The San Francisco call., 1899-04-23
Wages Is the Bone of
Contention.
A STRIKE NOW IN PROGRESS
EACH SIDE CONFIDENT OF GAIN.
ING THE VICTORY.
The Causes Leading Up to the Strike
Told in the Correspond
ence - Ships Are
Tied Up.

The trouble between the Shipowners'
Association and the Sailors Union of the
Pacific has reached the acute stage Each
party thinks it has right on its side and
neither Will yield an inch The ship
owners assert they are paying "all the
traffic will bear" and the sailors hold
that in view of the good times and the
demand for ships poor jack should for
once be given more than a bare pittance.
That is how the matter stands and each
side is using its best endeavors to carry
its point. So far the shipowners have
carried the day, but at a great expense.
They have sent their vessels away with
non-uniOn crews, but the said vessels
have been held in the stream for from
TWO TO five days at an expense of at least
$500 day. This the Sailors Union looks
upon as partial victory, as the expense
TO the owner has been in each instance
more than the advance in wages would
have amounted to.
II IS an unequal contest. The shipown-
ers have the money and the ships. The
sailors have the men. The last time they
measured their strength the union lost.
As in the first instance the men consider
they have right on their side and in spite
of their weakness have again taken up
the gauntlet
The following letter from the Sailors
Union was written shortly after the ship
owners announced an advance of s. per
month in wages. The correspondence is
self-eXplanatory:
SAN FRANCISCO, April 3, 1899
Sailors Union Of the Pacific
Charles z. Naylor, Secretary ShIpowners'
Association, san Francisco, Cal.-Dear Sir:
The Sailors Union of the Pacific, at its
adjourned meeting, held on the 4th inst
MAT, taking due cognizance Of the existing
condition Of trade and the generally i'm
proved times, we have decided upon the
san Francisco:
In sailing vessels going to Puget Sound or
any other inside ports $40 per month.
In sailing vessels to outside or open
ports, S45 per month.
In sailing vessels TO Mexico. Hawaii
Australia, S35 per month.
Siberia, Central South America, $50
In steamers going to inside ports, s45 per
month
In steamers going to outside or open
ports. $50 per month
Overtime per per 8y1 hour. 40 cents am
solved, That it would be for the benefit of
all concerned II the Cyour) association would
appoint a committee to meet a like com
mittee from the Sailors Union to discuss
the sundry differences at present existing
along the Coast, and to make such arrange
aid the Government officials in carrying
out the amendments to the navigation laws
enacted by the last Congress"
The Sailors Union took this action, feel
ing that IL is the desire of your association
well of the Sailors Union that these
laws shall be given an honest trial, and
that other differences rest now mainly
upon mutual lack of confidence, which
believe could be removed If some under
standing could be reached. It will be un-
derstood that any conference is contingent
upon the acceptance OF the above scale OF
wages from san Francisco and that other
questions are left open, to be considered in
any meeting to which your association
Awaitlng your answer am. in behalf Of
the Sailors Union OF the Pacific very
;ruly yours. a. FURUSETH, Sec.
shipowners' Association of the Pacific
SAN FRANCISCO April 12 1899.
Union Of the PacifcEDear Sir: Responding
YOU a copy Of the new scale of sailors
wages adopted by the board of directors of
this association on March 81 last. This is
an increase Of S per month on all coast
ing voyages and voyages 10 the islands OF
the Pacific. and is considered by our peo-
PIE 10 be fair to both the sailor and the
ship. although from comparative stand
point very liberal compensation for the SER
vice rendered. II this scale could be
maintained throughout the year out of all
Pacific Coast ports, l have no doubt II
would be entirely satisfactory TO the great
majority Of & sailors lvEos5e VINO are bel 6eeye
maintained would depend largely upon
I have written so much relative to the
wage question because, while your commu-
nicatIon invites a conference for the os-
tensble purpose OF devising ways and
means Of aiding the Government in the en-
forcement of its new laws, yet you have
practically shut this association off from
the consideration of this important matter
r-ecedent as follows: IT will be under
stood that any conference is contingent
upon the acceptance OF the above scale of
wages from San Francisco" etc.
Feeling certain that. having raised wages
voluntarily s. per month our directors
would not feel justified in conceding fur
ther raise a condition upon which the
privilege OF conference with your com
rnittee might be secured on other questions
Of apparent Importance, or at all, for
sons already given. l deemed II useless
therefore 10 call a special meeting of our
Board Of Directors for the purpose indicated
In your communication. And awaiting your
further pleasure, l remain, respectfully
yours, CHARLES Z. NAYLOR,
Secretary and Attorney.
SCALE OF WAGES INCLosED)
ship-ovners' Association Of the Pacific Coast
Rate Of wages, able seamen, in effect
Sailing vessels, lumber, bar harbors. Pa
cifc States. Alaska British Column
Sailing vessels. coal. bar harbors. pacac
States British Columbia. 30
Sailing vessels. lumber, outside road
steads, Pacific States or British Co
lumbia OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 40
Sailing vessels, Hawaiian Islands and
Sailing vessels. Central America........... 80
Sailing vessels, Asia, Australia Europe
and South America Observation-Disclosures. 20
Steam craft, bar harbOrs. s.................... 45
Steam craft, outside roadsteads. ds............ so
Steam craft, foreign voyages. S25 and upward
steam craft, with or without overtime as
preferred.
Sailors Union OF the Pacifc-San Francisco.
Cal. April 49, 1899
Charles Z. Naylor. Secretary Ship-owners'
Association. san Francisco, Cal.-Dear Sir:
Yours Of the 18th instant has been sub
mltted 70 the Sailors Union Of the Pacific
and am instructed to reply as follows:
The scale Of wages adopted by the Board