Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-04
INSPECTION SERVICE
VIGOROUSLY BAD
GOVERNMENT WAS FREQUENTLY
WARNED OF CONDITIONS BE-
FoREEAsTLAND DISASTER.
SACRIFICE OF LIVES
ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY
Conduct Of Investigation by Secretary
RsdfisId Brings Much Criticism and
May Result in oustins Cabinet Mem
ber-Livss Of Passengers on Many
Boats Msnaesd on Lakes and Rivers.
Especial correspondence.]

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Aug. 4.-The indigna-
ton aroused over the terrible disaster
to the steamer Eastland at Chicago
and the widespread feeling that this
could never have happened II the gov
eminent steamboat inspection service
had been what 1t ought to be, is prov
ing embarrassing to the administra-
ton.
Already the demand has gone up that
Secretary of Commerce Red1eld, I'M
der whose department the steamboat
inspection service is, resign from the
cabinet. Secretary Redfield, in the
opinion Of many, has shown little quail
iication for the job of administering
the laws appertaining to the steamboat
inspection service. He is being charged
with failure to force an effective in
vestigation of the Eastland disaster.
He Is charged with taking the position
that there is nothing wrong with
either the laws regulating the con-
struction of excursion boats or the in
spection system under which 1t was
possible for big steamer to over
Of hundreds of helpless persons, main
ly women and children.
Has to Be Shown.
The attitude Of Secretary Redfield
has been that of an official seeking to
prevent the steamboat inspection serv-
ice from investigation. He has insist
ed on being presented with facts show
ing something was wrong before con-
no ~
Recently, since the Eastland Gala
tary Redfield and representatives Of
labor organizations has been pub
lished It shows that the labor orga-
nizations wrote to him and told him
the excursion boats on the lakes were
menace to the public and that the
inspection system was inefficient To
this, the secretary replied he would do
nothing unless specific charges against
vessels and individuals were made. One
of the labor leaders in a letter to
the secretary predicted that if nothing
were done there would be a disaster
costing hundreds of lives to lake
boat while tied at her pier.
Congress May Act.
Federal Judge Lands has taken a
hand in the situation to the extent of
ordering Secretary Redfeld not to in
terfere with witnesses who have been
called before the grand jury to inves-
tigate the catastrophe.
The whole situation is such that 1t
is believed congress when 1t meets
will be compelled to take cognizance OF
it. It is likely there will be q sweep
ing probe of the steamboat inspection
service ordered.
For years there DC: been strong
undercurrent Of criticism against the
steamboat inspection system of the
government. Going back at least to the
Slocum disaster, there has been
widespread impression that the gov
eminent inspection was not what it
should be. It has been alleged that
the inspection system was less calcu-
lated to help prevent the public from
losing life than 1t was to make things
easy for the owners of boats. AS to
whether this was due to the nature of
the laws or the methods of inspectors
has not been clear.
1t is certainty, however, that in
the course Of every season hundreds
of thousands of excursionists take
their lives in their hands by swarming
on excursion vessels which are lacking
in sufficiency of facilities which
would be needed to enable them to es-
cape in case of trouble or disaster.
Many Take Great Risks.
On the Potomac river. right under
the nose of the government, it is well
known that great crowds flock to ex-
cprsion steamers under circumstances
that are dangerous. In case of sud-
den storm. a collision. fire, or like
mishap, there would be extreme peril.
The question Is: Why does the gov
eminent permit It? Why does the sec
rotary Of commerce not overhaul things
and compel the most rigid precau-
tons!
Congress would legislate to make the
laws stricter on short notice IL the ad-
ministration were to recommend 1t.
The crowded excursion boat at best
Is a menace to the public. Govern.
ment officials seem to be running on
the strange theory that the excursion
boat is q necessity to be encouraged.
whereas there is no sound reason to
encourage such craft unless they are
fully safe.