The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-25
MICHEL is WITH THEM,
The Position of the Ship-OWn-
ers Is Considerably
Strengthened.
BoARDING.HoUsE MEN BEWAIL.
The Inn-Keepers Anxious to Join
the Association-Cane APP
pointed.

The directors of the Ship-owners' Associa-
ton held meeting yesterday afternoon to
discuss the situation of the sailors strike,
and what was considered the most i'm
portant action yet taken was effected. As
foreshadowed in Tuesdays CALL, William
E. Mighell threw his entire strength to the
association and entered the twelve vessels
of which he is managing owner on the roll
Mr.. Mighell, though a director of the
association, has heretofore taken very little
interest in its councils. Hereafter he will
be one of the most active members. He
was present at the meeting yesterday, but
more in the capacity OF a ship-owner than
as director. One of the conditions he
prescribed on going into the association
with all his vessels was that John Cane, a
clearinghouse master, be taken care of.
To this the directors readily agreed. 1t
was argued in favor of Cane that he had
stuck by the ship-owners in all their
trouble, and had worked day and night in
getting crews for empty ships.
The unfortunate shooting of the union
sailor, Sandberg, was commented upon,
and it was said that Cane got into that
trouble through his devotion to the ship
owners cause.
Mr.. Mighell said that Cane had worked
for him very faithfully, and that he did
not now propose to throw him over Cane
was made assistant shipping master at
salary of 500 month.
A committee from the Coast Seamen's
Boarding Masters waited on the
directors, and asked that the same priv
ileges be accorded to them as were being
enjoyed by the Sailors Home, Peter Nc
Mahon and John Curtin. The latter, they
said, had been getting all the patronage
ho
plentiful, to the exclusion of all other
houses. Now, that sailors were scarce,
the committee argued, the association
could not be accommodated by the houses
named, and it was to the interest of the
ship-owners to join issues with the board
ing-house masters.
Within the past few years-how many
years were not mentioned-the committee
stated that the clearinghouse masters
had lost $4,000 through sailors leaving
them in the lurch. In the face of the Ma
guire act they could not detain a sailors
luggage if the sailor was not disposed to
pay his bill, and the clearinghouse mas
tiers all around had a shade the worst of it.
But with the association behind them, the
com mittee said, some protection would be
offered. If a sailor refused to ship he
would have to pay his board bill or get out
of the house.
The committee also suggested that the
wages of coast sailors be raised to $50
month. The directors emphatically op-
posed that proposition and said that they
would not entertain any motion to adj
vance wages while the strike was in
progress. The committee did not press
the matter and said that they would be
satisfied to be taken into camp. The di-
rectors assented to the latter proposition
and the committee withdrew.
The clearinghouse masters will have a
meeting to-day and will act on the report
of their committee.
1.-THE appointment of Cane will in no.
wise affect the personnel of the Office, 4"
said Secretary Walthew afterIthe meeting.
Mr.. Cane is merely an assistant to us,
to be called on whenever his assistance is
required"
Members of the Sailors Union say they
do not anticipate any material change in
the conditions because of yesterdays pro-
ceedings by the ship-owners. The still
consider themselves masters of the situa-
ton.