The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-02
THE STEAMER RATE WAR.
Good Business on Tacoma Route-1he
Flyers Cooperative scheme.

The cut rates on the Tacoma steamers
forced by the reduction Of fare On the
Northern Pacific railroad. took effect yes
terCiay. and all the boats claimed - do
large business. Manager Seely, of the
Flyer. said that the sudden leaving Of the
hremeu. oilers and deckhands on Thurs
day night could not be termed strike.
as IL was rather a sneak out. The men 5
time was M and they simply left without
saving anything. The proposition 10 the
boats crew had been made over week
ago. and was to the effect that they were
To take the boat and run her. paying the
fixed charges and sharing what was over
pro rata. The men who left did not care
10 do this, but there were plenty OF men
who were ready TO take their places on
such terms, and who believed they would
make a good thing out OF II. Manager
Seely showed the following note he had
received from Samuel Sutton, the en-
gineer of the Flyer:
Steamer Flyer, which the Marine
Firemen had endeavored to cripple by
burning out the fires last evening and
jumping their jobs on the 6 y. m. trip.
is making better time with her new fire
men than ever before. This mornings
trip TO Tacoma was the quickest IN
long time. Secretary OF the Marine Fire
mems Union, NJ. Campbell, who called out
the fTemen, looked rather disappointed
as ne viewed the swift steamer going
across tue nay dA an liCAEaSEN SbtNA anu
on her scheduled time"
on Sundays the Flyer or the State of
Washington will take the same run, at
- and IS cents.
Nothing was done yesterday 10 meet the
cut rate of 81 10 Victoria announced on
Thursday 10 be made on the steamer Sc
home against the steamer Rosalie. and
the latter will still run AT the usual fare
of $50 The Kingston IS also 10 run at
the regular fare. The Puget Sound q
Alaska Steamship Company say the Ros-
allie first came in and cut the rates TO
Victoria, and that their action in reduc-
ing the fare on the Sehome Is mere
business retaliation. Whether they VIII
cut the rates on tho Kingston later on
has not been decided.
The following communication states the
7remen's side Of the dispute:
Seattle. Nov. ! 1875.
To the Editor: In justice 10 the men
VINO were employed as firemen on the
steamer Flyer, and who quit work on the
evening Of Thursday last. ! desire to point
out several Misrepresentation contained
in an article headed Rate War Episode
appearing in this evenings issue of the
Seattle Times. II is stated that they quit
work without warning. This statement
is entirely incorrect. The fact Is that on
Saturday. October &C. the offer to share
pro rata in the earnings of the steamer
was made and promptly declined, and
notified the engineers of the steamer that
if il was the intention TO run on those
terms other f1remen must be had. and the
fact that the steamer lost no time tends
to show this to be the case. The letter
contained in the article referred 10. which
appears TO have been written by Samuel
Sutton, one of the engineers of the Flyer
shows that gentleman's attitude toward
the Marine Fireman's Union. Since the
organization of the union in 1883 he has
on many occasions shown exceeding Bit
terness towards members of the Organiza-
ton. The members have long known Of
his feelings concerning them. and on one
occasion a number refused TO sail with
him. and as a consequence he was com
PEELED 10 go upon the dock instead of serv-
ing as assistant engineer of the steamer
Zealandia bound for Australia. He states
that / looked disappointed at seeing the
steamer cross the bay. The fact is ! did
not see the steamer today, either crossing
the bay or otherwise. and the statement
that ] did IS about as true the other
statements which his letter contains.
In conclusion. I desire TO say that I did
not call the men off. They were free to
work for a pro rata share Of the earnings
of the steamer instead Of their regular
nay. but I would add that il does not re
quire very discerning person to see that
az a time when owing TO increased oppo-
sition no earnings We're 10 be expected
that an offer of that kind does not suggest
extreme liberality.
NJ. CAMPBELL.
Secretary Of Marine Firemaps Union.
Room 81. Latimer Building. Commercial
street