Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-27
.REDF|ELD WILL DIRECT
INQUIRY At CHICAGO
Secretary of Commerce to Take Per-
sonal Charge of Probe Into
Eastland Disaster.
NOW EN ROUTE FROM SYRACUSE
Statement Given Out in Washington
Denies Report to Effect That Gov
eminent Has Refused to Counte-
nance Federal Investigation.

WASHINGTON, July 26.-Secretary
! Redleld. of the Department Of Com
| merce, Will arrive in Chicago to-
| morrow TO take personal charge of the
departments investigation Of the East :
iand disaster. He is en- route tonight
from Syracuse.
solicitor Thurman of the department,
armed with nil the records relating to
tho Eastland. left tonight to join tho
secretary, and George. Uhler chief Of
touring the Pacific Coast. probably will
he called to Chicago also.
Possibilities OF general reorganiza-
tion of the steamboat inspection SER
vice were much discussed at the de-
partment to-day, and 1t was indicated
that som ething Of the sort was to he
expected soon
Acting Secretary Sweet teleera phed
MIR. Redfeld. suggesting that he per-
sonally conduct the Investigation n ter
conference of department officials at
which Immediate inquiry was decided
upon. Those attending the conference
were Mr.. Sweet. Solicitor Thurman and
Commissioner Chamberlain. OF the
Bureau of Navigation
Senator Lewis, of Illinois, tele-
graphed both the Department of Com
merce and the Justice Department to-
day that a Statement published in Chi
cago was TO the effect that the govern
ment had refused to countenance n
Federal investigation of the disaster.
and was shielding guilty officials.
DEPARTMENT. OF JUSTICE
GIVES OUT STATEMENT
The following statement was issued
Tonight at the Department of Justice:
The Department of Justice this af-
ternoon received wire from Chicago.
stating that the public press in that
city published a statement declaring
that the government refused TO coun-
tenance any Federal investigation Of
the sinking of the Eastland. and was
shielding guilty Federal inspectors who
had been corrupted by steamboat opcr-
ators to violate the law; also that a
Federal judge had called n special
grand jury and had stated that IL the
United States attorney declined to par
ticipate In the investigation. he would
name a special attorney.
''ln reply. the Attorney General
wired that on his return to Washington
this morning he found information to
the effect that n grand jury had been
ordered for Thursday next to investi-
gate the Eastland disaster; that he
Immediately wired the United States
attorney and the party in charge Of the
departments bureau OF investigation
at Chicago to give all possible assist
ancc in developing tho facts relating
to the sinking of the steamer and CO.
ing to show violation OF Federal GRIM
inal statutes: that any statement that
the Department of Justice had refused
to countenance any Federal invcsti9a-
ton Of the disaster was wholly with
out foundation, and that any such
statements as those referred TO in the
wire to the Attorney General were
false and any such threats foolish"
Acting Secretary sweet telegra nhed
n similar reply.
The Department of Commerce" he
said, lis doing and Will do everything
In its power to determine the causes
of this deplorHbe disaster. If minor
officials of this department are in any
way TO blame. the department proposes
10 find il out and to take appropriate
action"