The morning call., 1892-07-09
THE SAILORS LOT.
Its Exploitation Before Labor
Commissioner Waits.
Secretary Furuseth Of the Coast Seamen's
Union Tells About Some Of the Griev-
ances of Jack Tar

Andrew Furuseth, secretary of the Coast
Seamen's Union. continued his testimony
before Labor Commissioner Waits yester-
day afternoon. He described at length the
stlpuatlOns contained in the shipping arti
Giles prepared by the Ship-owners' ASsOci-
aJion, and indicated the clauses which were
objectionable to the union. He said that
5000 men had been shipped through the
union shipping Office since January last.
Mr.. Furuseth was cross-examined by
Mr.. Herrck Witness admitted that the
operations of the law of demand and sup
ply was the cause Of the fluctuations in coast
seamen's wages prior TO the organ iZation of
the union. He knew of no instances where
men were discharged from vessels in Puget
Sound ports without first receiving their
pay; that is, they were offered their Ray up
10 the time they were discharged, ami if
they refused that they got nothing. Men
objected to signing articles before United
States Shipping Commissioned because they
subjected the signers to criminal prosecu-
ton for violations of their contract.
1t was possible but not probable to secure
good treatment for sailors under the
clearinghouse system There were at one
time union and non-unlon boarding house
masters, but witness insisted that the union
boarding house masters were to called be-
cause they refused so ship men at less than
union rates. Union men were allowed to
ship with p0n-nnion men in order to allow
them 10 act as missionaries for the union.
Men from deep-water vessels who had
never been in this port were admitted to the
union In cases where they were likely TO be
used against the union.
DIRECTING MINDS.
Mr.. HeTrick endeavoFed TO obtain admis-
sions from the witness that men who were
not sailors and who had no identity OF Inter
ests with them were the directing minds Of
the Coast Seamen's Union at the time Of the
strike and stirred up much OF the ill-feeling
between the men and the ship-owners
Brunette G.. Haskell. who was chairman OF
the advisory committee of the union, was
specially mentioned as obnoxious in this
connection.
Secretary Furuseth replied that the union
was very democratic organization, and
that the members themselves passed on all
questions at their meetings. Mr.. Haskell
had taken very active part in organizing
the union, and therefore exercised consider
able influence IN its affairs during the strike
Witness also admitted that the union had
been less arbitrary and less dictatorial in
its attitude toward the ship-owners aud that
II had made many notifications in its rules
IN the interests of harmony since the sailors
had been without the services OF those who
we're not directly identified with their in
terests. The rule in regard to rotation, for
instance, had been relaxed, because the
shlp-oTneTs had shown it 10 be unreason-
able.
Mr.. Herrick asked the witness whether it
was not true that the Coast Seamen'S Union
had on hand on paydays a member OF great
physical strength to collect from the sailors
wages his dues to the union. The witness
denied there was any such Intimidation.
I've seen it done, spoke up Mr.. Hrrrick
A BROAD QUESTION.
Soon after Mr.. Williams had taken up
the examination of the witness he said: Il
want to ask you a broad question, Mr..
Fuhruseth, as you are broad man. By
what authority does a labor union or its
members force, or by strong persuasion
attempt to prevent. nom union men from
taking their places 2"
Secretary Furuseth-I advise you to read
Senator Palmer's speech this morning. That
Is the best definition | can give you at this
moment of the authority for such action
Mr.. McGiynn next took redirect inning
az the young secretary, who testified that
all the officers of the union to-day were
practical sailors. The law which imposes
penal consequences upln the sailor for
violating bis contracts was helpful to the
crimping system.
i. e. Mech, a native of Wisconsin and
sailor by occupation, testified that Ameri-
can ship-owners pay less wages than Eng
fish ship-owners aud that the sailors were
better treated on board English ships. This
witness also told of the evils of the board
ing-house and crimping system and testified
that the wages OF fresh-waier sailors on the
lakes were much higher than on this coast
and that the cost Of living was cheaper
Asked why he had abandoned his employ
ment on the lakes and had come TO this
coast MT. Mech answered that he had
come hither because he thought that wages
were higher on the Pacific Coast than on
the lakes.
The investigation will be resumed at 80
O'Clock on Monday afternoon next.