Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-28

board of trade, ito whose laxity Of reg
ulation, and hasty inspection, the world
IL largely indebted for the awful fatal
ity." In denouncing Captain Lord. Of
the Californian, the senator said the
Titanic's distress signals were plainly
seen from the deck Of his vessel 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 misdemeanor.
Discipline Lacking.
Other conclusions presented. in brief.
were as follows:
Before the Titanic departed on her
maiden voyage there. were no suffi-
cient tests Of boilers, bulkheads. equip
ment 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 twen-
ty-four and one-half miles an hour at
time Of the accident, altho officers of
the Titanic had been advised Of the
presence Of icebergs by the steamships
Baltic, Amerika and Californian.
Passengers were not advised of dan
ger, altho President Ismay. of the
White Star line, who was taking the
vessels maiden voyage, was informed.
No general alarm was given nor any
organized system Of safety undertaken.
More Could Have Been Saved.
OF the 1924 passengers and SS9
members Of crew on board, there was
room in the lifeboats for only Its
persons and because Of lack Of orderly
discipline the boats took of only 704
persons, twelve being rescued from the
water.
Officers Of the White Star line bat
tied with the truth" after receiving in
formation from their Montreal office
Monday morning following the acci-
dent.
Senator Smith condemned anti
quated shipping laws and overripe ad-
...!::::--a::.:.,::s tc..de" and asked that all
nations act together in shipping re-
forms. New laws" he said. will best
testify our affection for the dead"
Praise for Rostron.
Captain Rostron, Of the rescue ship
Carpathia, was praised by Senator
Smith who urged that congress rec
ognize his valor.
At the outset, Senator Smith de-
Tended the course Of his committee in
holding British subjects to secure their
testimony without delay, and briefly
ans Wered criticism of his lack of nauti-
cal knowledge.
Our course was simple and plain
togather the facts relating to this dis
aster while they were still vivid reali-
ties" he said. Questions Of diverse
citizenship gave way to the universal
desire for the simple truth. It was of
para mount Importance that we should
act quickly 20 avoid jurisdictional con-
fusion and organized opposition at
home or abroad. We. Of course. rec
ognized that the ship was under for
eign flag; but the lives Of many of our
own countrymen had been sacrificed
and the safety of many had been put in
grave peril, and It was vital that the
entire matter should be reviewed be-
fore an American tribunal If legisla-
tive action was to be taken for future
guidance.
Investigation Was Thorough.
Without any pretension to expert
ence or special knowledge Of nautical
affairs, nevertheless am of the opin-
ion that very few important facts
which were susceptible Of being known
escaped our scrutiny. Energy is'often
more desirable than; learning, and the
inquisition serves a useful purpose to
the state.
'In the construction OF the Titanic, y
continued the senator. mo limit OF
cost circumscribed their endeavor and
when this vessel took its place at the
head Of the line every modern improve
ment in shipbuilding was supposed to
have been realized; so confident were
they that both owner and builder were
eager to 90 upon the trial trip.
when the crisis came state Of alb
solute unpreparedpess stupified both
passengers and crew and. in their de-
spair, the ship went down. carrying
as needless a sacrifice Of noble women
and brave men as ever clustered about
the judgment seat in any single mo-
ment of passing time.