New-York tribune., 1903-04-30
ENGINEERS STUBBORN.
MAKE NO CONCESSION.
Tf Their Strike We're Efect'Ut
There Would Be Famine Here.

rshe,her the steam craft of New-York HarnoF
and the Hudson River are TO be seo uP
because their engineers have resigned me
,,arine engineers yesterday. following the de-
cisiou of the mass meeting Of TUESDAY iHei'''
met their employers and announced that 'hes
would resign on Friday if their requests LOT N
creased pay and shorter hours were not sfsa'i'e0
that day.
The fe-ryboats will not be tied up. as thelr en-
rineers asked for and received advanced pay
last fall It is understood that all the steam
Foat lines plying on Long Island Souno 1hal are
owned by the New-York, New-Haven ana mart
ford Railroad Company will continue 10 run
also J. w Miller. the superintendent OF the
marine district of the company, said yesterday
afternoon that he had had a talk in MS orlce
with his engineers. many Of whom nave peeii Al
the service of the company for many years.
snd that they had reached a satisfactory ar
rangement agreeable 10 both sides
some of the railroad companies have en-
deavored 70 get the engineers on thelr tugs anu
lighters 10 arbitrate. Mr. Smith, superintendent
Of passenger transportation Of the NeW-forh
Central Railroad yesterday made pubhc let
,s- which " b Pollock the manager of the
marine department, had sent TO the forty-seVen
enrfreers of the department In giving il OUT
he said he understood that the Erie Railroad
ped made q similar offer, and thought that the
other railroad companies had done the same.
The result Of their efforts TO avoid strike
ne said could not be told for thrty-slx hours.
In the letter the company offered TO meet ali
the engineers or a committee representing theln'
ct any place they might designate. Tor the pur-
nose of discussing the question OF wages and
conditions of service, and endeaVoflng 10 arrive
al a satisfactory adjustment
If such an adjustment is not possible. the let
fer suggests that an arbitrator be selected by
each. the engineers and the railroad company
and that these TWO select third, if they cannot
agree on the subject under consideration. both
parties TO be bound by the decision from May l.
In closing the letter Mr.. Pollock said that the
company would regret TO be compelled to III the
rlaces with new men, and drew attention to
Section 4449 Act of February 2s 1871, which
provides that the license Of any licensed officer
may De revoked If he shall 10 the hindrance OF
commerce ~unreasonably refuse to serve in his
official capacity on any steamer or shall
fail TO deliver to the applicant for such service
at the time OF such --usal if the same be de-
,nanded. statement in writing assigning good
and sufficient reasons therefor.
A committee Of tugboat owners yesterday held
a. meeting and to-day there will be meeting OF
su the owners. II is understood that the tug
boat owners VIII ultimately concede the hours
and wages asked for, but VIII lay up a number
Of their boats. and, as opportunity permits, re-
place the men who are causing the trouble with
others For some time advertisements have
been published in the papers in other seaports
slong the coast calling for licensed engineers
A bureau has been established at the free read
ing room st No Safest. TO furnish engineers
If the owners Of steam vessels do not comply
tn the demands OF the engineers the effect will
be 20 prevent the movement Of freight about
the harbor the loading OF steamers md the
docking Of the larger ones. The engineers OF
she fee foTn N
frora the piers TO Ellis Island and from the
island to the railroad stations and to New
York have presented their demands with the
Others. and yesterday they announced their in
ssntion to 'resigo" On Friday If these were not
sccepted- z this occurs, and it may, for the
owners Of he vessels have declared that they
will not comply, immigration may be tied up
Thousands Of immigrants are on their way 70
Ne'v-York.
The railroads declare that the wages asked
Cor would make the charges for moving freight
st This mort higher than at any other port on
The coast
4 tieup would affect all the perishable freight
,rr,ing here from Florida, Bermuda and all
other Southern places. It would affect the sup
niles Of dressed beef, the supplies Of milk from
nearby localities Ice, fish. fruit and Vegetaoies
On floats that could not be moved for lack OF
.urboats. 4 food famine might follow
docking Of sailing vessels. and would inter-
fere with the docking and sailing of steamers
The steamers. as a rule. come in at high toe
and have to be assisted in warping into their
docks by the tugboats, which also assist theIn
.n warning out Of their docks.
a general meeting Of the Association for the
Protection Of the Commerce of the Port OF
New-Yark will be held this afternoon at the
Maritime Exchange TO take action one OF the
officers of the association said:
1t looks now as if q tieup can hardly be avert
ed Such a tieup would AFFECT mlllons or oo4-
lars worth of perishable freight, besides the
bloV 10 the commerce of New-York winch II
would infiict The advance in wages demanded
and the reduction of the hours Of labor, with
other conditions demanded. would mean pracu-
t~allv ii rler cent increase in the present wages
This the employers cannot stand AT the meet
ing in the Maritime Exchange tomorrow every
effort viii be made TO avert the threatened lleuP
At the HEADQUARTERS of the Marine Engineers
Association. No. 2S3 Hudson-st, it was said
yesterday that the men would make no conces-
sions Their association is a secret one. and has
its own passwords II is said that the men are
hound 70 abide by its decisions designations
fy the engineers, Of course, would be equivalent
20 a strike but as the engineers carry licenses
from the United States Government they be-
lieve that by this means they would avoid the
snterveOtion Of the federal courts in case the
3nterfered with. National President Jones or
the association, who was in this city yesterday,
said:
some of the employers have already agreed
20 our terms What percentage OF the employ
ers has surrendered ! viii not say I not
at liberty TO give their names. 1 do not see
how the employers can hold out against the
engineers.