South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-05
INSPECTION LAWS
ARE INEFFECTIVE
Criticism of Steamboat In
SpeCtiOn Must Be Based on
Statutes First.

/ inspection service must be based
( fundamentally upon the Ineffective
ness Of the laws, according 10 a re-
port lust submitted To the national
/ chambers committee on the depart
ment of commerce. The laws should
be revised If so. at the ouset they
should bestow a legal title upon the
service, which it is declared it has
no. now and one which will indi-
cate the nature and scope of the
service.
! For considerable period. before
the Eastland disaster in fact, the
| chambers committee. of which A.
( w. Shaw Of Chicago is chairman.
has been giving attention TO the
! steamboat inspection service The
services Of y. Sumner Myrick of
Boston, lawyer and expert. were Sc
/ cured TO make a special study of
the subject His report is submitted
after personal investigation covering
| several months and visits 10 the
principal ports.
What the Service Needs.
Mr.. MyriCk's report recommends
the supervising inspector general
and the supervising inspectors
should be included in the classified
service. There should be no posi-
bility of political appointees. 1t is
said the salaries now paid will not
attract the class of men whom it is
desirable should enter the service
in the future. 1t being physically
! impossible for the force as now con-
stituted adequately TO perform its
duties there should be an increase
in the number of assistant inspec-
tors and clerks The supervising in
spectors should be granted larger
powers, given greater responsible
ties and authorized TO travel more
extensively than they now do
throughout their respective districts
the report goes on. These inspec-
tors meet annually at Washington
as a board to establish regulations
designed to give effect to the laws
This board should be superseded by
a smaller board, composed of the
supervising Inspector general and
technical employees of the govern
ment. including an assistant solicit
tor of the department of justice
familiar with maritime law.
Favor Standardization.
There should be. the special in
vestigator's report says, stand
ardization of examinations for Ii
censed officers. 1t is further recon
mended that provision with refer
ence TO filling vacancies in a crew
created by desertion or other cause,
which permits a master to proceed
upon his voyage with less than the
regular crew. if in mis- judgment
the vessel, is sufficiently manned,
should be changed.
The report to the national cham
Der committee declares rewards Civ
en- TO informers for reporting in
fractions of the law, or for bring
ing suits because of such infractiOns
ought not 10 remain in force The
provision that the secretary of com
merce shall make regulations TO Sc
cure the execution of the law. that
power by a previous section having
been conferred upon the board of
supervising inspectors, SHOULD be re-
pealed. Authority to make investi-
cation of marine casualties should
be vested in some board connected
with the inspection service.
a properly constituted board. ac-
cording TO the report, composed Of
a maritime lawyer, an executive Of
ficer and an engineer officer should
be created for investigating alleged
misconduct or negligence Of licensed
officers. Those appearing before this
board could in cases of prescribed
magnitude appeal from the boards
decision to the department OF COM
merce
There was no law in the United
States TO prevent the overlooking II
vessels. The report to the national
chamber committee advocates some
law based upon PIimsol law of Eng
land. The convention OF the interna-
tional conference for safety at sea
held at London, which has been ra-
tilted by the senate of the United
States. ought TO be made applicable
by law 10 the ocean commerce of
this country so far as it does not
now apply, and such additional laws
should be enacted as will make the
convention applicable 10 steam yes
sells employed in the trade of coast
al and inland waters.
The esta blishment of a board is
urged for the approval of plans and
method of construction of vessels
built in the United States. The pres
ent law governing hfeboat and life
raft equipment Of steam vessels is
unsatisfactory TO vessel owners, and
does not. the report says. adequate
~ meet the views OF many who
have considered il from an unselfish,
detached point of view.
There is no law that requires fire
resisting construction in any class
vessel: none that specially requires
the modern appliances fund effec'
tive in extinguishing fire in its early
stages in manufacturing esta blish-
ments. although Il is said recently
enacted regulation of the board Of
supervisors partially meets iris crit
icism.
The British board OF trade is
the very bulwark OF British com
merce." Mr. Myrick's report 20 the
national chamber committee con