Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-18

President Taft instructed the Treasury
Department to cooperate in every way II
could with the members Of the Senate
committee when they reached New York
this evening to meet the survivors. 1t is
probable that a revenue cutter or other
government vessel will take the senators
aboard and transfer them down the bay
to board the Carpathia.
After they get aboard OF the snip Wnicn
Is bringing in the survivors. Senator
Smith announced. he will ask the officers
Of the wrecked steamer and other sur
vivors Of the crew to make voluntary
statements regarding the causes OF the
the ground that they are British sub
jects, Senator Smith announces that he
will take as drastic action as possible
He intimated that he would remind the
officers Of the line and OF the boat. In
case they refuse to talk. that vessels en-
tering and clearing from American ports
are subject to penalties imposed by Amer
lean laws.
/: Jurisdiction Over Harbors.
Regarding his claim that his committee
would be without jurisdiction. to compel
Mr.. Ismay and other British subjects
connecaed with tha international Mercan-
tile Marine to attend its hearings and
give testimony. Senator Smith said:
/ I'VE may not have Jurisdiction over
the individual, but the American Con-
gress is not without Jurisdiction over the
harbors OF the United States. It is for
these men who make use Of the harbors
to meet the public demand for informa-
ton in regard to this terrible disaster
and to do It now"
senator Smith said that he and several
other members of his committee would
present this argument to Mr.. Ismay and
others in the hope that they would be
willing to accept subpoenas from the ser
geant-at-arms OF the Senate who would
accompany them.
with q club" said Chairman Smith. how
ever, when this point was suggested. I'VE
have however. full control Of our har-
bors. We will proceed cautiously and
conservatively."
As to Paucity Of News.
Paucity Of wireless news from the Car
pathia was mentioned to members Of the
committee, and the suggestion made that
President Ismay Of the International Mer-
camille Marine may have ordered all news
stopped. THAT might have been," re-
piled one member Of the committee, "but
It may also be that the wireless operator
has gone to pieces from exhaustion"
Senator Smith expressed his willingness
to cooperate with any committee from
the House in the investigation, but mani
tested no disposition to delay his course
in order to secure cooperation. He said
the testimony OF survivors would be much
more valuable to the government II pro-
cured Immediately upon arrival.
Regulating Wireless Telegraphy.
The Alexander bill to regulate wireless
telegraphy was favorably acted upon by
the merchant marine committee today.
and reported back to the House shortly
after noon. It would rigidly restrict the
operation Of amateurs and others to
wave-lengths not exceeding 200 meters.
Experimenters or others engaged in I'M
portant work might receive special per-
inits from the Secretary of Commerce
and Labor to. operate under greater
Waye-lenghts.
The Alexander resolution for the es-
Establishment Of recognized transatlantic
travel routes by international agreements
was also favorably reported by the COM
mittee The two measures probably will
come up for action at an early date, ow-
ing to the need for legislation made clear
by the Titanic catastrophe.