New-York tribune., 1909-02-09

] WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.-The President sent a mes
| sage TO Congress to-day recommending immeaist
| legislation requiring within reasonable limitation
that ali ocean going steamships carrying consider
able numbers of passengers be equipped with eni-
| cient wireless telegraph outfits.
| The text OF the message follows:
| To the Senate and House of Representatives:
have concusively demonstrated the great value Of
radio telegraphy pogularIy kno%n m as sorSs
oss ts5esSfphf of NE sf Ss saa en 'Of inc
the scsnte Pr4ePss inxovsd Eay bsloPg 5a o1p to
aotneT eoHnty hen ~ s7iS d e'1e 10 mon and de-
yeop the idea and that several systems Gr
ity have been put into operation IN the Cmted
Furthermore. through the liberality Of Congress
ami the intelligence and industry of the Navy De-
eol1ipped with a chain Of shore stations designed
primarily for the national defence but eapaoe oi
systems OF wireless teegraphy now in general use
Even distant insular territories and Alaska are
ST ooqntTy Is oqnoe5nsa on osan steps sPs
esrabishment Of a monopoly in the practical use
deem II highly desirable that the Congress be
fore adjournment should enact law ; recurring h
what the government Of the United States has al
ship owners have already found practicable. that
al ocean going steamships carrying considerable
nstaaoDs @ R%oud be- useful should De required
70 carry efcient radio teegraPhc inSIalaIons ,s ana
consideration by the Congress. and l am advised
is also under consideration abroad.
Our interest in its ensotrfeIt Is keen on account
passengers who annually arrive at and depart from
tieai business lines warrants the United States in
being hTst among nations 70 enact statute re-
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The President also sent to the Senate the report
% a commission appointed by him to make an
examination of the laws for the security of
life at sea. with 4 view to their better adapta-
ton to present needs. The report Is in the form
OF "A bill embodyng a systematic rearrsngement
and codifcation of existing law together with such
changes and amendments experience and con-
sideration Of present day conditions seem TO re-
quirs. The President asks Congress TO give the
bill careful consideration.
All steam vessels and sil motor vessels carrying
passengers for hire made subject TO inspection.
All other steam and motor vessels of than
IS feet between perpendiculars are included among
the vessels that require inspection by this SER
vice Instead of limiting to sailing vessels Of 700
gross tons those that are to he inspected. all sail
vessels Of 800 gross and such sail OF 50
gross tons carry passengers for hire
10 be included
The commission recommends that all inspected
vessels must carry board the best and most
efficient equipment for the safety Of life sea, In
Guiding apparatus for fighting fire.
One provision of the bill requires that all life
boats shall be fitted to enable them to be
launched in less than two minutes from the time
the clearing away OF the boats has begun. To
meet this requirement the newest devices for stow
ing and clearing away these boats would have to
De installed board all vessels
An efficient wireless telegraph apparatus on board
Of certain vessels is required. together with com
petent operators.
It is stipulated that II shall be unlawful for the
master of a seagoing vessel to permit to take
charge of the deck watch. Immediately after Ieav-
ing port. officer who has had at least four
hours off duty before taking such watch 1t is
furthermore stipulated that steam vessels engaged
in runs OF more than forty-eight hours must have
three licensed engineers and sufficient men in the
engineer force to stand in three Watches also that
on board of vessels subject to inspection which
sre enrolled or licensed half of the men conpos-
ins the deck force must be able tn speak and un-
derstand the English language.