The Washington times., 1912-04-21
SENATORS EXPECT
!. TO GET STARTLING
FACTS FROM SAILOR
Lewis Klein, Member of I'll.
tanic's Grew, Called
From Cleveland.
Continued from First Page.)

.. CONTINUED from First Page)
the Lapland, the sbcommittee has the
names and addresses of everyone OF
them, and the White Star Company is
undr agreement to bring any one OF
them back upon. request.
Senator Smith, however, is convinced
that he has within the Jurisdiction of
the subcommittee the witnesses whose
testimony is vital.
Tangle Not Likely.
In view of the scope which the i'm
quiry is taking on, and in view OF the
more or less delicate questions involved
In this Government taking Jurisdiction
Of foreign subjects, Senator Smith. who
was seen at the Senate office buildinz
this morning, was asked If there were
signs OF any International complica-
tons! ,...
'T have not been advised OF any pro-
ceedings on the part Of the British gov
ernment at all adverse to tAis inveati-
cation. and ! do not contemplate there
said Senator Smith.
"Our inquiry expresses the desire Of
our Government, and 1t meets general
approval" he added.
As matter of fact, the subcommittee
.s being overwhelmed with congratula-
uons over the vigorous manner in which
the inquiry has been taken hold of.
These congratulations are coming to
Senator. Smith. as chairman. from all
parts of this country, and from various
quarters of the world. Many kilograms
of commentator have come from Lon
don.
"A proper understanding Of the true
facts leading to tie loss of the Titanic. I"
said Senator Smith, lis absolutely nec-
essary to meet the expectations of the
people, and nothing win be left undone
Senator Smith made 1t plain he in
tended to summon every person who
he believed could throw any light what
ever ON the circumstances of the dis
aster: The whole power of the Senate
will back him up.
The highly interesting fact is learned
that some of the witnesses who have
been called have not talked Willingly.
1t Is understood that some of the White
Star people have had to be talked to
straight from the shoulder In order to
get them to come before the subcom-
mittee without trouble.
The subcommittee has feared all along
that 1t was the purpose of ]. Bruce
1smay and the White Star Company
and crew of the Titanic to Europe,
where the Senate committee could not
get at them. OF this there is plenty
of evidence, chief of which Is the fact
that the navy vessels intercepted COLI
versations between Ismay and the
White Star offices in New York, d.
recting that the Cedric be held until
fhe Carpathia arrived.
Blocked by Senator.
1t is now possible to see clearly what
would have happened had Senator Smith
Nd o,,Ic tal
New York the night the Carpathia ar
rived and summoned Ismay and other
important witnesses Of the officers or
crew of the Titanic to testify.
All this crowd Of survivors, with their
enormous amount of valuable and vital
information. would have escaped to
England. The subcommittee would
have got testimony only from survivors.
As the thing has turned out, the Sem
ate will now be in possession Of all
the facts that can be CLEANED from
either the officers or crew of the IT,
tanic. officers and wireless men of the
Carpathia, and survivors of the IT.
tanfcs passenger list.
Some of the Senators favored wait
ing and said 1t did not comport with
the dignity Of the Senate to hurry to
New York; and begin proceedings
kucIcs oCHdlOT his
mind that quick action was vital and
IN at this instance ess Senator 1e
who went with him. took the same Wow.
Senator Smith. in New York last
"The object of the committee in
coming to New York coincident with
the arrival Of the Carpathia was
prompted by the desire to avail itself
OF first-hand information from the
active participants in this sad affair.
Our course has been guided solely
by this purpose-to obtain accurate
information without delay.
pnS1snd M; lsG1ay inSends sd to return to
has remained here. as have the other
officers and members Of the crew.
1T was found necessary to take the
pathia inmediately, that he might not
be further inconvenlenced in his de-
parture with his ship after his most
creditable conduct. worthy of The hilr,
he an evidence Of our appreciation ITO to
detain him and his ship and passengers
after he had brought the survivors of
the Titanic voluntarily to this port.
gers T%0e"T many Of whom fmS Were asG
some quito i'll. and others injured, we
have thought II wise to proceed with
care and cons liberation COR their physi--
cal and mental condition. Many of
them have already been subpoenaed,
bat returns have not yet been made,
and am unable to give list of those
suhpoenaed." .' ..'''.
Smith Not at Post.
The preliminary Investigation by the
Senate committee of the Titanic disas-
ter has already developed startling
facts. 1t has practically been estab-
lished that despite the known presence
OF icebergs in the vicinity the leviathan
was plowing through the North Atlantic
at the speed of twenty-four miles an
hour.
Although none gainsays the heroism
later displayed by Captain Smith. it has
been established that the captain was
Nadine Face POzUder