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November 20, 1934.
WOULD TRANSFER RADIO OPERATORS BACK TO SHIP BUREAU
In his report of the burning of the "Morro Castle1’ , Dickerson N. Hoover, Assista.nt Director, recommended that radio operators be put back under the jurisdiction of the Navigation Bureau of the Commerce Department where they were before the Radio Commission took them over.
■’The crux of the whole matter for improving the effic¬ iency of the Steamboat Inspection Service rests in the creation of a central staff in Washington”, Mr. Hoover suggests. "Until that is done, we cannot hope to have any constructive improve¬ ment made in the design of ships with reference to subdivision and Governmental approval, and the same would hold with refer¬ ence to superstructures. It is not sufficient to follow the industry; the Government must lead.
"I recommend that there be transferred to the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection the licensing and dis¬ ciplining of radio operators on ships. A ship must be consider¬ ed as an entity, and radio operators are a part of it, and should be disciplined by the same agency that has control over officers. If
The testimony shows that the stand-by or CQ, was sent over the wireless at 3:18 A.M. , and the SOS at 3:24 A. M. , E.S.T.
It is evident that the fire had been out of control for some time when the SOS was finally sent. While there was criticism that the radio signal was slow in going out, this was rather levelled at the Acting Captain of the "Morro Castle", the radio operator being under his orders.
If Director Hoover's recommendation were followed out, it would return the Field Division, so long headed by W. D. Terrell, to the Navigation Bureau in the Commerce Department.
All radio control was originally lodged there under the old Ship Act due to the fact that wireless orignally was used principally aboard ships. However, as wireless developed into radio and entertainment programs, the field broadened so greatly that the Federal Radio Commission was created. It was sometime, however, before the Commission took over the Division that had to do with licensing ship operators. This remained under the CommerceDepartment for several years before being absorbed by the Radio Commission. Ship radio inspection is now a part of the Engineering Division of the Federal Communications Commission.
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