The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-23

until another preYentabe Vestris disaster and more
hearings, and fresh public indignation peterng out
again.
Such will be the negligible result unless the public
demands and continues to demand, sweeping reform
in national laws and international regulations Law
must curb the greed of companies which jeopardze
lives for profits from unsafe ships inefficient equip
ment, and inadequate crews.
For the appalling significance of the Vestris
tragedy is its indictment not of one captain of
Ship of company, but of the criminal negligence
of governments and of nations in ignoring the gen.
era system creating unnecessary hazard in travel
Governments ard public have been satisfied with
blaming sea disasters on God That sact of God"
aibi always has covered multitude of human sins.
Storm did not sink the vestris. The captains own
report of the weather and the fact that other smaller
ships in the vicinity rode out the moderate gale
proves that.
But what if there had been severe storm? No
ship should be sent to by its unless it is
safe in storms Safe ships can be built-thanks
to modern invention.
The problem is to force companies by stricter laws
and inspection to maintain safe ships, even at the
sacrifice of some profits This means old ships must
be reconditioned periodically to keep pace with
science, or be scrapped.
When the "act of God" albi is exhausted, the Sec
ond subterfuge usually is "the human element" The
Vestris testimony demonstrates the negligence of the
captain in not sending out an S many hours
sooner.
That was not the fault of human msjudgment or
human inexperience. Carey's ability and judgment
proved by forty years successful experience But
the whole system is set that captain must think
first of his profits and salvage fees or lose his
job. That is the charge of other captains and seaen
No other explanation been given of why this able
master and humane hesitated so long to report
the danger
The law in the future must protect passengers by
protecting ship officers from ship owners.
There is another aspect to that old human ele-
ment" gag which also turns on owners greed. The
Vestris testimony shows there were not enough able
seamen aboard to handle life-saving equipment and
preserve order and discipline Her deck crew. accord
ing to testimony. included more unseasoned hands"
than real seamen The company was getting by with
a cheap crew.
If the companies do their part in supplying modern
ships the latest lfe-saving equipment and adequate
we-paid crews, it will not be necessary for us to
blame "act of God" or "the human element"
But laws and regulations to provide the safest
ships best equipment and finest crews will not solve
the problem until the owners fear of salvage fees
ceases to influence captains Perhaps that can be
achieved only by making ship owners who now have
practically such liability subject to heavy damages
for loss of life.
When it costs companies more money to lose lives
than to pay rescue fees there will be less temptation
either to send out unsafe ships to delay the s.
There can be national and international control
providing safety at sea- But there will not be- unless
the public sees to it, =