The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-11-02
new STORIES Of
SHIPS DISASTER
TO APPEAR soon
DRASTIC AND FAR-REAcHING
LEGISLATION EXPECTED TO
BE ENACTED IN CONGRESS
DEALING WITH SUBJECT
By HERBERT PLUMMER
my Axsoelnara rre..S


WASHINGTON. D. C.. Nov. 2.
News stories of the Moro
Castle ship disaster have disap-
peared from the front pages, but
they are due for a reaPpsAranee
probably e.rly. IN Jaau.ry
One Of the first things TO be
brought before the attention Of
the next congress win be legisla-
ton, drastic and farsreaching, 10
protect life at sea. The commerce
department. is at work now on
proposed recommendations with
Secretary Roper personally direct
ing the task. Among the things
being considered is whether or
not passenger vessels shall have
in their list of officers a member
of the United States navy.
Members of congress are draft
ing measures of their own for in
PRODUCTION early in the session.
These bills range from having the
government require fire-proofing
of all passenger vessels and rigid
examinations for all able-bodisd
seamen, to increased liability of
ship owners.
Perhaps the most far-reaching
of the bills being drafted by MEM
beers of congress is that of Repre-
sentative William 1. Sirovieh of
New York, ranking member of
the house merchant marine COM
mittee.
Passenger Insurance
The Sirovich bill would require
fire-proofing of passenger liners
even to curtains and draperies. 1t
would make it mandatory also for
every passenger vessel to have as
members of their crews we'll
trained fire-fighters and would
require installation of fire signals
and the most modern and ade-
quate fire extinguishing equip
meHt.
All chief electricians on vessels
would be licensed and require
ments for radio operators would
be raised. The bill calls for a
thorough test of life boats at least
once a week and directs officers
to stop the engines of burning
ships when fire is discovered and
to notify other vessels at once.
Sirovich also proposes in his
measure accident and death in
sarance for ship passengers. He
would create a fund, into which
both ship companies and passen-
gers would pay small sums, to be
administered by. the secretary of
the treasury. In case OF death,
under his bill, benefits would
amount to $4,000. s,ss0t .f
catastrophies Speed Laws
If congress. had been in session
at the time the 134 persons lost
their lives in the MORO Castle
disaster, in, ali probability there
would be on .the statutes iheoks
now drastic legislation for the
protection of lives at sea. Such
catastrophies in the past have
speeded the national legislative
machinery to almost instant ac-
ton.
The kidnapping of the kindbergh
baby. for example, aroused con-
gress to the realization of the in
adequacy of existing legislation
for the protection of lives and
persons from racketeers. The now
famous "Lindbergh'' law is evil
dence of how quickly and thor
oughly congress can act when
aroused.
Captain Warns and four staff
officers of the MORO Castle have
been required to come before a
federal board and show cause
why their licenses should not be
revoked. Despite the fact that
it viii be something ike two
months before congress is com
vened, this new hearing is likely
to keep the MORO Castle tragedy
uppermost in the minds of those
responsible for enactment Of
legislation until the time congress