"We have learned with profound grief of the catastrophe to the Titanic, which has plunged the American nation in mourning. We send you our sincerest condolence, and wish to assure you and your nation of the sentiments of friendship and sympathy we feel toward you." A similar telegram was sent to the King of England. The many expressions of grief to reach President Taft included one signed jointly by the three American Cardinals, who were in New York attending the meeting of the trustees of the Catholic University. It said: "TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: "The archbishops of the country, in joint session with the trustees of the Catholic University of America, beg to offer to the President of the United States their expression of their profound grief at the awful loss of human lives attendant upon the sinking of the steamship Titanic, and at the same time to assure the relatives of the victims of this horrible disaster of our deepest sympathy and condolence. "They wish also to attest hereby to the hope that the law-makers of the country will see in this sad accident the obvious necessity of legal provisions for greater security of ocean travel. "JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS," Archbishop of Baltimore. "JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY," Archbishop of New York. "WILLIAM CARDINAL O'CONNELL," Archbishop of Boston. HOUSE ADJOURNED Formal tribute to the Titanic's dead was paid by the House of Representatives when it adjourned for twenty-four hours. The prayer of the Rev. Henry N. Couden in opening the House session was, in part: "We thank Thee that though in the ordinary circumstances of life selfishness and greed seem to be in the ascendancy, yet in times of distress and peril, then it is that the nobility of soul, the Godlike in man, asserts itself and makes heroes." The flags on the White House and other Government buildings throughout the country were at half-staff. ROME MOURNED MAJOR BUTT A special telegram from Rome stated that one of the victims most regretted was Major Butt, whose jovial, bright character made many friends there. Besides autograph letters from the Pope and Cardinal Merry del VaI{sic?} to President Taft, the major had with him a signed photograph of the Pontiff, given by him personally. Cardinal Merry del Val had several conversations with Major Butt, who declared that the cardinal was "the first gentleman of Europe." Shortly before he was leaving Rome, regretting that he had not a signed picture of Cardinal Merry del Val, Major Butt entrusted a friend to ask for one. The cardinal willingly put an autograph dedication on a picture, recalling their pleasant intercourse. LONDON NEWSPAPERS CONDEMN LAXITY OF LAW