Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-29

officials of the Western Electric
company has been reduced to 273.
The company viii not complete
the Ferification of its list until
next Tuesday. OF the S32 bedies
recovered all but two have been
identified,
Chicago. ILL.,. July 9-Gxamination
OF witnesses in the inquiry Of the
United states department Of com
merae. under the personal supervis-
ion Of Secretary Bedfeld, into the
cause ol the Eastland disaster began
here today.
Witnesses. including the officers and
crew Of the steamer and a long list
Of survivors were summoned to the
Federal building TO tell their versions
Of tie catastrophe.
While this inquiry was progressing,
United States District Attorney Clyne
prepared 20 impaneI a federal grand
jury to investigate the question of
criminal responsibility for the acct
dent In the states attorneys Office
efforts were directed TO determine the
extent Of the Jurisdiction OF the state
grand jury over the persons held by
the Corouer's Jury for grand jury ac-
tion Doubt was expressed over the
jurisdiction of the state over federal
of1ci8ls.
District Attorney Clyne visited the
Eastland and inspected the hulk for
the first time He limited that a num-
Der of well known excursion steamers
might have 10 come off the lake"
The Independent investigation or
dered by the city council was vir-
tuaIly abandoned today on the advice
Of the corporation counsel, who held
the opinion that the jurisdiction Of the
city did not extend over a vessel at the
docks.
Arrests are Ordered.
Coroner Hoffman today issued nit
umuaas for the arrest of six. persons
which the coroner's jury in its YER
die held 80 the state grand jury. All
the men either are in custody or un-
der surveillance and il was said the
papers would not be served by Sheriff
Traager until later.
Before adjourniug the council com
nittee which was to have investigated
the cause of the Eastland disaster, it
was decided to petition President Viii
son to appoint an Investigating com
mission 70 act Independently Of fed
eral authorities. The president was al
So pe-idcned TO have the government
nabe stability test of every. excursion
Vessel running out of Chicago. The
council committee appointed a sub
Committee which. in connection with
tae c+ry engineering bureau and the
city barbor master. viii make a thor
ough Inspection of every lake excur-
Ho1 boat in and about Chicago.
TO Place Responsibility.
Governmental efforts to place the re-
eponsIbilty for the capsizing of the
Neamship Eastland in the Chicago
hver last Saturday got under way to-
aaJ with the convening of the federal
grand Jury and the opening of the in
fesuga5jon by the steamboat inspec-
u-n service under the direction of Sec
fetarv Of Commerce Redfeld. Plans
'or both of these inquiries were com
Fete3 at conferences which did not
ajouru until early this morning.
United States District Attorney
eharles F. Clyne. with five OF his as
hStants and Hinton G. CIabaugh, chief
the bureau OF investigation. went
Ner the evidence that is 10 be pre-
lsa'ed % The grand jury and selected
ne Witnesses who will be presented
AnoHg the first OF these will be viii
lam H Hull, general manager OF the
hmpany owning the Easrland. who ar
hFed in Chicago this morning in re-
Ipopse 10 a subpoena Indictments
aaSed on six sections of the federal
avs are planned, il was given out
tgeer the conference.
Qne of the points TO be laid before
ae grand jury is the competency OF
lie crew Of the Eastlaad. reports OF
1Eestlgators indicating that many
MEMBERS Of the crew were so ignorant
= nautical work that they were at loss
take an order and carry il cut EYt-
~ace supporting charge OF negh-
renee also VIII be presented to the
trand Jury.
IAe first witnesses called before the