The Washington times., 1912-04-29

to let the men make their own arrange
ments.
rhe practice of selling news was call
ed bad and vicious By Senator Smith,
and in trying to get from sammis a
corroboration of his view there was a
very long and frequent repetition OF
the same questions In varying forms.
Might Have Been Avoided.
Owing to a misunderstanding where
by the Chester and Salem communi-
Gated with navy wireless stations in
stead OF with the Marccni stations,
there vas como DELAY and confusion in
the transmission of messages which
might have been avoided, said Cammis
The Narconi company tried to close
from the Carpathia. but was unsuccess-
fll. Ships leaving New York were urged
not to use tho wireless except on very
urgent business
morning got a message from Captain
Hattorf, commanding the German vessel
Frankfort, dated Bremen, and giving
her position about 140 miles from the
the first word of the Titanic at 10:4O
Sunday evening. This is the instant the
G. .. d. went out.
Marconi Again Called.
Vice President Franklin of the White
Star line. returned from New York
today. and accompanied Managing Di-
rector Ismay, Of the International Mer-
camille Marine, to the Senate investi-
cation committee.
President John w. Griggs, of the
American Marconi Company, notified
Senator Smith that he was ready to
appear before the committee.
After a brief conference with Senator
Smith. Mr.. lsmay said that he had
sible, because he had received num-
erous cablegrams from England ask
ing his immediate return there.
William Marconi, the wireless inven-
tor, was the first witness today. He
was recalled to clear up minor details
in his previous testimony.
Marconi again was asked IL he had
sent any messages to the Carpathia as
that vessel was docking at New York.
Il wish to correct my previous answer
found I had sent one. 1t was as fol-
lows:
April IS. l a. m.-To Coden, Mar
conf Station, Siasconset, Mass: Send
mediately reply: Wire news immediI
ately to Siasconset or navy boats. II
this impossible ask captain give reason
why no news allowed be sent.
The Siasconset station sent this mes
sage: April Is, 3:15 a. m.-To, Operator,
Carpathia: Wire news dispatches i'm
mediately to Sasconset or navy boats.
If this impossible, ask captain why no
news allowed to be sent
No Reply F ON Carpathia.
Marconi said he got no reply from
the Carpathia.
Marconi said Operator Bride admitted
receiving the message, but no reply
was sent to the Marconi offices. The
witness said he knew nothing of the
equipment of the scout cruisers Salem
and Chester.
Il heard the naval operators worked
slow and We're not we'll acquainted with
the code" said Marconi. I'VE use the
CODE
sent at 9:33 p. m. Thursday. which pur-
ports to tell the wireless men on the
Carpathia to hold their news for money.
Il absolutely disapprove Of that, it
was unauthorized, and l knew nothing
of it, he declared.
II want to ask you this straight,
square question" interjected Senator
Smith, whether you infer from the
failure of your operators on the Car
pathia to give their news TO the public
that they were Influenced in any man.
ned by the hope OF reward for the sale
of their exclusive information?"
II don't think they had reason to
hope or believe they could sell their
Mr.. Smith here ordered Operator Cot
tam, of the Carpathia. to go outside
the room while he examined Marconi.
Not Influenced By Binns.
Marconi said the sale by Jack Binns
of his story of the loss of the Republic
did not influence the Carpathia's ope.
rators to hold their stories.
''Du you not feel that you should lis.
courage CT prevent altogether the prac.
tice of operators selling their informa'
tom" asked Mr.. Smith.
'Certainly," said MarcOni. ~ am
entirely in favor of Gisc ouraging. it."
made every effort to obtain informa.
tion regarding the Titanic disaster from
his operators. Marconi read big
Apr sf5fh % Of M Tr9less II and sent or
to the Camperdown. Nova Scotia, Cape
Race Now Scotia. and Siasconset
Mass, stations. Some were signed
Franklin. and others "Marconi com.
the requests contained for information
regarding the Titanic. Cdrpathia. and
Olympic. Ono asked for names OF
Titanic survivors on thu Carpathia.
Particular inquiry as to wnetner Johr
Jacob Astor was on the Carpathia was
made in a message on April II. On the
same date the Marconi offices ordered
the four Massachusetts stations to han.
ule nOlHlHB out the Carpdtnla calls anC
sent instructions to all other station;
not to interrupt it, all other business
being sidetracked.
Was that a Silence MESSAGE?
asked Senator Smith.
Yes" explained Marconi. that was
an agreement made with the Govern.
ment to expedite news from the Car,
pathia-"
Pleaded for Information.
On April Is one of the messages to 6
tug ordered the transfer to the Car
.pathia of Jack Binns, wireless hero o.
the Republic disaster. on the GROUND
that the Carpathia's operators were ex
hausted. Other messages on the sam,
day pleaded for Information whether
Major Butt. Isidor Straus, Charles NJ
aHys, Benjamin Guggenheim or ]. ]
Astor were safe.
Marconi said that his inability to ge
Information from the Carpathia was be
cause the operators were busy all tn,
time transmitting messages from tn,
Titanic's survivors to friends or rela
tiveS ashore.
II do not believe that the captain sup
| pressed news dispatches" said Marconi
II agree with you," said Mr.. Smith
The captain told me that"
II have been unable to ascertain,
continued Mr.. Smith, that the operator
were so very busy. If the operators hat
| gotten off the private messages the pub
lie would have had the information.
don't want to leave any uncertaint!