Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-29
Captain of Californian Censured for
Not Answering Signals.
HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED
Under British Law He is Guilty Of
Misdemeanor.
BOARD OF TRADE IS CENSURED
Crew Not Properly Drilled and
Inspection Lax-Owners
Held Back News.

| WASHINGTON. May &-The Titanic
disaster OF April is which l,517 souls
went down amid icebergs off the banks
Of New Founland, was the theme OF
speech. report and proposed legislation
in the senate today.
| Senator William Alden Smith OF
Michigan submitted the report Of the
| investigation by the senate commerce
committee a feature of which was the
condemnation OF the captain Of the
steamer Californian for not going to the
aid of the sinking vessel; delivered Q
speech in which he personally took much
stronger ground In reviewing the disaster
and introduced measures designed to
safeguard life In ocean traffic.
One OF the most important recommenda-
tions was for stricter inspection ct
ton service and the meeting Of all re
quirements Of American navigation laws
by every vessel clearing from an Ameri.
can port.
II was one Of the notable days Of tho
present session OF congress. Almost all
VI ctiAaAbie Ntlt III AitiA st"As aiH
gave close attention. The galleries were
crowded.
The senate passed joint resolution
extending the thanks Of congress and ap-
propriating sl.0oo for a medal to Captain
Arthur II. Rostron Of the Carpatma,
and also a vote of thanks to the Car
pathia's crew.
The resolution was introduced by scns-
tor Smith at the conclusion Of his speech
II was adopted Immediately without re
ference to a committee.
Senator Rayner OF Maryland followed
with a speech arraigning American navi-
cation laws and drawing lessons from
the accident -.-....
senator smiths speech.
Blame for the Titanic disaster Is charge
able irectly to the failure Of the deal
Captain Smith to heed repeated warn.
ings Of icebergs ahead. but responsibility
for unnecessary loss OF life must b.
shared by Captain Lord OF the steamship
Californian. through his disregard OF
dlsatress signals This is the finding OF
the senate committee which investigated
the sinking OF the Titanic. as prepared
In a comprehensive speech delivered b.
william Alden Smith chairman Of the
committee.
Senator Smith declared that RESPONSE
bility also rests upon the British Board OF
Trade, TO whose laxity OF regulation.
and hasty inspection. the world is largely
indebted for the awful fatality" In de-
nouncing Captain Lord Of the Californian
the senator said the Titanle's distress
signals were plainly seen from the de 30
OF his vessel a short distance away
America will leave to England the
chastisement Of those guilty. asserted thu
senator and he quoted British lag 70
chow that Captain Lord might he :,rose-
euted for a misdemeanor,
Other conclusions presented in brief
were as follows:
Before the Titanic lsparted on its
maiden voyage there were no sufficient
tests OF boilers. bulkheads, equipment or
signal devices.
Officers and crew were strangers to
each other and not familiar with the
ships implements or tools. and no drill
or station practice took place and no
helpful discipline prevailed.
The speed OF the Titanic was twenty
four and one-half miles an hour at the
time Of the accident, although officers Of
the Titanic had been advised Of the pres
ence OF icebergs by the steamships Baltic.
Amerika and Californian.
although President Ismsy Of the Waite
Star line. who was taking the vessels
maiden voyage was Informed. No general
alarm was given nor any organized sys-
TEN Of safety undertaken.
OF the Lea passengers and SO members
Of crew on board. ire g was room In the
Iifeboats for only Lie persons. and be-
cause Of lack Of orderly discipline the
boats took off onlH 7ei persons. twelve
being rescued from the water
Information II withheld.
Officers Of the White star line ''battled
with the truth after receiving informa-
ton from their Montreal office Monday
morning following the accident
Senator Smith condemned "antiquated
shipping laws and overripe administra-
tive bosrds and asked that all nations
act together in shipping reforms. New
laws" he said. will best testify our af-
fection for the dead"
Captain Rostron. Of Me rescue slip
Carpathia, was pIase b. Senator smith
and he urged that congr, ss recognize his
vslor.
At the outset Senator Smith defended
the course Of his committee in no ding
British subjects TO secure tae'r testimony
without dtlsy and briefly ansW red eli
tic!sm Of his lack Of nautical knowledge |
"Our course was plaIn--to gather the |
facts relating to this disaster while /
they were still in vivid realities" f." he said |
Questions Of diverse citizenship gave |
way to the universal desire for the sim !
pie truth. II was OF paramount impor- |
tance that Vc should act quickly to 4
avoid jurisdictional confusion and organ /
zed opposition a aS5sc - abroad We. 4
Of course, rec1 gnize that the ship was (
under q foreign flag; but the lives Of 4
many Of our own counuymen has been
sacrificed and the safety OF many had 1
been put in grave peril. and II was vital .
hat the entire matter should be reviewed 4
before an American tribunal II leg slative
action was 10 be taken for future guild
sncc. "......
Without any pretension to experience
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