The morning call., 1893-08-09
NO BLOOD-MONEY.
British Shipmasters Will
Organize To-Day.
SHIP-OWNERS ADMIT THEM.
Important Meeting of the Associa-
tion-Shipping Fees Reduced.
Boarding Masters Views.

Yesterday there was an informal cam
vass among the masters OF British vessels
in port on the subject of union against
the boarding masters In their demands 1or
blood money" for sailors. It resulted in
unanimous expression Of OPTION 10
favor of organizing. every master ap-
preached signifying hearty assent to the
proposition. A meeting of all masters OF
British ships was called to convene at 2
o'clock this afternoon at the Office OF the
British Consul, 500 Battery street. when
formal action will be taken.
A few captains at Port Costa could not
be notified. but it is expected that all mas
present. The Inference is that they will
owners Association.
Yesterday afternoon called meeting of
tha board of directors of the Shp-owners'
Association was held at their office, AZ
Steuart street. The question OF admit
ting the English merchantmen came up.
aud after full discussion the board CON
ferred on the secretary. George Z. VIII
liams, discretionary power in the matter,
with full authority to act.
The shipping fee of So hetofOre imposed
by the board was reduced to fifty cents.
1t has been the custom 20 allow boarding
house runners fee of 81 30 for each man
brought to the association. The board
finds now that it can dispense with the
runners, so the fee of 81 so Is cut Oft and
this burden lifted from ocean commerce.
1t was resolved, in case the British
masters sought TO join the association, to
assess them fee of fifty cents for each
man and nine m onths' dues at fifty cents
month, making total Of SIS. Each ship
will continue to De member of the assO-
citation and receive the benefits when it
again reaches this port.
A report was circulated yesterday that
there had been meeting OF the Boarding
masters Association in the morning, at
which a resolution was adopted to do away
with blood money. provided the wages OF
sailors were raised to f6 month. The
report was denied by the president of the
association.
Able seamen now arriving from Aus
| tralia receive !e3. which is the prevailing
pay all over the colonies. The same rate
prevails in Hamburg. In London sailors
are paid f3 IS. and very little complaint
has been voiced against the wages at this
port, which are 81 per month.
The fact is sailors are more than plen-
tifui just now, and they are more than
anxious To get to sea. The Sailors Union
is doing work in supplying crews anu in-
dividual men. and in no case does the
| union charge or has it charged bonus.
A wrll-kaown boarding-master who has
| lived here twenty. five years. and has the
reputation of dealing fairly with sailors
and with masters. gave to CALL man
the clearinghouse keepers views OF the
present situation. He spoke not only for
himself but for the association. and did
not undertake to represent that class of
! boarding houses whose occupation is to
beat salltrs out of their money, in which
enterprise they employ degraded women
as allies. The association had purged itself
of all members who had not dealt with
sailors in gond faith. and disclaimed the
acts Of these lands harks. After reviewing
the troubles Of former years, which ar q
/ we'll known, he said:
About six months ago there was a con-
! ference between all the masters of deep
water ships In port, American as well as
British, and the Boarding-masters' Asso.
citation. 1t Was then and there agreed that
the ships should nay the boarding-masters
bonus of $40. We got along very we'll
under this agreement. The masters were
satisfied because their vessels were not de-
tanned. and so were We
But the masters of ships now in port
say they were not parties to the agree
ment and they do not propose to abide by
IT.. want to say this about the sailor and
boarding-master. You know the law re-
Quires an advance of S35 for a voyage to
the Atlantic Coast and $40 for the United
Kingdom. Now, take one year with an
other dull seasons and good seasons, long
waits between ships and short ones, sober
men and drinking men-take the average
right along, and the sailor can't pay his
inhebte dness to the boardinR-master out
of his advance and have enough left for a
suit of warm clothes. an oilskin coat and
ubbrr boots to take with him on the new
voyage. That has been my own experience
and other members of the association.
think if all hands W. re to return to the
last agreement of $40 blood-money there
wsuld be no further trouble and every.
body would be satisfied"