Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-04
EARLY REPORT
Urged on Bill Compelling
Use Of Wireless
On Ocean Going Vessels En-
gagged in Passenger Traffic.
Representative Peters Also Favors
Submarine Signals.

Washington, Feb. 3.-Following close
ly the Introduction of a bill by Repre-
sentative James Francis Burke of
Pennsylvania to require ocean going
passenger vessels to be equipped with
wireless telegraph, the House commit
tee on merchant marine and fisheries
today took it up for consideration. An
immediate report is being urged so that
the bill may become Il law at this ses-
sion.
Mr.. Burke attended the meeting to
explain his bill. Since it's introduction,
which followed the wreck Of the Re
public off Nantucket, the pittsburs
congressman has been mailing ian ex-
tensive study of the subject and has
collected mass Of data.
Someone has denied our right to car
ry such law as is proposed, into eff
feet, without international agreement"
he said to the committee today. mo
such agreement is necessary. We have
the same right to require wireless in
strumentS as to require life preserver::
on ships. The right to enter our ports
IS one that We can deny or make con-
ditional. The French Assembly has fol-
lowed our example and yesterday be
gan consideration of a measure SINH
lar to mine. No nation will resent, but
all will welcome the passage of this
bill by Congress.
Nor does the bill work any hard
ships. 1t does not impose an unjust
burden. \ wireless equipment is a
splendid form of insurance or ships and
cargoes aside from the protection OF
life.
There can be no possible obiec,ron
to my bill as it affects only vessels ca
rytng at least so passengers and whose
outgoing journey is at least 500 miles.
1t might even be applied to other YES
sells on shorter trips, possibly on the
lakes and in the coastwise trade, but
all these will follow later
The cost of equipping a ship is about
$1,000, according to the estimate made
by Representative Burke
The number of people affected by
the proposed legislation may be judged,
Mr.. Burke told the committee. from
the fact that the ships not now equip
ped with wireless carry on an average
of 100000 passengers per trip into tne
port of New York; about 5000 into
Philadelphia and Baltimore and about
1900 into San Francisco and Port
Townsend. This is exclusive Of the
flrSt and second class passengers, vary
ing from 100 to 500 each trip.
A disposition was MANIFESTED at the
hearing by some members of the COM
mlttee to require the equipment with
wireless of passenger steamers engaged
III the coastWise and Great Lakes traf-
fic as well as ocean going vessels Rep
rcsentatlve Burke was willing 70 leave
the amendment of his bill in this re-
gard to the committee
Eugene T. Chamberlain commission
er of navigation of the department, or
commerce and labor. was inclined to
believe that traffic on the Great Lakes
was quite safe without the special
equipment.
General George Uher supervising
inspector general of steamboat in
spection service, said that wireless on
the Great Lakes would be but a small
Improvement. He declared, however
that the Burke bill did not 60 far
enough as a salt water measure
1t should apply to every passenger
vessel making trip of more than 1a5
miles irrespective of the number of
passengers carried.
The committee will take action on
the Burke bill Friday. The general
opinion is that the committee will
amend the measure making it more ex-
tenSiyp