New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-14
Law Arising from Titanic Dis
aster Takes Effect and u. S.
Will End Confusion.
WORLDS GREAIESTSYS
Amateurs May No Longer In
terfere with Nays Plan
for Extension-500 New
Workers Ask Licenses.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Dec. 13.--Wireless teie-
graph operation passed into the control OF
the government to-day under the la"
passed at the last session OF Congress
putting an end to promiscuous operation
and dangerous interference.
The enforcement of the new raolo-
graphic laws has been intrusted to the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor ana
supervision over wireless will be an sddi-
tionai duty OF the Bureau of Navigation
OF which Eugene Tyler chamberlain ~
commissioner.
The aim OF the legislation was 10 pre-
vent private and commercial operators
from confusing important messages ana
perhaps interfering with distress cans
The purpose was to bring about authori-
tative supervision and 10 systema'ize 'i'c
business.
For a number OF years government con-
troll has been urged, but IL remained loI
the Titanic disaster. with It's loss OF more
than 500 lives to emphasize the srea'
necessitv Of superyision and system. FOL-
lowing the tragedy many bills were IN
trodured IN Congress, all aiming in dii-
ferent WAYS 10 regulate wireless opera
ton and minimize the danger OF a repe-
tition of the Titanic catastrophe.
The London international agreement OIL
last June 10 which the United States was
one q, the signatories. fixed the status OF
the wireless stations doing an interna-
tional business. and Congress PUT on t''o
finishing touches by enacting legisia'ioh
covering domestic and interstate stations
Violation OF the principal regulations is
made misd emeanor. punishable by
fine OF 800. or imprisonment up to one
year.
Navy Department Pleased.
II is estimated that there are ABOUT
100 ships under government reguiatioi
which are required to carry wireless f'o-
vision has been made for an anxiisrS
engine to furnish power 10 the iauio ap-
paratus of ships in case OF accideht u
the regular equipment in use Inc navy
D.nartnent officials are in hearty accord
with the new regulations. and every
PREPARATION has been made as far as pos
SlOlp 10 comply WIFI liiE iNhN~A ~
Navy Department officials welcome inc
new law because OF the plan Of the Sec
retarv of the Navy 10 lay the srouhu-
work during his administration TOT tho
,restest wireless system In the world. a
scheme which would have been less prsc-
,icable had not Congress eliminated the
possibilitv of continual interference from
private and amateur radio stations
II il the plan OF Secretary Meyer to
esta biish wireless stations at Panams'
Hawaii. Samoa and Guam. In the Philip
mines. and along the California coast, and
10 make possible wireless communication
among these points.
Innumerable amateur ana experimental
stations have been in operation along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts for several
years. greatly hampering the work OF the
government stations and causing mnch
confusion. Fake messages flashed by the
private operators have frequently caused
distress An instance Of this sort deVel-
oped In the investigation OF the Titanic
disaster, but because OF the lack OF reg
ulation or supervision IL was impossible
TO Ak the responsibility. The new lsw
DTONlOcb tfdl dHN OPcio eN'
a fraudulent distress call Is guilty OF q
misdemeanor.
Greater protection OF human life on the
sea is the principal benefit 10 be derived
from government control OF tho wireless.
All licensed shore stations are required
10 listen for not less than two minutes
at intervals of fifteen minutes for distress
calls, AID in the event OF distress sig
nal from vessel all stations except the
one 10 which the call is sent must keep
out" The government stations will have
the first fifteen minutes undisturbed use
OF the air for the transaction Of business
Three Hundred Operators Licensed.
The Department OF Commerce and
Labor has granted licenses 10 about three
hundred operators and about a dozen
shore stations. but II is expected that
many more will be issued after It is gen
orally understood that 1t is the inten-
ton OF the department 10 enforce the
law rigidly in every respect.
Commissioner Chamberlain expects that
the governments experience in regulating
the wireless business will develop the
necessity OF changes in the law but does
not think that difficulties will be many or