Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-01
BLACK TOM BLAST
PROMPTS PLAN TO
SAFEGUARD CITIES
Jersey Officials Ask Cover
nor to Call Legislative
Session
ARREST MADE
Movement Afoot to Bar NUM-
tions From Densely
Settled Centres

NEW YORK, Aug. L. Frank Hague,
Commissioner for Public Safety for Jersey
city. today asked Governor Fielder to call
a special session OF the New Jersey Legisa-
ture TO consider state conditions revealed
by the Black Tom Island explosion. MIR.
Hague wants law passed, to take effect
Immediately, granting municipalities the
right to regulate the transportation Of high
explosives within their limits.
The Legislature will be urged to 90 into
the whole matter of the transportation Of
explosives within the state and, especially
that It will formulate specific laws that will
place the blame where IL belongs In case
of law defiance on the part Of big corpora
tlons
This contemplated action is in line with
general movement to force all munitions
shipments away from the large cities. where
vast numbers are endangered,
An effort TO interest the Federal Gov
ernment was made by inviting United
States Attorneys II. Snowden Marshall OF
New York, and Charles +. Lynch to a con-
ference in Jersey City this morning
The officials have started their proceed.
ings with the determination Of forcing the
from points far removed from Jersey City,
and that meRna far removed from New
York. There will be a conference tomorrow
morning between State and Federal officials
to plan the removal OF the danger and
other arrests are expected 10 follow the
conference. -Four Investigations OF the great
explosion are now under way-by the Jer'
sey City police, the New Jersey legal au
thoritIes, the railroads involved and the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
FOURTH ARREST MADE.
While the authorities were seeking suffi-
cient evidence today to warrant the arrest
of two millionaire railway presidents In
connection with the ammunition explosion
on Black Tom Island, e. l.. Mackenzie, pres
ident Of the National Dock and Storage
Company. was arrested at his home IN
Plainfeld. n. j, Mackenzie is charged with
manslaughter the accusation growing out
of the loss of life in Sunday mornings dis
aster.
The arrest of Mackenzie was the fourth
ordered as result OF the explosion. II
was Stated that he would be arralgned
during the afternoon, but that his eNami'
nation would be. put over until Friday
morning. Three other men, also charged
with manslaughter, are out on $4,000 bail
and Il was Understood that no objection
10 freeing Mackenzie under similar bond
would be made by the New Jersey offi'
cials.
FIRE STARTS AFRESH.
The fire on Black Tom Peninsula, which
appeared to be dying out during the night
burst forth again today. Fremen tightine
the flames were almost driven from th'
penInsuIa. II is now believed that the fr'
will burn for q month in the sugar that wal
stored in the warehouses near which thu
explosion occurred.
From time TO time boxes OF ammunition
exploded today, sending a shower OF shrap
mel and burning embers over the peninsula
The firemen would throw themselves fiat a
each blast, thus escaping injury.
1t Is probable that special Grand Jur!
will be called in Hudson county to return
indictments against the men under arres
and others alleged to have been responsible
for the disaster.
The New York authorities are closel!
watching events across the Hudson. 1t wa
hinted that there might be unexpected de
| yelopments that would put the Jersey Cit!
| officials in position where they would hav
| to defend themselves against charges o
negligence.
| The total known dead remained at tou
today. The estimated loss Is S2o,OOO,OOo,