tunately for him Captain Rust the chief
engineer. and the executive officer OF
the vessel did appear. and what they
told fully bore out all the charges and
complaints McClarity had made. The
engineer was saved his license. Nobody
seemed to want to fan the flame into
a bigger one by Furnishing him. But
| officers who had to do with the inquiry
have declared that the whole proceed
ing had the air Of trial of the COM
! plainant rather than of the defendant.
In this case. precisely as In that o
the Eastland. 1t is charged that thu
altogether too much influence with the
| inspection service: that they were able
! to get a certificate for an unseaworth,
vessel. 1t Is insisted that this con
dition prevails widely in the service
that shipping people understand 1t
| that ship officers dare not complain
| lest they give offense to the power tina
| issues their licenses. This is said to b.
equally true on the lakes and on thu
| salt water.
Are Too Good Officers.
Retired naval officers stand low il
the regard Of the big steamship cam
panies. because they invariably refus
to take vessels In bad condition: the.
know what inspection Is and ought t
be. and will not keep quiet; they dec:in
to become parties to pleasant little ar
rangements between inspection servic
and owners. So they cannot get EN-
; ployment in the big lines. no matte
how excellent their recommendation
and records. They are literally too goo
officers be available.
1t Is a grave thing for a steamship OF
ficer to get into the bad graces OF
company by reason Of kicking u
, trouble over such a matter as inspec
, ton; II he doesn't lose his license. h
may lose his position, and when black
listed with one company his chance wit
any other Is about ruined. Thus all tn
elements cooperate to break down tn
3 value Of the inspection.