Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-18
!. .l.;,ILL INVESTIGATE
OCEAN TRAGEDY.
Lively Debate in House Expected
Over Wholesale Loss
of Life.
LIFEBOATS FOR STEAMSHIPS.
Wants Ship Owners Held Criminally
Liable for Failure to Provide Prop
er EQuippage for Boats.

of lively debate in the House over the
Titanic disaster we're given today
when it became apparent that widely
diversely opinions were held by con-
gresSmen regarding the proper course
to take in investigating the great oc-
can tragedy. In some quarters it was
held that in view of the Senate's pas
sage of the resolution directing spec
itir inquiry into the cause of the dis
aster, the House should join the upper
hody in a joint investigation, in order
to save time and expense and also to
prevent calling the survivors Of the
wrecked steaver and officials of the
White Star Company twice.
Chairman Alexander Of the House
Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries, said he still favored an in
vestigation by his committee AS 4
means to deciding what steps should
be taken to prevent repetition OF the
ocean tragedy.
I'VE have enough laws to cover the
life boats for ship passengers" ne
said. at is only q matter of seeing
that they are properly enforced"
The House Committee Of which Mr..
Alexander is chairman met this morn
ing to consider a pending radio-telc-
graphy bill and other matters con-
nected with shipping. At this meet
ing it was expected that there would
be Il discussion of plans for the in
vcstigation of the Titanic sinking.
Congressman Sulaer (Democrat, n.
", author of bill to compel ocean
liners to carry an adequate supply OF
life boats was not enthusiastic over
the possibility of extending inVestiGa-
ton.
."rhis investigation business is only
throwing dust. in the peoples eyes.
The matter was gone into when the
Slocum burned in East River, new
York, years ago, What we want to
do is to make steamship owners crimi
nally reliable for failing to properly
cuuip their vessels. Make it 4 felony,
and send some Of these criminally
negligent steamship men to Jail and
we will have no more of these disas-
tcrS."
Chairman Henry, of the Rules Com
mittee is another House leader who
insists that there is no need of has
" investigation.
Senator Nelson, chairman Of the
senate commerce committee, announce
ed today subcommittee who will
make an investigation of the Titanic
shipwreck and plans for making 4
safer ocean travel, provided by the res
olution of Senator Alden Smith, pass
ed by the Senate late yesterday.
Two measures designed tcr the
greater protection of travellers at sea
were favorably reported by the House
Committee on Merchant Marine ana
Fisheries today, of which Mr.. Alex
ander is chairman. Both resolutions
are by Mr.. Alexander.
One. the autobiography BILL r'g-
;dlv restricts the operations OF anne
tcur operators and others to wave
lengths of 200 metres of less.
The other provides for recognized
travel routes, by international agree
ment, The two bills are both iikeiy
to come up for early consideration
in the House.
London, April 1S.-Immediate ano
screening inquiry into the Titanic als
aster was promised on the floor Oh
the House of Commons today oy pres,
iaent Sidney Buxton, of the board OF
trade. which controls all Sea-going yes
sells.
Buxton in discussing the utterly IN
adequate life-saving equipment OF the
hig liner declaring that the committee
Of the board in charge of life saving
provisions had recently recommended
increased lifeboats, RATS and life pre-
servers, on all the shipe but that the
requirements had been found unsatis-
factory and had not been put in force
He frankly admitted the necessity fol
increased equipment.
The board, he said was utterly un
able to compel the transatlantic YES
sells to lower their speed in the contes
for express train" ships. He slst