The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-11-16
INSPECT )N
Of VESSEL
BL AIMED
BY WILLIAM 8. NEAL
international News service

Tie steamboat inspection
service Of the Department Of
Commerce was called on the
congressional carpet today and
accused 81 'woeful neglect"
in the Vextris disaster.
Representative Sol Bloom Cd "a
New York declared that reports
iliaieate that tlie Yestris never
should have been permitted 70
depart on her fateful voyage.
He asserted that he has IN the
past protested against lax inspection
which has existed for Is years.
The head OF the inspection
service. d. n. Hoover, has directed
inspectors to take testimony Of sur
vivors Of the Vestris. He Is not
related to President-elect Hoover,
the former Secretary Of Commerce.
Blames Inspector
Bloom indicated that he may de-
mand congressional investigation
of the service. but pointed out that
two years ago he waged one-man
campaign to improve inspection.
1--WE should hold responsible the
inspector who allowed that ship to
go out, > said Bloom. Any person
who takes a voyage knows that the
ship and its equipment have been
inspected and has right to place.
confidence in the Inspector. Reports
a. n. fa4fw
have passed inspection.
81 do not charge the steamboat
inspection service with inefficiency;
it seems to be neglect simply be-
cause absence Of disaster lulls all to
a false sense of security
Called for Report n
Bloom said that he first protested
alleged lax inspection two years ago
when a New Yorker on the anniver-
sary Of the General Slocum disas-
ter asked him what steps had been
taken to prevent repetition Of the
sinking OF the excursion boat.
81 called for report Of cases o.
overlooking, defective boilers and de-
fective lifeboats in the last 25 years.
ciplined in that period in the port
of New York. This in itself indicates
that the inspection service is not
what it should be.
Congress has given the authority
or it has been obtained by reclp-
rocal agreements with other nations
and the Department OF Commerce
has been able to get all OF the
money it needs from Congress. Re-
sponslbility must lie with that serN-
ice"
ANY investigation which Congress
NAV make into the Vestris disaster
nrobab,y will have to be directed at
the Federal inspection service, It ap-
peared today.
Put Up to U. s.
Although Senator Duncan u
Fletcher D) of Florida has said he
would sponsor a resolution to inves-
tigate the whole tragedy, inquiry
among Senate leaders developed the
fact today that most Of them feel
Congress has no authority to con-
duct probe specifically into the
handling OF a British ship. They
feel that the investigation which
United States District Attorney Tut
tie is now conducting in New York
ID sufficient to take care of Ameri-
can interests.
The United States steamboat In
spection service, however, is an
other matter. This service is wholly
an agency of the American Govern
ment and as such is properly sub
ject for Congressional concern. The
sarvice has been under fire before,
and while many members Of Com
gress are loath to tackle directly
the conduct Of the Nestris herself,
they feel that the situation may
warrant Congress looking into Il
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