The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-19
GOVT WON'T INTERFERE
No Way for Officials to Break the
Deadlock.

49, O-AA>AsS~S
Deadlock.
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Build.
ing, Washington.
Washington, May 19.-It is stated
by officials of the department of COM
merce and labor that there will be no
government interference in the dead
lock between the Lake Carriers as
ISOLATION and the Masters and Pilots
association. The remedy, If there is
any from government sources, should
be applied by the owners, who have
recourse under the federal law-if the
masters violate any law.
Section 4449 of the revised statutes
says:
If any licensed officer shall. to the hind
rance of commerce, wrongfully or unreal
sonably refuse to serve In his official ca
pac1ty on any steamer, as authorized by
the terms Of his certificate of license, or
shall fail to deliver to the applicant for
such service at the time of such refusal,
If the same shall be demanded, state
ment in writing assigning good and suffi-
shall be revoked. upon the same proceed
ings as are provided In other cases Of re-
vocation of such licenses.
The same proceedings means the
filing Of charges against individual
masters and pilots by owners or others
interested, their citation to answer
charges, and an investigation by the
local officers of the steamboat inspec-
ton service. E..
Discussing the trouble, Mr.. Uhler,
supervising inspector general of
steam vessels, said to-day:
There have been similar disputes
in other sections and in no case has
mer there was danger Of a tie-up
around New York city because of a
difference between the owners and
engineers. An effort was made by the
owners to have the government step
in and command the engineers to
their licenses. The owners We're re-
ferred to Section 4449, and filed
charges against the engineers. They
were investigated and in cases where
the men had acted egularly-notify-
| ing the owners in advance of a con-
| templated demand for an increase of
wages, the men were exonerated.
Where the men left their vessels with
out notice-deserted their ships, as
you might say-or otherwise wrong
| fully refused to serve their licenses
were revoked.
The question of what is wrongful
! or unreasonable refusal to serve, If
! charges are filed by the lake carriers,
can be determined only upon a full
examination. But the government
can't take any action to break a dead
lock, and it will not interfere in the
present case"
There arises the question Of the ex-
| istence of conspiracy between the
members Of the opposing forces.
Practically all the masters and pilots
are members of their association and
are bound by Its action. On the other
side nearly all the vessel owners are
members Of the carriers association
So that, If there Is a conspiracy on one
side, there Is on the other. One body
is organized to keep UP wages and the
other to keep up freights. It is sug-
gested that d possible plan for break
ing the deadlock would be the prose.
cution of one or the other as combi.
nations in restraint Of trade.
i 1t is conceded, however, that nc
matter what happens, the consumer
will eventually pay the cost of the tie.
up. When it does end, there viii
be such demand for tonnage thai
the owners will put up freight rate!
on coal and grain. and the increase
will be added to the cost and the re-
tail price demanded. Consumers O
anthracite coal are now paying tn,
cost of the strike of a year and hal
ago, and the public in the northwes
will pay the added cost of the fue
consumed next winter.
- w. w. Jermana.