Milford chronicle., 1912-05-31
TITANIC'S DEAD
CAPTAIN BLAMED
Senate Committee Says He Fall
ed to Heed Warnings.
MEDAL FOR CAPT, ROSTROa
Captain Of Californian Held Partly Re
sponsible For Great Loss Of Life
Through Ignoring Distress Signals.

Through Ignoring Distress Signals.
The Titanic disaster Of April IS, in
which 1917 souls went down amid ice
bergs OFF the Banks of Newfoundland
was the theme OF speech, report am
proposed legislation in the senate.
Senator William Alden Smith, OF
Michigan, submitted the report Of the
investigation by the senate commerce
committee which Investigated the
wreck
According to Senator Smith, who
made a comprehensive speech on the
report, blame for the disaster is d-
rectly chargeable TO the failure Of the
dead Captain Smith to heed repeated
warnings of icebergs ahead, but the
responsibility for unnecessary loss OF
life must be shared by Captain Lord
OF the steamship Californian througI
his disregard Of distress signals.
Condemnation OF the captain Of the
Californian for not going to the aid
of the sinking vessel was also a fea
ture of the report Mr. Smith in his
speech personally took strong ground
in reviewing the disaster and intro
duced measures to safeguard life in
ocean traffic.
Senator Smith proposed in two bills
a thorough regulation of navigation by
steam vessels along lines taught by
the disaster, proposed enacting into
law a variety of rules and regulations, |
and embodied in the measures numer |
Gus recommendations for safety made !
in the official report of the commit I
tee
One of the most important recon-
mendations was for stricter inspec
ton of vessels by the federal steam.
boat inspection service and the meet
ing Of all requirements of American
navigation laws by e' cry vessel clear
ing from an American port. A com
mission was proposed to determine
upon measures regarding life saving
equipment and fO- governing the flu
ture construction OF vessels.
The senate passed a joint resolution
extending the thanks Of congress and
appropriating $1,000 for a medal to
Captain Arthur II. ROstron, Of the
steamer Carpathia. and also a vote Of
thanks to the Carpathia's crew. The
resolution was introduced by Senator
Smith at the close OF his speech.
was adopted Immediately without ret
erence to a committee
Senator Smith declared that in ad
dition TO those already mentioned, re 8
sponsibiity also rests upon the Brit b
ish Board of Trade, "to whose laXty
Of regulation. and hasty inspection, the l.
world is largely indebted for the aw 8
ful fatality In denouncing Captain
Lord, of the Californian, the senator Il
said the Titanic's distress signals were I
plainly seen from the deck OF his YES q
sci a short distance away.
America win leave to England the =
chastisement Of those guilty, asserted n
the senator. and he quoted British
law TO show that Captain Lord might v
be prosecuted for a misdemeano.
Other conclusions presented. in DIR e
We're as follows:
Before the Titanic departed on her IA,
fatal maiden voyage there were NO
tests of boilers, lulkhead. q
on signal devices. "a
Officers and crew were strangers E"
each other and not familiar with Tho q
ships implements or tools, and no "
dgiI or station 2r2ctice took Mace "u ~ -