Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-16
PLANS TO Minimize
PER|LS OF THE SEA
Secretary RedfieId Tells of
Preliminary Steps for In
ternationaI Conference.

Senator Fletcher of Florida Yesterday
laid before the Senate letter from the
Secretary of Commerce showing what
steps have been taken by the govern
ment during the last year to prevent the
as the Titanic disaster
At the request of Senator Nelson of
Minnesota the Senate ordered that the
letter be printed as a Senate document
Secretary Redfield expressed confidence
that the Congress at an early date would
provide sufficient funds to enable the
United States to participate in a pre-
liminary maritime conference at London.
The Secretarys letter was brought forth
by an inquiry from the Florida senator
as to what had been done in the year
past toward promoting the safety of life
at sea. particularly with regard to calling
an International conference, as suggested
by Congress.
London Selected for Meeting.
Informal consultation, according to
Secretary Redield, has resulted in Sc
lecting London as the most suitable and
convenient place for Holding the confer
ence of maritime nations. The British
termine the date of the conference which
probably will take place during the COM
ing summer. This conference was sug-
gested Immediately following the Titanic
disaster. in order that the maritime ma
tons might agree upon rules and regula-
tons for the safeguarding of life at sea.
So far have the proceedings gone,
wrote the Secretary, that the Brltlsn
government has proposed an informal
consultation between representatives or
hot ~
Great Britain and those qualified to eX-
press the views of the United States
This consultation it has been proposed
shall be held i'm London In June or July
1t is pointed out by the Secretary that
the resolution providing for the partici-
patton of the United States in the pro-
posed conference has been an important
factor in shaping the course OF other
nations.
AS to steps that have already been
taken in the matter. Secretary Redfeid
refers to the acts of Congress relating
to wireless telegraphy. Since these were
passed, he said, thirty-one countries have
established the principles of a constant
watch on ocean-going passenger yes
sells Other countries. he declared. have
followed the American Congress act re-
quirng auxiliary apparatus for use in
the event of the failure Of the ships
main power plant.
Two Million Cross Atlantic.
The Secretary's letter in part reads:
Nearly two million passengers cross
the Atlantic annually to and from the
United States, and by far the greater
part of these are either American citi-
zens or those who seek to take up their
homes here The American delegates to
an international conference must meet the
most highly trained minds of Europe on
the subject of ship construction, which Is
of direct interest to our people. l am
sure. therefore. that it is prudent to en-
sible American advisory committee on
this phase of the subject l wish to or
ganiZe a committee on which shall De
the American Society OF
Naval Architects and Marine Engineers,
the American Society of Naval Engineers
and the technical schools which offer IN
struction in naval architecture and
marine engineering, such as the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology, the
of Michigan, the Leland stan,
ford University, Cornell University ana
the Stevens Institute of Technology.
II have also requested the principal
companies which build ocean
pa ssenger steamers to suggest to me the
names of those most competent to eX-
press the views of shipbuilding on this
subject The American passenger snip
owners on the Atlantic and Pacific. re-
spectiyely have been asked to name those
most competent to express their views,
and I have also invited William Living
stone. president of the Lake Carriers As
ISOLATION, to suggest name that Will
carry authority throughout the marine
interests of the great lakes.