Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-05-02
HE LAYS Down THE RULES
INQUIRY WILL BE ALONG GER
TAIN WELL DEFINED LINES
OF PROCEDURE.
MODEL OF The SUNKEN ship
COMMISSIONERS SIT BEFORE Ex-
ACT REPRESENTATION OF
DESTROYED VESSEL.

1OhuOu1 MdJ Q. AOAu NOAO0Sfs IL
his capacity as wreck commissioner,
and five assessors who will advise
him in his questioning on the techni-
calities of nautical affairs, today held
the first session of the board of trade
inquiry into the loss OF the White
Star steamer Titanic. In point of in
terest to the public and the import
ance of its results on the laws govern
ing the mercantile marine, the inves-
tigation promises to overshadow all
previous tribunals of a similar char
acter.
From the 26 questions which the
attorney general announced would be
taken up, it became evident the in
quiry would cover practically the
same ground as the investigation by
the committee of the American SEN
ate but would be conducted more in
accordance with the procedure of
court of law and deal definitely with
stated cases.
Eight questions, Sir Rufus Daniel
Isaacs said, would relate to happen
ings before the casualty six to warr-
ings given to the Titanic and the re-
sulting precautions TAX n; ten to the
casualty itself and consequent ev-
ents; one to the equipment and con-
struction of the vessel; and the last
to the rules of the merchant ship
ping act.
A 20 foot model of the Titanic car
rying 16 miniature lifeboats, and a
big chart of the North Atlantic were
prominently displayed before the in
vestigators. In front of the platform
which they occupied we're seated 100
members of the bar representing va
rious interests involved and 100 news
paper men.
The only reference to the American
investigation was Sir Rufus an
nouncement that owing to the deten-
ton of many witnesses for the SEN
atorial inquiry in the United States,
the testimony would not be presented
in logical order The seamen who
arrived from New York on the Lap
land first were called as witnesses as
to the construction and equipment of
the Titanic.
Lord Meresey recognized Thomas
Scanlon, member of parliament lor
the north division of Sligo, who ap-
peared for the seamen's and fire
mems union and an attorney for the
merchants service guild, and took un-
der consideration the application for
representation of the Seafarers union,
the Ship Constructors association
and the Mercantile Officers union.
The scene of the hearing was the
armory of the Scottish Rifles, which
with its broad drill floor, with two
rows of galleries, affords accommoda
ton for several hundred persons
When the inquiry opened not more
than 100 spectators were present and
s the majority of theseswere women
Because the acoustics proved to be
poor, Lord Meresey recommended
that the board of trade provide an
other room
Sir Rufus said during the hearing:
Il desire on behalf Of the govern
ment to express the deepest sym
pathy for all those who mourn the
loss of relatives and friends among
the passengers, the officers and crew
of the Inflated vessel. The accident
exceeded in magnitude and in har
rowing incidents any disaster in ths
history of the mercantile marine.
can not forbear paying tribute t
those whose devotion = duty ans
heroic self-sacrifice maintained th'
best traditions of the sea-"
Sir Robert Finlay, chief counse
for the White Star Steamship com
pany. seconded these remarks, repeat