The Detroit times., 1912-04-17
TITANIC HORROR REVEALS
NEED OF LEGISLATION TO
PROTECT PASSENGERS
Chairman Alexander Says Mat
ter Will Be Taken Up
Immediately
STRINGENT LAWS ARE
NEEDED WITHOUT DELAY
Reports Say Ship Carried Life
boats For Only One-Third
of Those On Board

WASHINGTON, April 16.-Legisla,
lion requiring all ocean liners TO be
fully equipped with life-saving ap-
paratus Is imperative and will receive
the attention OF congress, according
TO Chairman Alexander, OF the house
committee on merchant marine and
: fisheries, who said today that the
Titanic horror had focused the atten.
ton OF the law-making body upon the
danger OF sea travel under existing
conditions.
III reports are true that the Titanic
had aboard lifeboats sufficient 10 care
Tor only one.third OF the passengers, 4"
said Alexander, congress Will un-
doubtedly act and pass law that
would prevent the entrance or clear
ing from any American port OF a liner
not equipped 10 safeguard the lives OF
every one OF It's passengers and crew.
The house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries will await con.
hrmation OF these reports and II il is
officially determined that the Titanic
was not supplied with the necessary
life-saving apparatus, we will un.
doubtedly act.
The trouble evidently is that life,
boats take up too much room aboard
the ship; the steamships are chasing
the almighty dollar.
Under existing Inspection laws
ships are merely required to have
sufficient life-boats. RATS, preservers
aDd other life-saving devices There
is no specific requirement that there
shall be ample boats or RATS TO &C.
,eommodate every passenger and mem.
Der OF the crew.
The lesson OF the Titanic. II all ac-
counts are true, will result in legisia.
ton that will demand ample protec.
lion for everyone aboard 10 matter
how crowded the liner may be.
1T may become necessary that ac.
ion shall be taken by international
agreement TO restrict the size of these
)cean liners and TO protect 10y drastic
egislation the lives OF passengers"
When II comes to vessels of great
size, vessels of $4,000 tons or so, car.
rying $500 TO 5000 passengers. there
are not enough lifeboats carried to
contain the passengers" said Super
y.sing lnspector-General George Uhler.
Of the steamboat inspection service
today. After they get up TO a GER
tain point, they are equipped with life.
boats according TO tonnage, and not
according TO the number of passengers
AS rule the great liners are not
equipped with enough lifeboats 10 save
the passengers. They are required TO be
equipped with enough life-preseryers,
so that every passenger can have one
and every member OF the crew. This
government has no jurisdiction over
,the question OF how vessel from
England or other foreign countries
shall be equipped IS 10 lileboats."
Uhler added that even American
vessels OF great size are lacking in
the requisite number OF life-boats.
The reason for this. he said was that
In the case OF vessels carrying enor.
nous numbers of passengers it was
impracticable to carry enough boats
Tor lack OF room.
Gloom prevailed in the white house
today as hope went glimmering with
the receipt OF dispatches OF the
Titanic catastrophe.
President Taft. visibly touched,
kept in touch with the White Star
line officials in New York, endeavor
ing to get Just word" concerning
Major Archibald Butt, his military
dlue anu Cohpohioh' Wiz, ~ 10 icaiSu,
was numbered among the hundreds
who went 10 death In the sinking OF
the Titanic.
The tragedy of the Titantic was felt
in the house and indirect reference
was made to the sea horror by the
Rev. Henry n. Couden, the blind
chaplain of the house, in his prayer
opening the session. The Rev. Mr..
Couden prayed for more stringent
laws for the protection OF those whose
work or travel exposed them TO dan
gers.
WASHINGTON, April 16-The
house today unanimously adopted a
resolution OF sympathy for the rela-
tives OF the victims of the Titanic
disaster