Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-01
TO BUILD SAFER BOATS.
Large Equipment Of Life Rats and
Double Bottoms for Steamships.


Double Bottoms for Steamships.
Washington. May 1-More lifeboats
on transatlantic liners. an equipment
Of RATS that automatically would hoat
cellar OF a sinking vessel, and the con-
struction Of great passenger steamers
with double hulls and extended water
tight compartments--an these reforms.
1t was indicated today before the SEN
ate committee investigating the Titanic
disaster. would follow In the immedi-
ate future.
J. Bruce Ismay. president and man-
aging director Of the international
Mercantile Marine Company. told tha
committee that, In his opinion. this
should be done. He promised to take
up the question with the constructors
of the big liners as soon as he returned
to England.
j The head Of the most powerful ship
ping combination in the world shared
interest in yesterdays hearing with E.
j. Dunn, a New York importer. Mr..
Dunn proved recalcitrant witness.
for, after telling OF Information he had
received to the effect that the White
Star line officials had received posi-
tive information of the Titanic dis
aster twelve hours before they gave
1t out. he refused to give the name
OF his informant, who was said to be
the son Of a Western Union Telegraph
Company employe.
Name 10 Withhold.
Senator Smith insisted upon know
ing the name of the person responsi-
BILE for the statement. Dunn said he
had received 1t in confidence and had
pledged himself not to divulge the
name. Summarily dismissed from the
stand in the charge of an assistant
sergeant-at-a of the senate. the
witness spent most Of the morning on
the long distance telephone eTdea-c.-
ing to be absolved from his pledge.
AS result of Dunn's testim ony Sen
ator Smith dispatched two officers 10
New York to interrogate the officials
of the Westeren Union Telegraph Com :
pany, by whom was employed the man
who was said originally to have made
the statement.
Late in the dag he learned that the
officers were having trouble in getting
at the facts. AS Il result he announced
that he POSSIBLY would go TO New York
and conduct the investigation himself.
The hearing came to ar abrupt end
when Senator Smith suddenly an
nounced that the committee wuold take
recess until Friday. This. he said,
was necessitated because the senate
committee agto which the members OF
the Titanic investigating committee
belong was completing its work on the
rivers and harbors appropriation bill
1t was desired, he said that all mem
~ ha
Mr.. Ismay Indignantly denied that
he or any representative OF his com
pany had attempted to reinsure the IT,
tanic between the time she went down
and the hour the real news of the dis
aster became public.
He asserted that wireless message
which he directed to Vice President
Franklin from the Carpathia on Mon
day morning, April ID. did not reach
that official until Wednesday. the nth
Mr.. Ismay said the Titanic was not a
speed boat" but had been constructed
undre orders given by him to make hei
the biggest and best equipped vesse
afloat. @
Mr.. Ismay discussed the official lat
itude given to captains and said they
were virtually unhampered. They were
not compelled to keep to the estab.
l,shed lanes. he said. when they fell
that safety demanded their deviation;
they were not instructed as TO the
speed to be maintained. and 10 sTec!-
ned time was fixed for their arrival ir
port. Everything was loft to their dis
cretion, he said.
WHIST imDeession has been made or
syon - q teanlt Or the disaster: nskct
Donator Hputne s'as to the reforms n
life saving apparatus?"
Fuuoeo Moro, Life 0eats. t