Imperial Valley press., 1912-05-28
Michigan, chairman of the senate in

Michigan, chairman of the senate in
vestigating subcommittee, summed
up his views of the evidence developed.
That every soul aboard the giant
steamship might have been saved but
for the indifference-almost criminal
neglect-of Captain Stanley Lord and
the other officers of the Californian,
was the most startling charge Smith
bitterly made.
Needless sacrifice of at least 900
lives because the strangely insult
ficient number of lifeboats were not
filled" was also charged.
"Obsolete and antiquated shipping
laws" and 'laxity of regulation and
hasty inspection" by the British board
of trade, were denounced by Senator
Smith. AS a contributory cause, he
named the Indifference Of Captain
Smith of the Titanic for ignoring the
warning and forcing the Titanic full
speed through the northern waters.
That Captain Smith had expiated his
offense by heroic death was Smiths
tribute to the dead commander.
Lack of discipline among the crew
and cowardice of some of it's mem.
bers, indicated after the crash, was
scathingly arraigned. To the two
wireless operators, Phillips and Price.
the senator paid a glowing tribute. He
lauded Captain Rostron of the rescuing
ship Carpathia.
Not a word of criticism for J. Bruce
Ismay, managing director of the White
Star line, was uttered by the Michi
gan senator, but he caustically criti-
cised the White Star line for the ac-
ton in Withholding news of the disas-
ter, received, he said, sixteen hours
before it was reluctantly divulged.
In eloquent terms the chairman de-
picted the folly of sending out the
greatest ship afiOat without sufficient
tests. a strange crew and no drill or
discipline. The Titanic, he said, was
following the proper course, although
one known to be dangerous at that
season, but the speed was gradually
and continually increased until the
maximum was the death blow
Rebuke for those in half-flled life
boats who stood by and refused aid
to struggling. drowning swimmers un.
til ''all noise had ceased" was voiced.
Upon that broken hull, the senator
concluded: New vows were taken,
new fealty expressed, old love re-
newed and those who had been devot-
ed in life went proudly and defiantly
on the last life pilgrimage journey. In
such a heritage we must feel ourselves
more intimately related to the sea
than ever before and henceforth it
will send back to us on its rising tide
the cheering salutations from those
we have lost
The report declares the Titanic op-
orator ignored the warning of ice,
flashed an hour before the vessel
struck, replying, Shut up; I'm busy.
The officers of the Titanic are
blamed for not warning the passen-
gers of the danger. The wireless re-
plies are also censured. The report
says the Californian's officers admit
seeing the Titanlc's rockets and that
the committee is forced to the newt
able conclusion that the Californian
was nearer the Titanic than nineteen
miles; that the officers and crew saw
the signals, and did not go to the
rescue. In our opinion, such conduct,
whether arising from Indifference or
gross carelessness, is most reprehen-
sible, and places the grave RESPONSE
bility on the commander of the Cali
fornian. Had his assistance been OF
fered or the CalifornianM operator re-
mained a few moments lDnger at his
post, the Californian might have had
the proud distinction of rescuing the
Titanic's passengers and crew" -.-s
At the conclusion of his speech,
Smith, after lauding the action of Cap
tain Rostron of the Carpathia in rush
ing to the Titanic's rescue, offered
resolution, authorizing the president
to have a medal struck containing
$1,000 in gold and present it to Rostron.
The resolution expressed the senate's
thanks to Rostron and gave him the
freedom of the floor. 1t carried un-
auinOuSlV