Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-13
CARELESS HANDLING OF EXPLOSIVES

The careless handling of explosives at munition plants, and par
ticularly at plants situated e great metropolitan centers and
cities wherein great war activities re eentered is a menace ms Hy
has felt. with bitter experience. Iii is a menace that the United States
in all iustice. should see does not exist.
Commenting edtorially on the Senate investigation into the dis
aster at Morgan on October A and s, the New York Globe says;
Judging by what the United States Senate committee that is m
vestigadng the recent explosion at the Morgan n j., sheilloadlns
plant has already brought to light the metropolitan districts escape
from an appalling catastrophe was due mainly to good luck. When
responsibility is finally fixed for the disaster it will not be surprising
fit is conclusively shown that there was gross negligence in the oper-
alton of the plant.
In a communication to the committee, Judge Lyon, counsel to
the Perth Amboy Council of Defense, after declaring faulty the
whole plan of construction of the plant, continues;
The plant was carelesdy guarded. 1t was possible for
persons s. disposed to gain easy access to the magazines and
blow them up.
Even three days after the explosion it was possible for
strangers unhindered to go into the magazines and handle
the boxes of INT. We have direct evidence of this condition.
1t is alleged that alien enemies and other Enthusiastically
persons yer employed in the plant, and that the method OF
employment was careless. There is evidence that there were
careless supervision and lack of discipline among the work
men. There is also evidence that there was careless work
There were an inadequate water supply and fire pro.
lection. Had this been sufficient the disaster might have been
stayed after the first explosion at 10 o'clock, when 1t was
stated the danger was over. OF these and other matters II
carelessness and negligence testimony can be produced at the
direction and convenience of the committee.
If all that Judge Lyon says is true the disaster is not to be won
dered at. That more damage was not done and more lives lost surely
was provdential. Recently we were indebted to the Sun for point
ing out that in the designation of state inspectors of explosives Presi
dent Wilson appointed men evidently for political reasons and not
because of any fitness.
1t is to be expected perhaps that in the handling of millions of
tons oe explosives throughout the country accidents will happen
But whether II not every possible precauton has been taken to pre-
vent them is a different matter. Putting the supervision of explo-
sives in the hands of men totally ignorant of them is not calculated
to inspire the public with a feeling of confidence that its safety has
had sufficient consideration.
The Senate committee, it is said, will make, a general study Of
the storage of explosives near New York City before it fnishes. its
work. 1t is to be hoped that the investigation will be thorough and
that immediate steps will be taken to remedy any improper conditions
II is not pleasant to contemplate that the city may be surrounded
with powder magazines operated or supervised by novices in the
business. We do not want any repetition of the Black Tom and Nor
gar incidents.