Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-25

States. He said IL. l.. Sammis or New
York, the chief engineer. was thorough,
in touch with ships and with the wireless
operators both af1oat and ashore.
The chairman asked the witness to fur
nish the committee with a complete lis
of the officers Of the company and alst
of the operators.
Senator Smith took Mr.. Marconi back tt
the infancy of wireless teiegraphy. and
his first experiments in Italy, England
and America Mr.. Marconi related the
history of wireless development from its
inception.
AT present" said Mr.. Marconi, 81
think the useful, reliable range for wire
less communication Is something like
5000 miles"
Has the method been improved re-
cently?"
Yes"
What do you ultimately expect of it?''
Il expect it will become the principal
means Of communication in the world.
1t may not be used for short distances.
such as from Brooklyn to New York, but
for long distances it will become the
chief"
do you think it will ever substitute
telegraph for the dispatching of trains?"
Il do not know said Mr.. Marconi. 1T
may
Should Be Always on Duty.
Senator Smith asked if there was any
arrangement which gave an alarm on
board ship when called by wireless. On
an old equipment used on ships there was
bell arrangement which did not work
well because it alarmed operators on all
ships as well the one intended.
.'Then there is no alarm signal on in
struments now?
mo. but it may be possible to devise
ONE said Mr.. Marconi.
'"Then unless operator sits constantly
with his receiver on his head" the sena-
tor continued. The would not get a
signal?''
''That is correct
"Then ships should have operators con-
tinuously on duty, you Think I
Yes. if the wireless is to be of service
TO others. as in cases of distress, Mr..
Marconi responded.
Asked as to the pay of wireless opera
tors, Mr. Marconi said that in England
the pay ranged from 81 to 81 week
with board and lodging
1t Is easy. to get operators at tnese
wages" he said, because the sea is at
tractive to young men.
The wages in America, Mr.. Marconi
said. were slightly higher. Asked about
Bride. the surviving operator of the
Titanic, Mr.. Marcom said he was
still in New York under treatment for
his frozen foot and broken ankle.
Where were you Sunday and Monday,
April ii and 1872" asked Senator Smith.
New York"
Ibid you have any communication per-
sonally or by your order with the Car
pathia Sunday or Monday?
Did you have communication with
Cape Race Sunday or any day UP to the
arrival of the Carpathia in New York;"
mo direct communication. i tele-
phoned my Office frequently OF. all those
days and urged that every means be tried
to get information from the disaster"
The witness said he learned between
TO and 3 o'clock Monday evening. April
l.. that the Titanic had sunk. His sec
rotary. he said, had informed him.
What did you dor
Il did nothing. / was expressiby sur
prised and shocked"
Mr.. Marconi said he did not commune
cate it to the White Star line officials
because. he said. he understood they al
ready had the information. Tuesday
evening he learned ab0lIt the rescue made
by the Carpathia.
Il asked for further information" said
the witness, land / was told by my
operator that it would probably be i'm
possible because the Carnathia would be
extremely busy with the messages of the
cantain and the passengers aboard"
He made no further attempt ito reach
the Carpathia because he did. not care to
exercise his authority to interfereSwith
). the operation Of the wireless. The cap
tain and officers Of the, Carpathias he said.
he felt were the best iuasss e the Sit
the Carpathia when it locked in New
York.
Il went directly to the wireless room, .
he said. "and congratulated Bride. the
Titanic operator on what he had done.
Gotham. the Carpathia's operator, was not
there. He called me later on the ,tefe-
phone and asked me whether he might
give out report of the wreck. I told
him he might do so, under the circum-
stances"
Operators Gagged by Law.
Mr. Marconi added that there was an
ironcIad rule in his company's regula-
tons prohibiting operators from acting
as reporters. He said that under the
British law 1t was a penal oHense for an
operator to send out any information on
his own Initiative This, he said, prob
ably was the reason why no reports OF
the disaster were forthcoming from the
rescuing the Titanic's survivors.
DO you use any cipher code for
yourself?'
Yes, with my own ONCE in London;
not with operators
rs il a registered cipher:'
Pert of 1t is; part no. I use 1t on
rarn occasions only
Did you use 1t in connection with the
CaIpathia or the Disaster"
''No. | did not" said Mr.. Marconi.
did you send a wireless to the oper-
ator Of the Carpathia telling him to meet
you and Sammis at the Strand Hotel and
to keep your mouth shut?''
IT did not"
did you hear Of such a message?
Yes, from the newspapers"
Intercepted Messages to Carpathia.
Senator Smith read the messages picked
up by the u S. s. Florida forwarded to
the Secretary Of the Navy.
The four kilograms were read, as
follows:
S:12 p.m.-Operator Carpathia: Say,
old man. Marconi Company taking good
care of you. Keep your mouth shut.
It's fixed for you to get good money.
DO your best to clear"
$50 pm.-Operators Carpathia and
Titanic: Arranged for your exclusive
story for dollars in the four figures Mr..
Marconi agreeing. Say nothing until you
see me. Where are you now? J. NJ.
Sammis.'
% p.m.-From Sea Gate to Carpathia:
Go to Strand Hotel, JO2 West 18th street
and see Mr.. Marconi. C."
$3.50 p.m.-Sea Gate to Carpathia "a
personal to operator Carpathia): Meet
Mr.. Marconi and Mr.. Sammis 500 West
18th street. Keep your mouth shut
and see Mr.. Marconi. c."
Marconi?' Senator Smith asked
Il don't know anything about any OF
those messages. They are not in phrase.
i did tell Mr.. Samms, as a representative
of the British company. would not pre-
vent any of the operators from MAKING
xhox