Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-07-29
Eastland Lying at Dock and Loading
With Merrymakers.
OVER 900 BODIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
Impossible to Ascertain Cause of Disaster Though
Vessel Had Long Been Under Suspicion
Faulty Construction Claimed, and
Wilson Orders Investigation.

of office, which is to enforce the law.
Power is not given me to say what
laws shall be obeyed and what not
obeyed. What is specifically
in the law to which you object?"
Impossible to obey the Law.
On June 30, Mr.. Hull wrote,
Replying to that portion Of your
letter of June %, in which you ask:
What is it specifically in the law to
which you object can answer this
in no better way than to state the eff
feet it would have in the operation of
our steamship Eastland.
This boat is operating this season
from June IL to Sept. 8, inclusive; is
licensed to carry 2,570 people, is
equipped with life preservers for that
number, and has liferafts and lifeboats
capacity under the last inspection for
I'll people.
ITO keep her maximum carrying
capacity at the present figure we
would have to increase her equipment
in life RATS and life boats 66 2-3 per
cent. This is physical impossibility
! IL IL WCN . pO5bAbAO W put ulilS ellhOuhI
of equipment on the Eastland the
weight added to her upper deck would
make the boat difficult to handle.
"If. our life-saving equipment is al
lowed to remain as at present, our
carrying capacity would be decreased
40 per cent of 1,028. You can see that
daily reduction of 40 per cent in
carrying capacity would amount to
considerable during the season in op-
Grating revenue.
No Reason for Increase.
THE requirements of the seaman's
bill relating to certificated lifeboat
men and able seaman would increase
the number of our crew and would af-
ford an opportunity for able seamen
to fix an arbitrary wage and then tie
up the boat Even if our traffic would
stand an increase in the passenger
rate, and it certainly will not, the in
creased operating expenses and the
fact that we would be at the mercy Of
the so-called able seamen would rem
der it impracticable for us to operate.
In addition, there is no reason for an
increase in life-saving equipment on
this run.
THE boat is constructed of steel
throughout Her run between Chi
cago and st. Joseph is approximately
cago and st. Joseph is approximately
GO miles, which she will run in three
hours and ten minutes. She is at no
time in excess of one hour and thirty
three minutes from shore, and at all
times on her run is within ten to sixty
minutes of all steamers. Assistance
in case of trouble could readily be Sc
cured from other steamers and the
ports of Chicago, Michigan City, Mil
waukee, St Joseph and South Haven.
81 sincerely believe it will be i'm.
possible to operate this boat under
the seaman's low and make expenses.
This will naturally affect the stock
and the bonds, and in the case of
great many companies will render
their bond issues practically worth
less.
81 realize it is your duty to enforce
the law, but have taken the liberty
of stating to you that we specifically
object to that portion Of this law rela-
tive to life-saving equipment, able sea-
men and certihcated lifeboat men, and
give the reasons therefore in answer
to your question.
Great Risks Spoken OF.
To this Secretary Redfeld replied
July IA, as follows;
Il note that this is a steel summer
service boat, running from June IL to
September 8, during which period it is
under present rules permitted to have
lifeboats and RATS for 80 per cent of
all on board (of which rs per cent
may be raftsl, and life preservers for
every one carried.
Your position is, therefore, one in
which in case of serious accident it
might be at least a half hour from
help, and over twenty miles from
shore. while possibly having on board
as many as 1879 persons for whom
there are neither lifeboats nor life
RATS. ] do not critieise this. II is at
present the permitted thing.
1.-THE seaman's bill will alter this in
your summer service so that your yes
sci must have boats and RATS for so
per cent of all on board, but only so
per cent may be RATS and 40 per cent