The Washington herald., 1912-04-18
Senate Passes Smith Resolu-
tion Demanding Inquiry Of
Cause of Disaster.
BILLS IN HOUSE
Plans for Criminal Punishment Of
Negligent omosrs and Abandon
ment Of North Route.

steps in what promises to be an inter-
national reform IN the laws Of navigation.
The Senate unanimously passed a joint
resolution introduced by Senator William
Alden Smith. Of Michigan. which en-
powers the COMMITTEES on Commerce to
investigate the causes Of the terrible dis
aster with a view to preventing their
repetition In the future. Chief among
the reforms suggested in the Smith reso-
luton are a demand that this country
determine the number OF nfe-boats, life
RATS, and life-preservers necessary for
the protection of passengers and crew,
the necessity Of determining a southern
route, which will prevent the danger OF
icebergs and a general international
agreement regulating the size Of ships.
smith Demands Reform.
Concerning the disaster of the IT,
tanic," said Senator Smith yesterday. Il
can only repeat the, regret which all
members Of Congress have expressed that
a ship in order TO establish a record
should risk the lives OF thousands in
trusted to its care. That they are En-
giishmen or American, or any other ma.
tionalisy, is a matter that does not con-
cern us. The terrible fact remains that
exercised due vigilance, he attempted the
dangerous northern route. Possibly II was
the natural desire that the greatest ship
In the world should likewise be the fast
est ship in the world. These matters are
of detail. We must guard the safety of
the hundred thousand or more passengers
who annually cross the Atlantic"
The Senate defied all precedents in
Passing the Smith resolution yesterday.
Al Ia ha n VT-fn ~ h.
fore the House and passed to-day. There
Is not q member OF the Senate. or Of
the House, either, who. weighed down
ty the cateclysmic wreck. has not re-
solved that the disaster OF the sinking
Of the Titanic shall never be repeated.
Even with the vague information at their
command. the members Of both Houses
flooded committees with their bills and
resolutions intended to prevent another
Titanic wreck.
The senate Resolution.
The Smith resolution in full reads as
follows:
Resolved. That the Committee on
Commerce or a subcommittee thereof Is
hereby authorised and directed to inves-
tigate the causes leading to the wreck
Of the White Star liner Titanic. with its
attending loss Of life so shocking to the
civilized world.
Resolved. further. That said commit
tee or subcommittee thereof is hereby
empowered to summon witnesses, send
for persons and papers. and to take tes-
timony as may be necessary to deter
mine the responsibility therefor, with
view to such legislation as may be neces-
sary to prevent. as far as possible, any
repetition Of such a disaster.
Resolved further. That the committee
shall inquire particularly into the num-
Der OF life boats, life RATS, and life pre-
protection Of the passengers and crew;
the number Of persons aboard the IT,
tanic, whether passengers or crew. and
whether adequate inspection was made
Of such vessel. in view OF the large num- |
ber of American passengers travelling
over a route commonly regarded as dan |
gerous from icebergs; and whether II Is |
feasible for Congress to take steps look |
ing TO an international agreement to Sc
cure the protection OF sea trafic, includ- |
Ing regulation Of the size OF ships and |
designation Of routes
Resolved further, That in the report Of |
the said committee It shall recommend |
such legislation as II shall be deemed |
expedient, and the expenses incurred by |
this investigation shall be paid out of |
the contingent fund OF the Senate upon
vouchers approved by the chairman"
Many Measures I'm House.
While the Senate acted on the Smith |
Joint resolution the House members |
were no less busy. Representative CAL |
der of New York introduced a bill calling |
for, an international conference upon the |
laws Of navigation, and making compuI- |
sorry certain routes at certain times of |
,ba x-aar pa1resapfafivas r,-p C1t,.
and Sulzer also introduced bills prevent
Ing any ship from entering an American
port which was not protected by a num-
Der OF life boats SUFFICIENT to carry on
all passengsHS
Members of the Crew.
There is no excuse" said Mr.. suIzer,
who is chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, -"for the failure Of any
ship or company whether through the
axity Of the laws or not. to fail to carry
sufficient boats to prevent the drowning
Of passengers and crew when the ship
sinks 1t represents another case Of the
General Slocum, and It must be con-
troiled by law"
Chairman Alexander. Of the House
Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries, to which most Of the measures
introduced have been referred, intro
1uced two joint resolutions. One gives
the President the right to hold an in
conference. with a view to
safe routes for ships en-
yaging In iptercontinentai trafic and
the other provides for q patrol Of the
Atlantic Ocean by government ships
This latter resolution gives to the gov i
srnment the authority by which, II Is
hoped, survivors from such wrecks as
the Titanic may be reached within a
few hours via wireless.
resolution Of similar import was In
by Representative Levy Of
New York. who urged that the govern
nent should provide ships to save per-
sons from ships wrecked on the dan
yerous northern route. Representative
Kindred Of New York introduced q bill
for the examination OF that
section Of the Revised Statutes which /
allowed foreign ships to enter Ameri-
,an ports unless they are able to pass
Inspection as provided for by American
avs Members OF Congress. deeply
stirred by the wreck Of the Titanic,
viii doubtless act on one or more Of
these resolutions before the week is
ended
Representative Cline Of Indiana intro
iuced bill in the House providing GRIM
nal punishment for the captain Of any