Who Will Pay?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 71, 15 July 1914, Page 5

Who Will Pay?

ST. LAWRENCE DISASTER. THE STORSTAD'S OFFICERS. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] Ottawa, July 14. As Norwegians own the ytorstad, it is impossible for the Canadian Government or the Mersey Commission to punish the first and third officers. Legal authorities have decided that they cannot prosecute the officers criminally, but it is understood that legislation! will be undertaken during next session of Parliament to make officers of foreign steamers amenable to Canadian laws whenever lives are lost.

I The Canadian-Pacific Co.'s legal representative lias been instructed to J proceed immediately against the Storstad's owners to recover damages for the loss of the of Ireland. The Canadian-Pacific Co. claim that Lord Mersey's decision relieves them of the-responsibility for paying damages to the relatives of the drowned and injured passengers.

CAPTAIN KENDALL. » _ ■ (Received 12.15 p.m.) Ottawa, July 14. The Canadian-Pacific. Company announced that Captain Kendall will receive promotion and be given a shore appointment owing to the severe strain having affected his health. SATISFACTION WITH VERDICT. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, July 14. The Times, in a leader on the Empress of Ireland verdict, says that it offers an adequate and intelligible explanation of the disaster, attributing it to human error, which is satisfactory because it does not leave any obscure and unexplained danger overhanging vessels navigating the St. Lawrence, and disposes of the suspicion that a thousand people were sent to their deaths through deliberate wrongdoing or neglect due to base motives. Error of judgment is no crime, and Chief Officer Tuftness will meet with more sympathy than condemnation.