Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-01
Secretary of Commerce Says
Press and People Have Pre-
Judged His Inquiry.
LIEUT.. GOV. O'HARA SEEKS
W'DE-OPEN INVESTIGATION
Insists That Seamen Be Heard and
That Steamboat Inspection
Service Be Overhauled.

CHICAGO- July 81 Secretary of
| Commerce William c. Redfeld. stirred
by criticism of his inquiry into the
steamer Eastland disaster by local pub
lie officials, declared today he. would
| make a thorough investigation of the
entire United States steamboat inspec-
ton service if proper charges against
individual inspectors or the depart
ment are filed.
The Secretary said that both he and
the federal officials whose duty it was
to give a square deal to alf' had been
prejudged and mot given a chance by
Chicago officials and Others
The statement made by the Secretary
followed demand by Lieut.. Gov Bar
ratt O'Hara. acting Governor of llli-
nois, that the federal inquiry be wild
ened ito cover every activity of the
United States stea mboat service during
the last fifteen years
Albert l.. Thurman, solicitor of the De
partment of Commerce. replied to the act
ing governors request in a heated speech,
IN which he said "It cannot be done: it
is impossibIe-this request of the lieu
tenant governor. The statute does not al
low it,
At the close of the morning session
Secretary Redfleld adjourned the inquiry
until 10 o'clock Monday morning. and
said that before that time meeting
! would be held, Lieut.. Gov. OHara had
suggested. to consider ways and means
for widening the investigation.
Mr.. O'Hara's Position.
After detailing the manner in which he
came to be connected with the inquiry
as a member of the civilian advisory
committee, and stating that he was act
ing as a representative of the labor in
terests at Secretary Redfield's request,
Lieut.. Gov O'Hara said
ut may be that the highest monument
that we can construct to the memory of
the Eastland dead will consist of revised
laws covering the United States steam
boat inspection service"
1T took the deaths of hundreds of
persons to render safe Chicago thea
ters. and it is my purpose in suggest
ing this. new inquiry to do the same
thing for lake boat passengers.
Il ask as acting governor of the state
that the Chicago press and Chicago
citizens refrain from expressing cri.f-
cisms of Mr.. Redfield and of his in
vestigation until that investigation has
been completed.
Il ask the Secretary of Commerce to
y,
If such an inquiry be instituted, repre-
sentatives and members of organized
seamen and also allow interests en-
ploying seamen to have an opportunity
to testify" said Mr.. O'Hara. "In this
statement / am happy in the knowl-
edge that Mr.. Pool and perhaps other
members OF the civilian committee con-
cur with me in the request"
Solicitor Fhurman's Opinion.
Solicitor Thurman of the Department
of Commerce advised Secretary Red
field that the law does not authorize
any such investigation as that asked
by Lieut.. Gov. O'Hara.
I'VE will investigate the whole De-
partment of Commerce, from the Sec
retary to the most humble deputy, if
proper charges-charges containing
facts-are lodged with the Washington
authorities" said Mr.. Thurman
Mr.. Redfeld Hurt.
Secretary Redfield then made a state
ment.
II am in entire accord with Mr..
OHara on this subject [ am willing
and ready to search every corner and
Granny for the ultimate truth as re-
CARDS the United States inspection serv-
ice and the Eastland disaster. came
to Chicago for that purpose and my
purpose has never wavered," he said.
II am sorry; | am hurt; and / am will
ing to admit it. l have been mistreated
and prejudged by the Chicago press and
by Chicago citizens. My record should
have protected me- but it did not. My
life is an open book-my thirty years
of public life--and yet when ] come
here to make an investigation l am
judged in advance, and, what is of more
Importance. the men whom l am trying
to give square deal in connection with
this inquiry have not been given
chance. Men who are not familiar with
the facts have condemned me and the
inquiry | am making almost before
that inquiry has been begun.
II have been prejudged by men who
are hostile to me. Mr.. Thurman, the
solicitor for my department. man
whose Judgment in legal matters l am
bound to follow, has told me that to
widen this investigation as Mr.. OHara
asks would be beyond my power. If l
were to conduct such an investigation
in the matter as he asks / would be
obliged to foot the bill from my own
pockets. l have already stretched the
law to the breaking point in this in
quiry by sending to Washington for
expert witnesses in an effort to bring
out the truth and the whole of it.
| cannot go farther in that direction"
Wide-open Inquiry.
Il venture to say" declared Mr. Red
| field that never in the history of the
| United States has an investigation of a
United States steamboat inspector been
conducted on such a wde-open basis as
this one
Il now give to Lieut.. Gov. OHara, to
the citizens of Chicago, and to you
| gentlemen of the press. my solemn promise
that if charges are presented to me as
head of the Department of Commerce Of
the nation against either individual in
spectors or the service as "A whole, those
charges will have my fullest considera-
ton, and | will spare neither time,
energy nor money in arriving at the
truth.
However. l must say in my own de-
fense such charges have not yet been pre-
sented They have been asked for, but
thus far they are wanting. 1 will not
hold any man up to public scorn. I will
| not condemn any man until that man has
had an opportunity to be heard.
| Abuse and scorn me if you feel that
you must, but in Gods name spare the
men to whom ! am trying to the best
Of my ability to give a square deal, as
nv duty orders me to do"
Appeal to President.
! The request of the Chicago city coun-
ell for a special commission to be ap-