The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-18
CONGRESS ACTS
WITHOUT DELAY
Now Drafting Laws to Prevent
Sea Catastrophcs in
Future.
DRASTIC MEASURES PROPOSED
President May Be Directed to
lake Matter Up With Mari
time Nations.
DRASTIC MEASURES PROPOSED

Washington, April 17-co,.,,os
acted swiftly To-Day on the T,,,r,n
catastrophe. Bills and resolution, do.
sieheo 10 prevent repetition OF the aw
tul disaster off the Newfoundland
banks poured into both houseu Thn
senate agreed TO n resolution direct
Ing thorough investigation h,, AZ.
commerce Committee into tho caue..
icaoihs TO the wreck. with par,IcuInr
reference to the inaGei,uacy az ,tfo
boats. This resolution. the Az,
/ troduced, In the Senate, prcscn,.h -,
senator Smith. of Michigan, who ra,py
next 10 the chairman OF the Connnr,.a
committee. was passed by unanimo,,s
cohseht III one hour and twenty min.
utcs. ihiha
senators MARITIME OF New Jerscy. and
ierkiha OF California. the lattar
chairman OF the Naval Anrt., c.,
nittee. also introduced bills. snnn
Tor MARITIME proposed that tho prn.i-
dcnt he advised that the Sonata wouid;
ihVor treaues with maritime nationa,
10 regulate tho safety OF pnsscnccrsi
and crew. senhtor Perkins, resol,-
.,oh provided for the equipment OF
steamers with adequate llgc-sn,Ine
hpparntuH. 1t would require that every
steamer shall have u suMcicnt num-
ocr or scnworthy lifcboats to carr ";,t
one Time every passenger and every
member OF the crew." that II shall mn,
clear any port without certifying To tho
cacIhi supervising Inspectors, who
would determine the character ar r,,rh
equipment but would have ND dtscrc.
| tion whatever ns to the number or
nfcpohts. which would he determined
solely by the actual capacity to carry
all aboard. =
The Perkins resolution even pre-
Scribed that the lifebonts should havo
not less than three cubic feet OF dis
placement for each person
The MARITIME resolution wng referred
10 the Foreign Relations COMMITTEES,
and the Perkins resolution wen, 10 the
Commerce Committee.
The House Committee on Merchant
Marine will speedily take w the many
bilis and resolutions which have been
introduced hearing on the Titanic dis
Ester.
Representatives Alexander. of Mis-
Eouri. chairman OF tn, committee. in
PRODUCED. TWO resolutions TO-DAY. ono
would direct the President 10 Invite
the maritime nations Of the world 10
appoint menbcrR OF an international
comn!fsion to define bhtp lanes and
routes and to minimize the danger of
collisions Mt sea. The other would cx-
T
terested In North Atlantic steamship
travel TO form commission to ar
range for patrol OF North Atlantic
waters to warn chips.
Representative Suizcr. III New Ynra.
chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee. offered joint, resolution,
identical With the Senate resolution
introduced hy Mr. Perkins. The Per-
kinA-Sulzcr provisions require one
life prcscrvcr for each pcraon aboard
They would also mako II Il felony for
any captain. executive officer or resi-
dent general agent or - corporation
actually charged with cuntrol, msnngc-
Incnt, operation. equipment or nHviga-
ton of ocean vessels knowingly TO per-
init vessel to sail from any port of
| the United States without full life
saving equipment. The penalty would
lS Imprisonment at hari labor for not
more than ten years.