Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-29
SHIELD FOR NO ONE
IN EASTLAND CASE
Assistant Secretary Sweet
Says Commerce Department
Will Punish Guilty.

Defending the attitude Of the De-
partment OF Commerce in the invest.
CATION of the Eastland disaster. Actin
Secretary Sweet today declared that
II any Of it's employees were found to
have erred in connection with that
| catastrophe the department would be
just as quick to admit 1t as any one
else. He also said that the department
would lose no time In taking action
against any Of its employees who were
guilty Of wrongdoing.
The only Information on the disaster
which came to the department today
was contained in two kilograms from
Secretary Redfleld, who Is directing the
departments investigation at Chicago
One said that the Secretary had in
had yet developed ito justify an at
tack upon the service" Mr.. Sweet had
no comment to make, however, on the
reports that Robert Reid. the local in
spector of bulls, and Charles c. Ecklin
the local inspector of boilers. at Grand
Haven, Mich, who inspected the East
| land and issued her certificates. were
being held by the coroner's jury al
Chicago.
Begins Investigation Today.
Mr.. Redfield also said that "our in.
vestigation will begin" today. Mr.
Sweet did not understand just what
this investigation was. He expressed
the belief. however, that it was the
investigation which the law require,
the local inspectors at Chicago tc
make. Public hearings. the message
said. would be held with the informal
cooperation of three well known Chi
cago citizens"
Another p,Aas,oa r.o,>st>d that
Harry G. Olsen, acting private secre-
tary to Mr.. Redfeld. be dispatched to
Chicago Immediately. Mr.. Olsen will
leave this evening.
Mr.. Sweet said that what the de-
partment was attempting to do was to
make full and fair investigation OF
the disaster. He said he felt that
those on the ground there would put
the blame where 1t should rest. As
to the increase in the excursion GER
one month after the original excursion
certificate had been issued to the East
land. Mr.. Sweet said that was where
the human element entered into the
matter. He declared that the owners
OF the Eastland may have gone to the
inspectors and pointed out that here
tofore the ship had been permitted to
carry 5000 passengers. The inspectors
then may have taken the matter I'M
der consideration. and decided to COM
promise. he said. He declared. how
ever. that he was wholly without any
data on the matter.
Must Pass on Plans.
Mr.. Sweet asserted further that under
the present regulations of the steam
boat inspection service plans of vessels
under construction must be submitted
to the local inspectors before the yes
sci Is launched. This is done. he said,
to permit the inspectors to determine
whether or not the craft follows the
laws OF marine construction
Although other officials of the depart
ment admitted that IL copies Of the in
spection records of steam vessels were
filed with the steamboat inspection bu-
reau here officials could determine
whether inspectors had erred In issu-
ing certificates. Mr.. Sweet said that he
personally doubted whether or not this
could be done.
1t is Mr. Sweets opinion that the de-
partment should not be condemned for
the work Of the inspectors. He said that
these men were in the service when the
present administration came in, and no
complaint, SO far as he knew, had been
made against them. He declared further
that they were all men who had taken a
civil service examination. were supposed
to be practical men who knew the bust
ness. and unless some specific complaint
was made there was no excuse for the
department getting after them.