Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-29

responsible for acts contributing to
this disaster.
Builders Liabls7
1--WE further recommend that the
states attorney and the grand jury
investigate carefully the circumstances
Of the construction Of this boat to as
certain IL there can be found legal
methods by which those responsible for
Its defects in construction can be held
accountable.
1--WE further recommend that the
states attorney investigate the details
OF purchase and sale of the different
common carriers which have owned
the Eastland with a view to determin-
Ing II possible whether knowledge OF
the instability Of this boat and the
hazards attendant thereon. have been
known to the sellers and have not been
disclosed to the purchasers and wheth-
er the various purchasers of this boat
have discharged their duties as com-
mon carriers in investigating the sta
bility and freedom from hazards OF the
Eastland.
Government in Error.
1T Is our opinion that the federal
governments system Of permitting the
construction OF vessels for use by COM
mon carriers is unscientific and q
menace to public safety. There Is not
now nor has there ever been an In
spection service maintained by the
federal government for the purpose OF
determining the stability Of boats Of
fered for passenger service It is the
judgment of this jury that the present
method Of determining the passenger
carrying capacity Of vessels Is not
founded on any proper basis.
TN recommending that Inspector
Reid and Eckliff be held to the grand
Jury. we recognized the possibility that
the courts Of Illinois might not have
Jurisdiction over them. Should the
courts of Illinois not have Jurisdiction.
we recommend to the department. OF
Justice of the United States that it
undertake to mete out Justice to these
parties"
Redfisid Examines Witnesses.
Examination of witnesses in the In
quiry Of the United States department
of commerce under the personal super
VISION Of Secretary Retiflcld into the
cause Of the Eastland disaster began
here today.
Witnesses. including the officers and
crew of the boat and long list OF sur
vivors, were summoned to the federal
building to tell their versions OF the
catastrophe.
While this inquiry was going on
United States District Attorney Clyne
prepared to empanel a federal grand
jury to investigate the question Of
criminal responsibility for the act. In
the state attorneys office efforts were
directed to determine the extent Of the
Of the state grand jury over
the persons held by the coroner:s jury
for grand Jury action. Doubt was
expressed over the Jurisdiction OF the
state over federal officials.
District Attorney Clyne visited the
Eastland and inspected the hull for the
first time. He limited that a number Of
well known excuFsion boats might
have to como on the lakes"
I Clash 10 -Probahls.
Speaking Of possible action by the
state grand Jury. District Attorney
Clyne said:
III any action against those respon-
sible Is ordered by the state grand jury,
we will demand the right to enter pro-
ceedings against the two inspectors and
thu boat captain named by the cor
IL
which may be taken by the state at
torney following indictments by the
grand jury. These men are government
ment license and being under govern
ment Jurisdiction. and we must demand
the prior r:sht 20 de.! With them. II
all proceedings, however, the state
will have the fullest cooperation from
the government
City Abandons Inquiry.
The Independent investigation or
dered by the city council virtually was
abandoned today on the advice of the
corporation counsel, who held the opin-
ion that the Jurisdiction of the city did
not extend over vessel at the dock.
The councils investigating commit
tee decided, however, to petition Pres
ident Wilson to appoint an investigat-
ing committee to act independently Of
the federal authorities and to have the
government make q stability test Of
every excursion vessel running out of
Chicago. The council committee ap-
pointed a subcommittee which, in con-
nection with the city engineering de-
partment and the city harbor master,
will make a thorough inspection Of
every excursion boat in and about Chi
cago.
Coroner Orders Arrests.
Coroner Hoffman today issued nit
timuses for the arrest Of six persons
which the coropers jury in its YER
dict held to the state grand jury. All
the men either are in custody or un-
der surveillance, and it was said that
I the papers would not be served by
Sheriff. Trager until later.
Body Found Far From Sesne.
The body Of. q man., supposed to be
William Gerewicz, a victim Of the
Eastland disaster, was taken from the
Chicago drainage canal at Western
avenue today, nearly four miles from
the scene Of the accident. The body
was caught in net stretched across
the canal.
Funeral services for the last Of the
identified Eastland dead were held to-
day. All but four Of the s32 bodies re-
covered up TO noon have been identi-
Cded.