Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-03
CONTENTION TO BE GREATLY IN.
CREASED BY RECENT DIS.
ASTER ON ST. LAWRENCE.
DISPUTE AMONG SENATORS
OVER RATIFICATION OF PACT
Influence Of Shipping interests FeIt on
Conference Which Negotiated Con-
vention-Latest Accident Proves
Contentious Of Those Who Stand For
Strict Rules and Regulations.
Especial Correspondence


in the senate over the ratification OF
the London safety-at-sea convention
will be greatly increased and embit-
tered as the result of the recent
Gala nifty whereby thousand souls
were lost in the Empress of Ireland
disaster
Already. before this disaster. there
was the wilGes. difference of opinion
over the ratification of this convention.
This difference extends to mem bers OF
he Wilson administration. Now that
the Empress Of Ireland has gone TO the
bottom. the demand in the senate and
in congress generally for regulations OF
the utmost sirictness looking TO safety
OF life az sea is enhanced. Il Is no, un-
likely tia, the outcome will be refusal
of the senate to ratify the London con-
yeniion.
Inspired by Titanic Disaster.
The London convention was nego-
tiated in part because Of he Titanic
disaster Il was a ,srdy response TO
the genera, demand e.: greater safety
+ in ocean travel growing out Of that
nITTinle 3Udir. Nor was IL bN any
means a complete response. The in
f1uerce Of big shipping interess vas
felt on the conference of delegates that
negotiated the convention. The Ameri-
can delegates themselves We're divided.
some wanting str!c, regulations and
others standing for regulations Of
IaS and Inadequate nature.
The regulations of the convention
were 20 far from being satisfactory 10
Andrew Furuseth, president Of the In
ternational Seamen's Union. that ne
Withdrew from the international con-
,ress on safety At sea and refused TO
have anything 70 do with II. The con-
vention is pending before the foreign
relations committee of the senate and
Ny F-uruseth has made his objections
10 that committee.
II was because of failure TO make
provision IN the treaty in adequate
fashion for the manning OF lifeboats
ard the training Of crews that Mr..
Furuseth objected TO the proceedings OF
the convention.
Late Acciden. Proves Contention.
The Empress Of ireland accident is
looked on by Mr. Furuseth as proof of
what he has ali along contended. He
holds that there was time to lower the
lifeboa.s Of the stricken vessel before
she won't down II there had been
crew sufficient IN numbers and ade-
quatelv skilled He points out that In
respect to manning and equipment
! he Empress Of ireland vas UP 10 the
, standard -. by the London meeting on
safety az sea The fact that the vessel
sunk within a short distance from
shore, in MS opinion. shows the crew
was not adequate and the steamer was
undermanned
. Mr.. Furusetf's views are not shared
by other American delegates to the
convention Senator James Hamilton
l Lewis was one Of the delegates He
thinks proper provision for fog patrol
, would have averted the Empress OF Ire
! land disaster Chairman Alexander OF
House committee on merchant marine.
on the other hand. thinks that # the
London convention we're IN effect, 1t
would greatly Increase the safety OF
ocean travel and might have lessened
the loss in this accident, though he
doubts If any Grew. however competent
would have been able TO save anything
IKE all the passengers
Stop During Foss.
: One view Is that regulations should
I hc enforced requiring all vessels At
sea TO stop in fog. This regulation
o vculd be ,l!ricuIt Of enforcement. II
0 is shown that the Empress OF irelan
. rad stoopaI ar q wac rar1med rs the
, Norwegian collier regardless either oil
o that fact o. Of warnings. The vie"
% Of Supervising Inspector General
% George Uhler is that vessels should DC
o compelled tc lie to in fogs but he is
% aware that the speed mania of pas
!, sengerS and their demand to reach por'
in quick time is in the way of the adop-
ton Of such a requirement.
Il Every time there Is a calamity az
sea. with heavy loss of life. the demand
for strcter reguiat ions is felt In con
gress. But influence of shipping !nteres
y is potent They are continually Tight
ing against stringent requirements. MOI
10 only was there strong opposition II
20 the London conference TO strict regu
. ations but the shipping interests have
20 fought hard against the La Foliett'
10 seanen's bill This is intended 10 en-
nance safety so far as American yes
sells are concerned and would have
n some tendency TO do so as to foreign
a, snips The bill has passed the senate
but is hung up in the house in SUB
u committee of the house merchant ma
N r,ne committee. 1t Is doubtful If II vii
10 be allowed t. pass this session and !
* It goes over this session to the shor
81 session. It may be beaten in this con
no gress The American Federation Q
Y. Labor is fighting for it and the reel
ling caused by the Empress OF Ireland
M loss will tend to strengthen the move
nm ment for the bill. At best. however. !
az has a hard road ahead. Senator Ii
m Toilette keeps hammering away at tn
v men and interests that are blockin
the bill but the democratic leaders II
25 the house have not included II IN IN
no | list of bills which must be given rish
a. Of way before adjournment.
,e IN a>AINer ct!RE.ALI