Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-25
WIRELESS OPERATORS
SIT PRICE ON NEWS
PERMITTED TO CELL STORIES OF
Is, TITANIC DISASTER sy
MARcoNl.
INSTRUCTED TO HOLD
TFoR aFouR FIGURES"
Warned 70 (skssp Mouths Shut" and
Sell Information 60 Highest Bidder
Wireless Inventor Admits Giving
Permission 70 Men to Sell News But
Did Not Suppress Details.

Permission 70 Men 60 Sell News But
Did Not Suppress Details.
Washington. April 25.-when the Ti-
tanic hearing was resumed at :26
o'clock this morning Senator Smith
called to the stand Guglielmo Marconi,
president Of the Marconi Wireless
Company.
Guglielmo Marconi. inventor Of the
wireless and chairman Of the Marconi
Company. Limited, today told the SEN
ate committee investigating the IT,
tanic disaster. that he authorized the
wireless operators Of the Carpathia and
Titanic to sell the stories Of the great
catastrophe for publication.
Mr. Marconi explained that in giving
consent for the sale Of these stories he
had mot attempted in any way to sup
press general information of the wreck.
HID denied any knowledge of the
wireless messages to the Carpathia
operators telling them to keep your
mouths shut and hold out for four
figures" These messages. one Of them
Signed "Marconi.' were picked up by
Z the United States battleship Florida the
night the Carpatl1ia was coming in and
forwarded to the secretary Of the navy.
Mr. Marconi declared he never author
ICED these messages but did give con-
sent that the operators could receive
money.
No Attempt to Suppress News.
s Early in HIS testimony Mr.. Marconi
told Of repeated attempts he had made
during Sunday, Monday and the days
following the tragedy for information
Senator Smith said to Mr.. Marconi
81 would like to have your own best
Judgment as to whether the custom es-
tablisked by Operator Binns in the
Republic disaster of selling his news
4 and the privileges yon gave to Cotta:n
IN the Titanic disaster. had anything 20
do With your failure to get this infor-
nation and the public was thus de-
priyed OF the details Of this horror"
t Mr.. Marcom said he did not think
30 and repeatedly insisted he had not
attempted to suppress any details OF
the horror
F..Unless an operator sits constantly
with his receiver on his head Senator
Smith asked, "he would not get a sig
nal?''
.rrhat is correct" replied Mr. Mar
cont.
Operators Wages Not PrinesIy.
Asked as to the pay Of wireless op-
orators Mr.. Marconi said that in Eng
land the pay ranged from 81 to S12 a
week with board and lodging.
"1t is easy to get operators at those
wages" he said. because the sea is
attractive to young men,"
The wages In America, Mr.. Marconi
said, were slightly higher
Did you send wireless to the op-
orator Of the Carpathia telling him to
meet you and Sammis at the Strand
hotel and to keep your mouth shut"
II did not"
"Dtd YOU hear Of such a message?''
"Yes, from the newspapers"
Hold Out For "Four Figures"
Before taking the stand Mr.. Marconi
frankly discussed the message sent
from New York to the wireless opera
tors on the Carpathia by Chief Engi-
neer Sammis Of the Marconi Company,
asking them to hold out their news
when they reached port for -four fig
ures.
..Yes, that message was sent by
Samnnis," said Mr.. Marconi, "but I
knew nothing about the message until
Afterwards. There is this about 1t that
4 81 want to say-the message was not
sent while the Carpathia was at sea.
TT was not sent until the Carpathia
had passed Sandy Hook and was near
ing port.
Testimony Given by LishtoIlsr.
Chief interest In the testimony of c.
HI. Lightoller, second officer Of the III
tanic. was centered in his story Of the
action OF J. Bruce Ismay.
Senator Burton asked the witness to
relate his conversation with Ismay on
the Carpa4hia Lightoller said he and
aafs brother officers talked over the
aaaline Of the Cedric and had agreed
Il would have been folly good idea"
n they could catch the vessel. It would
result In keeping the men together and
let every one get home.
.Mr. Ismay, when the weather thick
ened. remaSered to me-" said Lightoller,
! ssthat Il was hardly possible that we
could catch the boat. He asked me If /
4 4houxi,t it desirable that he send a.
avireIess to hold the Cedric. and said,
most certainly The telegram was
4 .ent. We were all agreed that It was
the best course and we all advised 1t"
9ays lsmay Dsplorsd Rescue.
II wfll say that at that time Mr. Is
may was In no mental condition to
transact business" said Lightoller. HE
seemed to be possessed with the idea
that he ought to have gone down with
sthe ship because there were women
who went down. tried my best to get
sa that idea out of his mind. but could
MI told him that there was more
for him to do on earth and that he
:. .slouId not let the idea possess him
that he done q wrong in not staying
rack to drown. The doctor on the Car
"a thia had trouble with Mr.. Ismay on
the same ground.
Ssssr was told on the Carpa shat
Chief Officer Wild, who was working
g ~ forward coilapsible boat. told