The San Francisco call., 1906-06-13


geance. For more than three hours the
committee from the Waterfront Fed
Grafton conferred with the owners of
the various vessels yesterday morning,
and when the session ended it was an
nounced that no understanding had
been reached and no arrangements
made for another meeting, which would
indicate that both sides decided to f1ght
the matter out. After the conference
the Federation committee gave out the
following statement:
The committee of five of the City
Front Federation met the committee of
Ave of the employers this day at 1880
a. m on board the steamer ii. }, Cor
coran, and after three.hour confer
lowing as a settlement of the existing
situation
That the agreement and conditions
Sailors, Firemen and Cooks unions
and the various steamship companies
be extended and continued in force
and effect till January 81. 1907.
The committee of the City Front
Federation submitted the proposal of
the employers to the seamen and re-
ceived the following:
City Front Federation Committee
Gentlemen: Your report and PROPOSE
ton coming from the employers com.
mittee was taken up by the Sailors
First. that the proposal of the en-
ployers made to the City Front Fed
Grafton committee be not accepted;
second. motion made and carried unan-
imously that the Sailors Union of the
Pacific declares its willingness tolsub-
nit the question of wage conditions
biased board sitting in public and to
agree to abide by its decision. Fur
ther. that the City Front Federation
committee present these, our views, to
n
"A. FURUSETH, Secretary"
The City Front Federation at 1890
of the sailors to the employers. The
employers, after consultation, in
formed the committee of the City
Front Federation that they had de-
fered by the sailors. The committee
of the City Front Federation was not
in position to proceed any further
before presenting the matter to the
City Front Federation, which meets
tomorrow night
JOHN KEAN. Secretary.
This statement, giving the steamship
mems side of the controversy, was is
sued:
sociation of San Francisco, after nego-
tiations which covered period of
weeks, entered into contract with
the Sailors Union of the Pacific, the
and the Marine Cooks and Stewards
Association, same clearly setting
forth the rate of wages. and overtime
to be paid the men; the number of
hours to be worked and all conditions
pertaining to the service. That con-
tract expired on January 81, 1905, but
was renewed without alteration for
another year and made to expire on
January 81, 1905.
Under terms of said contract notices
were to be given the three unions
namAd during ~
of the time and place. when and
where, conference could be had to dis
cuss the matter of whether renewal
of the contracts was desired, etc
In accordance with above provision
due notice was given the unions of
the. time and place where conference
sentatives of the unions met with the
directors of the Steamship Association.
COST HAD REACHED LIMIT.
While the union representatives
were not prepared with definite propo-
sitions yet the representative of the
Sailors Union declared himself in ia
vor of renewal of the contract pro-
vided an increase in pay and the modi-
fication of certain clauses in the con-
of the firemen represented that re-
newal of the contract would be agree
able to his union, provided it could
be arranged that the chief engineers
should pass upon the question of over
time due the men rather than the mas
ters as Heretofore. He did not inti-
mate or suggest that any increase of
sentative of the cooks and stewards
expressed himself as not caring par
ticularly whether the contract with his
union was renewed for another year
or not. which in view of the fact that
the cooks and stewards had repeatedly
fiagrantly violated their agreement
was entirely satisfactory to the Steam
ship Association.
The Steamship Association stated it
was ready to take up the matter of
contract which was about to expire and
correct or modify it wherever it
seemed reasonable or advisable to do
so, but under no circumstances could
1T consider anything which might
mean an increase in the cost of oper
alton of steam schooners for the rea-
son that the cost of operation of said
vessels had already reached the limit.
stated they would take the matter up
with their respective unions and meet
the directors of the Steamship Asso
citation at a later date.
In line with the above another con-
ference was had with the representa-
tives of the three unions. At this
conference the sailors demanded an
that is. TO bar harbors and outside
ports as well; in addition they de-
manded certain trimmings"
IS per month and they demanded also
certain changes in the computation of
overtime and the complement or men
to be carried on certain steamers on
certain voyages
The cooks and stewards demanded
advances all along the line which, to
the Steamship Association, seemed un-
reasonable to the last degree.
However, the demands were dis
cussed by the representatives of the
unions and the directors of the Steam
ship Association, but without result.
The Steamship Association admitted
that the rate of wages to sailors and
firemen had not changel, but called at
tention to the fact that the hours of
service had been reduced and compen-
satiOn for overtime SO fixed that the
income of the men had been very
largely Increased. 1t was shown that
the average income to, sailors was not
less than from s65 to 500 per month,
to which must be added the value of
their board and lodging. The Steam
ship Association maintained that the
compensation to sailors and firemen
was ample and liberal for the service
rendered. that far as the sailors,
were concerned those employed on
steam schooners were, without ques-
tion, the best paid sailors in the world.
1t was pointed out to the firemen
that nearly all steam schooners were
now burning oil; that there was no
more shoyeling of coal or hosting of
ashes; that their duties were now
rather of oilers than firemen, but still
the Steamship Association was willing