The sun., 1903-04-30
THEY'LL RISK fHgR LICENSES
MARINE SNGINExRs WILL DEFY
A FEDBRAL STATUTE

Rsaseu 9hau Lese Hls Tlchet--0rsve
Prospect q Harbor re-up Te-merrew
The shipping trade in New York harbor
10 threatened with q general strike Of the
marine engineers on tho tug boats and
other steam craft tomorrow unless some
thing u done to-day to avert It. The pros
pect OF averting strike did not look bright
yesterday, and II was admitted by the rep
ressntatives OF the railroad companies
which convey freight BY water. and by the
tugboat owners a. well, that the situation
looked serious.
A meeting Of representatives Of the rail-
road companies was held yesterday after
noon at las Liberty street to consider what
action could be taken, and another meeting
will be held to-day. Tho companies rep
resented yejerday included the New York
Central, the New York, New Haven and
Hartford, the Pennsylvania, the Erie, and
the Central Railroad Of New Jersey. Gen.
eral Manager Besler Of the latter company
said yesterday after the meeting:
The situation Is considered very serious
by the freight departments Of tho various
railroads. They have offered arbitration,
but the engineers won't have II. A tie-up
Of harbor shipping would Affect all the
Eastern cities for which New York In the
distributing centre, and all kinds Of periah-
able freight. such as eggs. milk dressed beef.
ice, vegetables, fish and fruit, would bs
ruined Some action may be taken to-
morrow, but ! oan make no prediction
The New York Central railroad. follow
Ing the lead Of the Erie, sent out a letter
yesterday to the forty-seven marine en-
-. sx oA In 10
and. II necessary, arbitrate. their demand
for higher wages. 1t also called their at
tsntion to the very strong probability that
by strikinG-or a. they put 1t 'resigning
in . bodt'-they may lay themselves open
to losing their licenses. The letter said:
DEAR R-Havins further reference TO
the question Of wages and the conditions OF
propeilers. which has been under consideration
Tor some time, would say that the manage
hs .ns asdsJn snsr
Railroad marine engineers. has declined the
proposition contained in ny isttes s Of n.on Aprl
~ last. and We desire 70 make q iuftner pfopo-
We shaii be Glad TO meet all Of our engineers
or a committee representing them. q such
panSoss q ~ c
and conditions OF service snd enoe4yor!ng 70
fsunS shss .acs an Il Sos
arbitrator, the railroad company wiz select s
Ssr:s on the subject under disHs:ion. .hsli .h.l
select q. third and the company win egree With
y. employees to acosp, and abide by the ds 2,
arrangement decided upon to become enec-
se inS the % decision os Of This board Sf IbitrstOrs
our men are to continue In service.
Many Of our engineers have ts 1een u N s Sne
;s5SS' SoSS rssqss ss' % 70
the service and 70 be compelled 20 M their
places with SS ssS men !. S5dsr and 's d.cSs
e1%set ,es anSs rom sectlgn s..S. ss. Of f:s g,
ls7i. in regard 70 the revocation OF omcers
'si' III any licensed officsr shall. to the hinder
anee ot commerce wronEfally or rr.sssSr ."I,,
oD's on any steamer. as authorized BY. the terms
Of bis certificate Of license, or shall IAN g
Syi 6. I'm: 70 d n cSPDssas f'
e 3 sssa :S .ss':ss;s s:.:sa ;S:isf: l:;S:s
any person whom the master OF owner. Of
sss Of sssrns SssTe The % & %
cense cen shall be revoked upon The same pro:
SsedinFs :. srs prSs;yidsd n other cases Of
the psrt Of the employees whether or not IN
sssns seiq r. pSsSns Sey not
their licenses revoked. Please reply.
A member Of the Executive COMMITTEES
of the Marine Engineers' Benevolent Asso-
citation, whom asked last night what the
association proposed to do about the SEQ:
ton OF the law quoted IN the letter, replied
that the engineers had been under that
law for twenty yean and would steer clear
.wo,,idn7, n,,;ttino ,vork IN n BODY Leave
the engineers liable to have their licenses
revoked?' ne was asked.
Il think not said the committeeman.
Anyway, he said the mon would not
accept arbitration with individual employ
ers. They wanted q fxed scale for all
engineers, and they would stick to their
demands.
Tho railroad companies have about 500
tusboats in the harbor, and the private tug
boat owners, who are now organized as
the Association for the Protection OF the
Commerce Of the Port Of New York. oper-
ate about 200 moro. Tho sseociation will
meet this afternoon at the Maritime Ex-
change to take final action. and. ite members
say, will avert tie-up, II possible. The
association and the railroad companies
will act together.
The national president Of the Engineers
arrived here yesterday morning. He de-
olared that some of tho tugboft owners
had already agreed to the mons terms.