The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-04
GOMPERS OBJECTS
TO REDFIELD'S ACTS
Asks Wilson That Eastland In
quiry BE Taken From Those
Responsible.
ARGUES FOR SEAMEN LAW

WASHINGTON, Aug. a. President
Gornpers of the American Federation OF
Labor has written To- President Wilson
protesting against permitting the East
land horror in Chicago to be Investigated
by Officials who are in some degree At
least responsible for the disaster"
The Gompers letter. the text of which
was made public here tonight. is gen.
orally regarded as a reelection Of the
feeling in Chicago against the inyesti-
cation instituted 10y secretary Redneld.
In whose department is the Federal
steamboat inspection service. Ia other
words the Gompers letter H. Labor $ pro.
test against Rediield investig iting him
self.
In this connection much interest was
ma here tonight in the news
from Chicago that Mr.. Redfeld is re-
turning to Washington. The clashes be
tween the Redhcld and state and county
Investigators Of the Eastland disaster
have been noted here. and IL has been
feared that the situation would react
harmfully upon the political status OF
the administration In the LAKE States.
Mr.. Gompers alleges that already -
shocking callousness for human safct,
and welfare. disregard for regulations
and standards of safety, and incffec-
tiveness on the part of the inspectors
have been shown" He asserts tina;
there In a vicious circle which ,ir.
tually renders Ineffective regulations and
iegisIation mat Is entrusted to iuspeC-
tors and that inspectors seem always
to have more regard for the interests
OF snip owners than for the safety of
the public.
The disclosures in Chicago, Mr.. Com
pers says. show the necessity for the
recently enacted seamen's law and u
iustrdte the necessity of strengthening
H. According to him. the Chicago F,d-
Grafton Of Labor last year preferred Sc
fIous charges against the Federal in
spcctors on the lakes.
Mr.. Gompers asks that the Pre-iden'
see that a ~fairnind,d commission o,
citizens Is appointed to investigate the
Eastland disaster. to bring out lmpar
tally the facts IA the case and deter
min. where the responsibility lies.
CHICAGO. Aug. 3.-Rotcrt Rcd and
Charles e. Ecltllff. United states steam
boat inspectors. who were brought into
the Rediield inquiry into the Ia stand
disaster In handouts, We're released to-
Gay by order OF Federal judge Lands on
their own bonds of $3.50 each.
state Attorney Hoyne expects to nav.
finished by tomorrow the presentation
81 evidence TO the state Grand Jury.
Secretary OF Commerce Eedteld ap-
reared before the state Grand Jury to-
day. II was reported that he repeated
his defence OF the inspection department
which he made when 2 witness before
the Coroner's jury two days after the
wreck.
CORNISH. y. H.. Aug -prcsideu
Wilson to-day denied Il report from Chi-
cago that he had recalled Secretary
! Redfield from the direction of the Fed
eral Investigation OF the ,;a.tland ,rag-
edS. The President gave no intimatiun
of the course he will take IN respect to
the protests which have come To- vim
from persons interested in the t;overu-
n.ent's Investigation against the partici-
patton of steamboat inspection service
and Department of CONNER. oiiiri,l..
, These protests are now before the l'res =
dent and are receiving hEs earnest coz
sld"rdtion.
The emphasis placed 10y Mr., wilson
on tn. denial uf Secretary Eodncld's re-
= call might be said TO carry the irtimi-
tion that such a thing is unlikely. and
that. similarly. he has no mind to In
~,erfere with the progress OF the iuvesti-
gation begun by the Secretary.