The Washington times., 1913-04-14
THE TITANlCs ANNIVERSARY.

This week is the first anniversary of that week
Of worldwide horror which marked the tragedy of
the Titanic. 1t is not needful to recall the narrowing
sensations with which the whole world woke from its
long period of dread and uncertainty to absolute
knowledge of what had taken place. But it is worth
while to review very briefly Some things that have
not happened since. -.~
Immediately the extent and proximate causes of
the disaster were known the United States Senate
named special committee with sweeping instruc-
tons to investigate and report upon the affair This
committee, under the Craftsmanship of Senator Smith
of Michigan did the work assigned to it and reported
series of recommendations. These looked to the
enactment of legislation to make sea travel safer.
The Ttanics loss had brought sharply into view
certain grave defects in equipment manning disci-
pline and navigation, which could not but increase
the hazards of voyaging even in the best and most
modern vessels. 1t was not difficult for layen,
after they had inquired with into the conditions
of navigation to note some, at least of these defects
The legislation which was introduced as a result
aimed to carry into effect these various remedial
recommendations Better conditions of radio COM
munication, completer lifeboat equipment, better
drills and discipline Improvements in ship construc-
ton with view to insuring that vessels when
mortay injured, should not sink so suddenly as did
the Titanic-all these and others represented
the committees recommendations and in its BILL
Yet the legislation has not passed There has
been some provision, highly desirable too, for better
equipment and regulation of wireless. The steamship
companies have by their regulations undertaken
to assure better lifeboat equipment But beyond this
nothing has been done. The "seamen's bill" was
the subject of long and bitter struggle. hipassed
the House, but in the Senate was so effectively
opposed that amendments were forced into it, so
in their that
would really legalize many of tine most dangerous
practices of the ship-owning companies So, when in
this dangerous form the measure passed the Senate
was accepted by the House. and sent to the President
its best friends urged that il be vetoed, and i
was. The whole fight must be had over again. -
Ii will not be a new experience for that very
legislation, in form another, has been pressed
upon Congress hese twenty years, and all the time
without effect. 1t might reasonably have been
expected that the shock of the Titanics loss would
end the lethargy; but it did not
This legislation attempted nothing extreme; in
deed, its reforms seemed decidedly moderate. 1t
proposed for instance, that from the time it should
take effect at least 40 per cent of deck hands must
be able seamen of three years experience and tnat
Is per cent of the crew must know the language OF
their officers so as to be able to understand all
orders. Certainly those things seem simple and
reasonable enough There must be at least two able
seamen for each lfeboat
Simple and seemingly reasonable as were these
requirements, the bill could not pass with them, and
its veto was demanded as the best way out. There
remains the possibility that it may be taken up again
at the present the session and forced through
An international conference looking cooperation
of the maritime countries in enforcing uniform regu
lations, has been proposed by Congressional resou
tions, and Britain and Germany have indicated will
ingness to join in it. This may bring at length some
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