The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-25
MARCONI IS HEARD.

Continued from Page One)
warded to the naval department which
in turn gave them to the investigating
committee.
The kilograms read by Senator Sm1tn
were as follows:
'S:12 p. m.-Operator Carpathia-Say'
old man, Marconi company taking good
care of you. Keep your mouth smut
It's fixed for you to get good money
Do your best to clear"
$3.50 p. m.-Operators Carpathia anu
Titanic-Arranged for your exclusive
story for dollars in four figures. Mr..
Marconi agreeing. Say nothing until
you see me. Where are you noW?-J.
NJ. Sammis''
80 p. m.-From Seagate to Carpatnla
Go to Strand hotel, SOP West Four
tenth street and see Mr.. Marconi.-
c.
$50 D. m.-Seagate to Carpathia Ca
personal to operator Carpathia).
Meet Mr.. Marconi and Mr.. Sammis
SOP West Fourteenth street. Keep your
mouth shut. (Signed) Mr.. Marcom
What can YOU say about that Mr..
Marconi?" Senator Smith asked.
4 don't know anything about any
of these messages. They are not IN
phraseology that I approve. 1 wish to
representative of the British company
we would not prevent any of the oper-
ators making any money that they
could out of their stories-''
rs that rule of your company"
mo not a rule"
Was it ever done before
Yes"
''When?"
Binns an Example.
I'm the case of the Republic disas-
ter, Mr.. Binns, the operator, was Civ
en- the right to sell his story
-szI, y TOO IN I'M
derstand that you approve that"
Yes, I was anxious that the oper-
ators get something
But, Mr.. Marconi," Senator Smith
exclaimed, DO you mean that the de-
tails of the great sea sorrow of the
world should be withheld from the
world except through an exclusive
story sold by one of your operators -
mo, I gave no instructions what
ever but I did say that if the opera
tors were offered money. they could
take it," said Mr.. Marconi. I gave
that permission as an officer OF the
British company. With every defer
ence to you. sir, I do not quite under
stand your motive. You. I think, are
assuming that [ ordered information
withheld. I wish to state that is en-
phatically wrong. [ withheld moth
ing"
are permitted to sell their stories op-
crate to close their mouths? I want
you to tell the committee if the per
mission you gave to Binns and the
privilege you gave to Gotham in the
Titanic disaster did not explain your
failure to get the information of the
disaster and the world the news of the
HORROR"
The witness declared he felt that
the experience of Operators Bride or
Gotham were of such interest that they
had the right to sell their stories. He
insisted that it always was his under
standing that the news of the disaster
was not to be suppressed.
''Do you know how much these
operators got for their stories?" ask
ed Senator Smith.
Bride Got $500.
Il don't know. how much Gotham
got, but I understand Bride received
$500 from a New York newspaper"
Mr.. Marconi said the operators
were never instructed not to give out
news
Il have no knowledge whatever
he added, about these messages that
were intercepted by the navy depart
ment."
Have you talked to sammis about
it since?"
4 saw him for a few minutes a
little while ago and told him you
know that L did not authorize those
messages
when did you tell him that?'
1.-TWO or three days ago. What
meant when 1 told the operator to
take something for a story was that
newspapers and reporters would be so
interested in what he had to say that
without holding back any general in
formation they would be willing to
pay him for his personal story
Mr.. Marconi said he believed the
operator on the Carpathia should have
used his Judgment and sent an earlier
story or description of the disaster.
The witness was asked if the Ameri-
h 0f re Gf
ed United States war ships not TO m
terfere with the Marconi system
''This was done" he said, after
silence had been enjoined on all coast
stations not actually in communication
with the Titanic or the Carpathia.'
Then" said Senator Smith. your
company had laid plans and made
preparations to get a monopoly of the
news of the horror"
I'VE undoubtedly would have got it
first anyway" retorted the witness,
for the operators on both the Titanic
and the Carpathia were Marconi men,
with Marconi methods of sending"
How to bring about an international
arrangement to prevent wireless inter-
ference was discussed at length and
Mr.. Marconi referred to the Berlin con-
vention which is to meet again in June.
To further regulate the wireless Mr..
Marconi would have in each govern
ment, control over wave lengths and to
issue licenses to different persons and
concerns to use a certain wave length.
When all available wave lengths in n
given area were exhausted he would
have the government refuse to license
more stations.
said he was utterly opposed to the sup
preston of any news or any exclusive
news /