Mr. SMITH of Michigan, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following:
[Pursuant to S. Res. 283.]
The Committee on Commerce, which was authorized and directed to inquire into the loss of the British steamship Titanic, respectfully reports that that duty has been performed, in the committee has reached its conclusions thereon.
The resolution is his follows:
Resolved, that the Committee on Commerce, or a subcommittee thereof, is hereby authorized and directed to investigate the causes leading to the wreck of the White Star liner Titanic, with its attendant loss of life so shocking to the civilized world.
Resolved further, that said committee or a subcommittee thereof is hereby empowered to summon witnesses, send for persons and papers, to administer oaths, and take such testimony as may be necessary to determine the responsibility therefor, with a view to such legislation as may be necessary to prevent, as far as possible, any repetition of such a disaster.
Resolved further, that the committee shall inquire particularly into the number of lifeboats, life rafts, and life preserves, and other equipment for the protection of the passengers and crew; the number of persons aboard the Titanic, whether passenger or crew, and whether adequate inspections were made of such vessel, in view of the large number of American passengers traveling over a route commonly regarded as dangerous from icebergs; and whether it is feasible for Congress to take steps looking to an international agreement to secure the protection of sea traffic, including regulation of the size of ships and designation of routes.
Resolved further, that in the report of said committee it shall recommend such legislation as it shall deem expedient; and the expenses incurred by this investigation shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers to be approved by the chairman of said Committee.
Attest,
CHARLES G. BENNETT, Secretary.
By H. M. ROSE, Assistant Secretary.
Accordingly the following Senators were pointed his members of the subcommittee: William Alden Smith, Michigan, chairman; George C. Perkins, California; Jonathan Bourne, Jr., Oregon; Theodore E. Burton, Ohio; F. M. Simmons, North Carolina; Francis G. Newlands, Nevada; Duncan U. Fletcher, Florida.
We examined 82 witnesses upon various phases of this catastrophe, including the examination of 53 British subjects or residents of Great Britain and 29 citizens of United States or residents thereof.
We interrogated two general officers of the International Mercantile Marine Co., which owned the steamship Titanic - J. Bruce Ismay, of Liverpool, England, president, also a passenger on the ship on this voyage, and P. A. S. Franklin, of New York, vice president in the United States of the International Mercantile Marine Co.; all the surviving officers, 4 in number - Charles Herbert Lightoller, Second Officer, of Netley Abbey, Hampshire, England; Third Officer Herbert John Pitman, of Somerset, England; Fourth Officer Joseph Grove Boxhall, of Hull, England; and Fifth Officer Harold Godfrey Lowe, of North Wales; and 34 members of the crew, whose names are as follows:
Assistant Steward |
145 Millbrook Road, Southampton |
||
Seaman | 59 Porchester Road, Southampton. | ||
Leading Fireman | Southampton | ||
Seaman | 11 Lower Canal Walk, Southampton. | ||
Telegrapher | London, England. | ||
Quartermaster | 105 Firgrove Road, Southampton. | ||
Seaman | 10 Cliff Road, Woolston, Southampton. | ||
Saloon Steward | 57 Bridge Road, Southampton. | ||
Seaman | 10 The Flats Chantry Road, Southampton. | ||
Assistant Cook | 65 Ballycarry, Belfast. | ||
Bedroom Steward | 22 Cranbury Avenue, Southampton. | ||
Steward | 89 Milton Road, Southampton. | ||
Bedroom Steward | 62 Charlton Road, Southampton. | ||
Bedroom Steward | 23a Gordon Avenue, Southampton. | ||
Seaman | 14 Bond Street, Southampton. | ||
Lookout (sailor) | No. 9 Norman Road, Southampton. | ||
Boatswain's Mate | No. 52 Groves Street, Southampton. | ||
Steward | Oakley Holyrood Avenue, Highfield, Southampton. | ||
Lamp Trimmer | 31 Kingsley Road, Southampton. | ||
Quartermaster | 43 James Street, Southampton. | ||
Lookout (sailor) | 44 High Street, Southampton. | ||
Seaman | 68 Wesfield, Liverpool. | ||
Seaman | 51 Graham Avenue, Southampton. | ||
Quartermaster | 38 Anderson Road, Southampton. | ||
Seaman | 43 High Street, Itchen, Southampton. | ||
Quartermaster | Victoria Road, Bitterne, Southampton. | ||
Saloon Steward |
Palmer Park Avenue, Reading. | ||
Quartermaster | 63 Henry Street, Gosport. | ||
Lookout (sailor) | 55 Franchise Street, Weymouth. | ||
Fireman | No. 2 Broad Street, Southampton. | ||
Saloon Steward | Norwood House, Shireley, Southampton. | ||
Barber | 9 Dyer Road, Ivybank. | ||
Steward | Norwood House, Shirley, Southampton. | ||
Bath Steward | 25 Rokeby Avenue, Redland, Bristol. |
We took the testimony of 21 passengers of all classes (including President Ismay) and 23 other witnesses on subjects related to our inquiry (including vice president Franklin).
We held our sessions in New York and in Washington, and took testimony by deposition in other parts of the country and in the Dominion of Canada.
The results of our investigation may be stated as follows:
OWNERSHIP OF STEAMSHIP "TITANIC."
We find that the Titanic was a White Star steamer and was owned by the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co., of England, all of the stock of which company is in turn owned by the International Navigation Co. (Ltd.), of England, and the stock of that company, in turn, is owned by the International Mercantile Marine Co., an American corporation, organized under the laws of New Jersey.
INTERNATIONAL MERCANTILE MARINE CO.
Mr. J. Bruce Ismay, of Liverpool, England, is president of the International Mercantile Marine Co., and Mr. P. A. S. Franklin, of New York City, is vice president of that company in United States.
The Board of Directors of the International Mercantile Marine Co. is composed of the following persons:
C. A. Griscom, Chairman. |
J. Bruce Ismay, President. |
The International Mercantile Marine Co., through its various ramifications and constituent companies, owns the White Star Line, the American Line, the Red Star Line, the Atlantic Transport Line, the National Line, and the majority of the stock of the Leyland Line.
This company is capitalized as follows (in round numbers):
$102,000,000 between preferred and
common shares. |
The total stock and bonded liability is about $180,000,000.
This company owns and operates a fleet of about 125 vessels, with a total of about 1,150,000 tons register, doing a general transoceanic transportation business throughout the world.