The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-01
Want SMITH TO
LECTURE INLONDON
MIC HlGAN MAN MAY BE LEADING
FIGURE IN INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE.

Washington. MaS SENATOR VIII
lam Alden Smith Of Michigan viii
probably become leading figure in an
international congress on maritime
regulations. In his report TO the sem
ate he Will recommend an international
congress and the logic of the situation
point both, To convening such a con-
ercss and to William Alden's selection
as a representative or this country.
The senator also received a sugges-
ton for such a congress from neni
Der of the British parliament, to which
lie replied favorably.
Senator Saith has received an in
vitauon to deliver hvc lectures ia Lon
don The request came from q lecture
bureau which indicated that 1t would
mt haggle over terms. The senator
declined. saying that the Titanic in
quiry is being conducted officially and
that his speech on ii will be addressed
TO the scnate,alone. The senator takes
this invitation as indicating that, what
ever criticisms have been made Of his
conduct OF the inquiry. the English
people think wei enough of Sim TO
desire 10 hear him.
Instructed by Late Capt. Smith.
Senator Smith became acquainted
with watertight compartments uudcr
the instruction of Capt. +. j. SLith.
The lost captain of the Titanic. Gapt
Smith was master Of the BG tie
when Senator Smith. with Mrs. smith
and their son. William, crossed the
Atlantic about six years aeo. The
senator was commended to the spe-
cial attention Of the captain. ate at
the captains tG0lc and was shown
over the Baltic by him. Capt smith
showed tie senator how tho Baltic
was divided into watertight rompart
ments and how they were closed in
emergencies.
The senator considers this iact SUI
Gcicnt answer to the critics who have
scored him fer apparent lack of llnowi-
edee about these waterught Compmt-
ments. The questions about passep-
gers taking refuge there were asked.
the senator says. because they were
suggested by friends Of the lost
The senator also felt that he iust.-
fed himself for his Iceberg questions
through the testimony Of capt, Moore
.of the Mount Temple. who said that
icebcngs consist not only Of ice but al
so of rocks, dirt and miscellaneous
material Re explained that iceborgs
come from glaciers which pick up
great variety of material on their way
to the sea.
The Titanic officers made light ,of
questions about icebcrgs. one of them
gliby replyine that they consist of ice
Senator Smiths point is that the
mixed composition OF icebergs makes
a substantial difference about the care
that should be taken i'm watching out
for them at sea.
In the mind Of the senator the tcsti-
mony indicates that the California was
near the Titanic, saw her rockets and
should have responded. 1t appears
there is no punishment for such nos-
lcct. The legislation and international
regulations TO be recommended VIII
provide penalty in such cases GER
tainly not less than loss of officers
licenses.
William Alden Scores One.
The knockers had to take of their
hats To Senator William Alden Smith
when he brought forward rhe PROPOSE
ton that field ice covered the resting
place OF the Titanic soon after Il went
down.
This he suggested as accounting for
the failure of early arrivals. like Che
Mount Temple, to find bodies and
wrcckage. No one had thought OF such
Il thing but Capt. Moore of the Mount
Temple at once assonted that this was
the most probable explanation OF his
failure To discover marks Of the wreck
Tho failure 10 find bodies and
wreckage also caused Senator Smith
to suggest the wisdom of having a
buoy on the top OF each ship fastened
TO the ship with rope of such lcnsth
that the buoy would Toe ~ the sur.
face whatever the depth of water in