Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-04-17
Marine DISASTER
TO BE WELL
PROBED

washington, April 17.-Survivors
of the Titanic disaster will be sum-
moned to Washington to tell commit
tees Of congress the facts concerning
the inability of the steamship off
cials to save the lives of all the
passengers on the liner Represes-
tative Alexander of Missouri, chair
man of the house committee on mer-
chant marine and fisheries, announc-
ed today an investigation in which
the passengers will give chief testi-
mony.
The senate resolution introduced
today, calling for comprehensive
investigation of the Titanic. Iis;tss.,r,
was ordered favorably reported by
the senate committee on commerce
this afternoon and Immediately
brought up in the senate. The reso-
luton was adopted without discus
sion.
AS a complement to the congress
sional investigation the scope d
which has not yet been fully deter
mined, Secretary Nagle of the depart.
rfent of commerce and labor, will
take up at once with President TAFT
the entire subject of safeguarding
ocean travel by more stringent
American shipping regulations. The
disaster has aroused congress, Presi-
dent Taft. and the cabinet to the
urgent need for immediate measures
of safety for oceanic travel 1t is
believed that laws will be prepared
at once in congress based on the ad.
vice of officials of the department of
commerce and labor and American
shipping experts, which will insure
safety of passengers and crew in
cases like the present, where ample
time existed for their removal in life
boats. NA In 49,
No concrete program OF action has
yet been outlined. The congresslon-
al Investigations announced by
Chairmen Alexander and Nelson d.
the house and the senate committees
will probably result in the summon
ing also of officials of the White
Star line, to state what precautions
for safety are taken on the Whih
Star liners.
Government officials charged with
the enforcement of the shipping laws
and regulations were engrossed to-
day with the subject of safety and
protection for transatlantic travel.
1t lis expected that immediate re-
forms will be demanded officially by
the government, and will be enforced
through new laws requiring all yes
sells entering American ports to carry
sufficient emergency apparatus to
remove all passengers and crews in
time OF emergency.
President Taft is taking keen
personal interest in all features Of
the proposed regulation of passen
ger vessels and he will probabls
send recommendation to congress
containing the .suggestionsof execu
tive departments for new legislation
Revenue cutter officials In Washing
ton believe the disaster will result
in insurance companies insisting OF
steamships taking a more southerl'
course across the ocean.
Prompt action is to be taken b.
congress to report bill providinl
strict control of wireless, subjec
which was under consideration at
conference yesterday between Presi
dent Taft and members of the cabi
net. Measures have been pending TO
some time in the house committee o.
merchant marine. Interference o
amateurs and irresponsible operators
with the anxiously awaited message
from the Carpathia and other ship
win result in an attempt to secur
immediate legislation regulating wire
less operation.