The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-05
SAFER TRAVEL
ON THE OCEAN
Alexander Resolution II Adopted
Would Make Sea Voyages Less
Dangerous to the Pas.
senaers.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL
Laws Have Been Strangely Silent In
Requiring Ships to be Properly
Equipped With Distress
Apparatus.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.--Promotion
or safer ocean transportation has
been materially assisted by the resolu-
ton introduced in congress by Repre-.
sentative Alexander, of the house
merchant marine committee, authoriz-
ing drastic changes In the American
regulations for protection OF life Mt
sea The measure is based on les.
sons drawn from the Titanic disaster
and contemplates changes requiring
steamship companies to adopt such
precautions as to make future acci-
dents almost impossible.
The provisions of the bill have been
approved by Secretary of Commerce
and Labor Nagel under whose jurisdic.
ton the bill will be placed for en-
forcement.
The honse has also passed joint
resolution calling for an international
conference to consider the subject of
safety on the ocean. Whether the con-
ference will be held In Washington.
London, Berlin or Paris, has not yet
been decided but thorough considera-
ton will be given to every phase OF
the science of navigation
Secretary Nagel has asked that ev-
cry nation be advised of the scope Of
legislation which shall soon be adopt.
ed by the United States. He con.
tends that it is of vital Importance
that an international agreement be
made and that ocean .anes or routes
be specified by international law.
The senate and the house have pass
ed measures requiring constant wire.
less watches on ocean steamers and
Iconferoes will be appointed to polish
these measures for the signature oil
| the president which will make them
law.
Chairman Alexander said today that
he hoped soon to see passed by the
house the bill which the senate has
drawn regulating radio-communica
i ton The measure carries out the Der
1 lin radio-telegraphic convention, ant
will secure for the United States the
use Of this great modern agency Of
safety. and complete wireless sys
/ TEN, day and night. all around the
/ coast of the United States.
Al xanders bill provides that {
foreign ocean steamer shall not carry
90 or more steerage passengers from
| the United States without giving bond
/ OF $4,000 as guarantee of strict OBJ
servance of the laws. Similar laws
are now being enforced by Great
Britain and Germany.
1 Collectors of customs are directed
/ to see that ocean passenger steamers
shall strictly comply with the safety
laws before they be allowed to de
part All vessels deficient In thei
1 equipment are, under the bill, to BIZ
detained under penalty of $1,000. I'm
/ prisonment OF the master or cancella
ton OF the ships charter If the vesse
departs In defiance of the laws, is pro
yided.
Managing owners of steamship lines
or their agents or directors who know
lngly send ship to sea in an unsea
worthy state, may be imprisoned 70
! FIVE years.
4 Sufficient life boats, Teauy at al
times to carry off every person OF
board, are made compulsory on ever,
ship. Weekly boat and fire drills arr
4 provided and monthly drills of ever.
member of the crew is required,
Il have been much interested II
the discussion of binoculars for tn
lTitanics crew, as am in the eyesigh
of the sailors put at the bows of the
ships" said Alexander. The supreme
court has repeatedly affirmed tina
upon nothing else does the safety o
those on board depend so much as OF
the lookout. This bill provides tina
there shall be at least four lookou
sailors whose visual powers and free
dom from olor-blindness have beef
certified to after examination b,
marine hospital surgeons.
Our laws have been strangely sill
ent in requiring seagoing vessels Il
be equipped with means for makin
the recognized distress signals. Thi
bill requires American sea-gong ship
to be equipped with at least II dis
tress signal rockets, which ascen
, 500 feet in the air, burst with re
port as loud as a gun, and with
supply of inextinguishable waite
lights. We propose to get the hes
distress signals by entrusting to tn
bureau of standards the determinatio
!, of the kinds to be used on America
> ships.
, THE question of proper structure
conditions of the hull, bulkheads an
r continuous decks of vessels is so tecl
t meal and difficult that congress
{ this session cannot, in my judgmen
: undertake to deal with it.
7 "All other provisions are to take e
/ feet at various times from thrt
months to six months, or even a ye'