New-York tribune., 1912-04-22

llnerS on tne racine are not fndHHcu
by Anglo Saxons, but by Orientals-
chiefly Cinnamon. How would they have
behaved under like circumstances?
Work and Pay Of Wireless Men.
Turning 10 the subject OF wireless
telegraphy, the evidence thus far taken
goes 10 show that Il was by the merest
accident that the Carpathla heard the
distress call OF the Titanic, her operator
having actually begun to unlacc his
shoes preparatory 20 going 10 bed and
having the receiver on his head only by
chance: that when the Carpathia was
confronted by an emergency il became
necessary 10 work her lone operator TO
point closely approxmating inhuman
exhaustion: that the pay of Marconi
operators on British ships at least, is
ridiculously small In proportion 10 the
responsibilities and the degree OF intelli-
gence required. averaging from 81 30 10
SO week. with board and lodging on
board ship; that wireless provision IS
made almost solely from a commercial
standpoint, the best apparatus and two
operators being provided only when the
passenger capacity Of the ship is such
that II is likely to pay a profit.
One of the members Of the committee
expressed regret that he had not asked
Captain Rostron Of the Carpathia what
he would do IL his single operator were
rendered unconscious by accident or
washed overheard in a storm and he
was later confronted by the necessity Of
| sending out the distress signal. That
| the operators are not all Of the high or
der OF intelligence which their position
demands was brought out by the testi-
mony Of the wireless operator OF the
| Titanic, who declared that the Marconi
| operator on the Frankfurt had obvious
| ly neglected TO notify his captain Of the
| &C. O ID" call OF the Titanic. and after
a lapse of from twenty minutes to half
| an hour had sought to interrupt com
munication with the Carpathia by in
ouiries as TO the occasion Of tho Titanic's
distress
officials Of the Department Of Com
InpTCt anu itdDpl nave DT'Il hulNh ~
point moral In this connection. Con-
gress has passed law requiring every
vessel OF American registry carrying
| fifty or more passengers to provide IT.
self with wireless equipment The Jaw
was opposed by vessel owners because
OF the expense. and the recommendation
of the Secretary Of Commerce and La
Dor that It should apply to all vessels
carrying fifty persons, whether Las
sengers or crew, was disregarded. That
law will go into effect July l. and Secre-
tary Nagel, after making a careful esti-
mate, asked Congress to appropriate $5O,-
600 10 make possible its enforcement
Regardless of the possibility that human
lives might be at stake, Congress de-
cided that the sum was too liberal and
has contented itelf with providing only
$4,000.
II is remarked by members Of the
committee and their associates that In
40 far as the loss OF the Titanic has
demonstrated that no ship is unsink-
able In so far as It will make both pas
sengers ana OlHCels H'''"i''' '
alert and more expeditions when con-
fronted by an accident, those who went
down In the ship have not given their
lives in vain, terrible as has been the
cost
There is also a suggestion. even
hope. that Americans may be prompted
to regard with greater favor at least
some sform of postal subvention for
American ships, that they may perceive
the wisdom of compelling American ves-
sells to exercise every precaution to avert
disaster the propriety of compensating
them. even I'm the form of a subsidy. for
/ the expense this will entail and. finally.
the patriotism as well as the WISDOM OF
patronlzing the already safer vessels OF