 They asked numerous questions regarding whether Cottam had communicated with journalists or received instructions from the Marconi Company or one of the shipping lines not to share information he had been instructed to send.Cottam testified that, although he was an employee of the Marconi Company, aboard ship, the captain's orders superseded those of the company.The Senate inquiry found Cottam did not show "proper vigilance" in handling official information during the "Carpathia"s return to New York, citing a telegram from Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line, to Philip Franklin, who was in charge of the White Star Line's New York office.