Speech #600132357

Mr. Chairman. even without this bill a large number of oceangoing steamers would finally be equipped with wireless telegraph. The competition among the greyhounds of the ocean is such that the great traveling public that pays good transportation rates would not travel on any other kind of a vessel. but there are a great many vessels that are not of this high class and character carrying steerage passengers for very low transportation rates that are not equipped and would not be equipped with these instruments. and it is necessary to compel them by law to be so supplied. Now. as to the suggestion made by the gentleman from Illinois: The very thing that he says is not done by this bill is not done by the railroad rate bill. the appliance law we passed yesterday providing that certain kinds of appliances shall be used. and other laws that have been passed relating to the railroads of this country. and there is no place-