Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-05-31
SCORES CAPTAIN
OF THE TITANIC
LORD OF CALIFORNIAN SHARES
BLAME EQUALLY WITH COM.
WANDER SMITH.
WARNINGS DISREGARDED
800 Lives NeedIessIy Sacrificed. Says
Rsport-America viii Leave to
England the Punishment Of
Guilty.

Washington, May 29.-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 commerce
committee, 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 q 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
q thorough regulation of navigation
by steam vessels, proposed enacting
into law 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.
It was one Of the notable days Of
the present session of congress. Al.
most all Of the senators were jim
their seats and gave close attention.
The galleries were crowded.
Senator Rayner Of Maryland follow.
cd Senator Smith with speech ar.
raigning American navigation laws
and drawing lessons from the acct
dent.
Blame for the Titanic disaster Is
chargeable 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 were
plainly seen from the deck of his yes.
sci 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 misdemeanor.
Other conclusions. presented in
brief we're as follows:
Before the Titanic departed on hel
maiden voyage there were not sui
ficient tests Of boilers, bulkheads
equipment or signal devices.
Officers and crew were strangers tc
each other and not familiar with the
ships implements or tools, and nc
drill or station practice took place
and no helpful discipline prevailed
The speed Of the Titanic was 24h
miles an hour at time of the acci
dent, although officers of the Titanic
had been advised of the presence o
icebergs by the steamship Baltic
America and Californian.
Passengers were not advised of dan
ger, although President Ismay of thu
White Star line, who was taking the
vessels maiden voyage, was Informed
No general alarm was given nor any
organized system of safety undertak
en-.
OF the 1924 passengers and 80!
members of crew on board, there
was room in lifeboats for only LII
persons and because of lack of or
derly discipline the lifeboats took of
only 704 persons, twelve being rescued
from the water
Officers of the White Star lin,
"battled with the truth" after receiv
ing information from their Montrea
office Monday morning following thu
accident.
Captain Rostron Praised.
Captain Rostron of the rescue shil
Carpathia was praised by Senator
Smith and he urged that congress-
recognize his valor.
Senator Smith condemned "anti
quated shipping laws and overripe ad
ministrative boards" and asked tina
all nations act together in shippin,
reforms. New laws" he said, Twill
best testify our affection for tn
dead"
Winnipeg. Man.. May 29.-The VIII
nipeg Rowing club announced date
for the Northwestern Internationa
Rowing association regatta to be hel
in Winnipeg by the st. Paul. Mime
apolis, Duluth, Fort William Kenor
and Winnipeg clubs on July 10 an
20.
Gambling Bill Before House.
Baton Rouge, La, May 30 - The
opening gun in the fight to restore
race track gambling in New Orleans
was fired when a bill was introduced
in the lower house of the assembly
to legalize racing in New Orleans with
minor regulations.
Lake Sailor Killed by Fall.