New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
TAFT ACTIVELY AIDS
THE TITANIC INQUIRY
President Directs Two Cabinet
Officers to Cooperate with
the Senate Committee.
SENATORS BEGIN THE WORK
Bills to Safeguard Lives at Sea
and Regulate Wireless
Telegraphy Favorably
Reported.
TFrom The Tribune BureauJ


| preparations to investigate the circun-
stances OF the Titanic disaster was taken
! tonight by the President. who was con-
| suited by Senator Smith. author OF the
resolution for an inquiry by the Senate
| Committee on Commerce, earlier In the
day. Directions were given to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and the Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor to cooperate with
the members of the investigating commit
| tee particularly with the view Of securing
| the testimony Of J. Bruce Ismay, managing
director Of the White Star Line, and the
| officers of the Titanic who were among the
rescued. Senators Smith, Newlands and
Bourne undertook the mission, two OF them
! leaving the capital at o'clock. Senator
! Bourne will join them tomorrow.
Any doubt as to the powers Of the Senate
| to command testimony by Mr.. Ismay or
other officers Of the White Star company
because they are foreign subjects was dis
peled to-day. Secretary Nagel, after taxi
ing with President Taft, declared there
was no question Of the jurisdiction OF tho
Senate to summon any witnesses who are
| In United States territory.
Secretary Nagel, General Uhler, super
| yis,ns inspector general Of tho steamboat
inspection service; Sergeant-at-ArmS Rams
dell OF the Senate and assistants accom-
panied the Senator's with party or others
| who went 20 meet friends or relatives
aboard the Carpathia.
Mrs. Champ Clark and Miss GeneHeve
Clark. Representatives Levy and GoldfoslA
Of New York. and other members OF the
| House were among these
An important feature Of the Investigation
1 fra through
the Titanic on the day of the calamity
from the steamer Amerika to the Hydro
graphic Office OF tho United States navy,
| giving notice Of icebergs in the Titanic's
| vicinity.
Think Ono Inquiry Enough.
Many members Of the House are openly
opposed to immediate action looking to"-
ard an investigation Of the disaster. CHAIR
man Henry Of tho Rules Committee said
| he believed the Senate and officials OK the
Navigation Bureau could make the proper
| inquiry without further action by the
House.
Representative sulzer. Of New York, also
| opposed an investigation.
TT ia only throwing dust In the peoples
| eyes" Mr.. Sulzer said. The matter was
| fully gone into when the Slocum burned IN
New York several years ago. Whaf we
| want Is to make steamship owners crlmi-
nallv liable for failing properly TO equip
their vessels Make It felony and SEND
those criminally negligent steamship men
10 iail, and We will have no more OF these
disasters
The Committee on Commerce reported
favorably a bill to regulate wireless teleg-
| raphy, which Is designed TO prevent inter-
ference by amateurs and to give the Secie-
tarv Of Commerce and Labor authority 10
issue licenses and to supervise the opera
! ,ion of all stations. The bill places strin-
| gent restrictions on private stations ana
makes the violation OF any OF its pro-
| visions q misdemeanor
Another bill to carry into effect the salv-
age convention adopted by the maritime
conference, which had been unnoticed on
the calendar for many days. was also
passed by the Senate to-day.
To Regulate Wireless.
The House Committee on Merchant Ma
rins and Fisheries also reported Dill u
regulate the use Of wireless telegTapny ai-
most Identical with the measure penoihs I'D
| the Senate.
| Another bill reported by the Merchant
Marine Committee requires the President 10
invite other nations TO take part IN an
| international conference to estapEsh oeii,
nite lane routes which shall DO raVerseo
nv transatlantic liners. IL 10 elmSr W
the resolution adopted by the senate
Representative Cary. OF Wisconsin, intro
duced a bill providing more rigid 'nSpec"
tion of lifesaving apparatus on Gil stsa"-
ships. The Cary bill also prescrioes ina.
life preservers shall be OF cork ana capa-
ble OF floating 200 pounds and that storage
batteries shall be available In the event OF
the disabling OF a ships dynamos'
| Representative Evans. Of Illinois, intre.
duced a ioint resolution providing for the
anpoIntment Of a committee by the fres-
dant 70 investigate the rights OF Congress
~ control communications through the AIR.
known as wireless telegraphy which COM
mission shall report 10 the next session OK
Congress 1t Is proposed that the conmis-
sion shall consist OF three members OF tho
senate. three OF the House and three
| authorities In the science Of wireless teleS-
| raphy.
Lesson for the World to Heed.
Secretary Nagel who is charged with the
administration OF the American Navigation
laws. said to-day the Titanic disaster drew
a lesson for the world to heed. He ex-
nressed unqualified approval OF the eugses-
| tion for AN international congress OF mari
| time nations 10 discuss the question OF
| saferuarding ocean travel. The Secretary
a6ded his voice 20 the chorus OF other gov
ernment officials and Congress Tor the en-
actment of laws compelling steamships. as
far as practicable, to carry lifeboats SUI
dcicnt for every human being aboard In
time of emergency.
"The lifeboat has teen made Of real prac-
tical value by the advent OF wireless teieg-
raphy." said the Secretary. This fact has
been demonstrated by the terrible calamity
~ the Titanic The wireless telegraph.
sounding appeals for help IN time or dis-
aster has made the lifeboat on the ocean
of as much value in the saving OF human
life as IL has always been In the coastwise
! traffic II is a safe place for limited time
when a ship quickly sinks ana the wireless
will bring the help
'The American laws are much more
stringent than those OF other nations, but
the question of applying them TO foreign
ships Is one OF policy which must pe given
serious consideration. -
Mr. Nagel pointed out that had the IT,
tanic held an american ccrtlncate sna
" ould have been Obliged TO have had llfe-
saving apparatus for about $500 persons.
telegram signed by the mayors OF thir-
ty-six cities in New York State, urging
legislation to require adequate llfeboat
| equipment. was read In both houses OF Con-
| ,ress to-day.
PRESIDENT SEEKS NEWS