The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-06-06
SCORES CAPTAIN
OF THE TITANIC
LORD OF CALIFORNIAN SHARES
BLAME EQUALLY WITH COM.
WANDER SMITH.
WARNINGS DISREGARDED
500 Lives Needle:sIy Sacrificed, Says
Report-Amerlca VIII Leave to
England the Punishment Of
Guilty.

Washington, d. C. - The Titanic
disaster Of April Is, in which 1,517
lives wer lost amid icebergs off the
banks OF Newfoundland, was the
theme OF speech, report and propos-
ed legislation in the senate.
Senator William Alden Smith of
Michigan, submitted the report of the
investigation by the senate
committee, a feature of which was the
condemnation of the captain Of the
steamer Californian for not going to
the aid OF the sinking vessel. He also
delivered a speech in which he took
much stronger ground in reviewing
the disaster and introduced measures
designed TO safeguard life in ocean
traffic.
Senator Smith proposed in two bills
a thorough regulation of navigation
by steam vessels, proposed enacting
into law a variety of rules and regula-
lations and embodied in the measures
the numerous recommendations for
safety made in the official report of
the committee.
One of the most important regula-
tions was for stricter inspection Of
vessels by the federal steamboat in
spection service and the meeting OF
all requirements of American naviga-
ton laws by every vessel clearing
from an American port. A commits
sion was proposed to determine upon
measures regarding lifesaving equip
ment and for governing the future
construction of vessels.
1t was one of the notable days of
the present session Of congress. Al
most all Of the senators were in
their seats and gave close attention.
The galleries were crowded.
Senator Rayner of Maryland follow
ed Senator Smith with a speech ar
raigning American navigation laws
and drawing lessons from the acct
dent.
Blame for the Titanic disaster is
c~hargeable directly to the failure of
the dead Captain Smith to heed re-
peated warnings of icebergs ahead,
but responsibility for unnecessary loss
of life must be shared by Captain
Lord of the steamship Californian,
through his disregard of distress
signals. This is the finding of the
senate committee which investigated
the sinking of the Titanic, as pre-
pared in the speech delivered by Sena-
tor Smith.
Senator Smith declared that respon-
sibility also rests upon the British
board OF trade. ito whose laxity of
regulation and hasty inspection the
world Is largely indebted for the awful
fatality" In denouncing Captain Lord
of the Californian, the senator said
the Titanic's distress signals we're
plainly seen from the deck of his ves-
sci a short distance away.
America will leave to England the
chastisement of those guilty, asserted
the senator, and he quoted British law
TO show that Captain Lord might be
prosecuted for a misdemeanor.
Other conclusions. presented in
brief were as follows:
Before the Titanic departed on her
maiden voyage there were not suf-
fcient tests of boilers, bulkheads,
equipment or signal devices.
Officers and crew were strangers to
each other and not familiar with the
ships implements or tools, and no
drill or station practice took place
and no helpful discipline prevailed.
The speed of the Titanic was 24b
miles IN hour at time of the acct
dent, although officers of the Titanic
had been advised of the presence OF
icebergs by the steamship Baltic,
America and Californian.
Passengers were not advised of dan
ger President Ismay Of the
White Star line. who was taking the
vessels maiden voyage, was informed.
No general alarm was given nor n
organized system of safety undertake
en-.
OF the 1924 passengers and 500
members OF crew on board, there
was room in lifeboats for only 1,176
persons and because of lack Of or
derby discipline the lifeboats took off
only 704 persons, twelve being rescued
from the water.
Officers Of the White Star line
"battled with the truth" after receiv-
ing information from their Montreal
office Monday morning following the
accident.
Captain Rostron Praised.
Captain Rostron of the rescue ship
Carpathia was praised by Senator
Smith and he urged that congress
recognize his valor. 5