The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-10-04
STEAMER CAPTAINS
They Prevent Eight Boats From
Leaving Baltimore.
Change in Capt Willard ThomsOn's Attitude
Iooked Upon as Decided Concession.

The fight Of licensed officers Oh O.'
steamboats, of the Baltimore, chesapeake
and Atlantic aud the Marylan Della
ware and Virginia Railway Companl"~
for high pay is fairly on in Baltlmonr
Four boats scheduled to aildld so, while
four Others that were to have sailed re-
manned tied to their wharves. Tile ON
cials of the companies express themselves
as confident that they VIII be able I"
cone with the situation 10y putting th'
winter schedules into effect somewhat
earlier than usual
Among the boats tied up are the Ann
Arundel. oi the Potomac river route
Capt. Gcoghegan
Roth sides seem confident, the striking
officers declaring they have aslrongcard
in the fact that the captains who refused
Ia take out their boats are the best
know n ON the bay.
Cant. Willard Thomson, the general
manager of the steamboat companies
said that he had received between siAtl
and seventy designations Ol mas rs ahH
mates. OF this number, thirty were cap
tains hut he added that fifteen OF tn
| lat. RI had withdrawn designations
Cant. Thomson said that he received
some time ago, a request Tor hiEue'
wages but il came through their union
and not from the men themselves. lie
declined to consider il for that reason.
He said, also. that his lines were pay
| ing the best wages they could anord. lie
nointed ont that eleven Ot the boats Werr
run ut a loss last season, and that hlhr
had been operated under similar circum
stances SO far this season. lie believed
the men themselves were satisfied.
The men contend that long before Their
organization took up the matter, they han
endeavorcd, 10y personal Application 10
Cant Thomson, To secure better ply.bu
without result Captains have been get.
ting So to 500 IA month; first mates
$40 t. $50. and second mates, $40 u
$40. The advances asked average about
- per cent. ,o
The combined companies operate ~
steamers over routes OF , 200 miles, cal
ing at 25O landings, and doing annually
a truck business alone that rpr,eilts
So 600 600. The men employed on
these steamers and interest IN th'
present attempted tie-up number he
tween go and 20. 4 complete tle-up o.
these lines would throw about 100 men
out of work, and seriously hamper bir
business interests.
There il said to be a possibility that
the engineers will be- called ont To aid the
fight Of the deck Off ers. but no steps III
this direction are known to have been
taken a yet.
At the close of Tuesday. the second day
of the fight of the licensed officers OF the
:. ,amboats OF the Baltimore, chesapeake
and Atlantic. and the Maryland, Deli
ware and Virginia railway companies
for increased pay. the advantage seemed
decidedly on the side OF the men. Inc
four boats that failed To sail Monday ~
scheduled remained tied To their wharves
and To them were added four more.
while the companies have been abe to
add but two TO the number OF boats
sailing as scheduled.
But what * looked upon as the most
important development was the ap-
parent change in the attitude oil Oapt
Willard Thomson, general manager OF
the lines affected. who Gfter 81 ably -
iusing to recognize or have any com
municatiOn with the officers OF the
national organization with WREN tu'
captains and mats OF his lines are
affiliated, sought an interview with them,
and is to meet them.
Added To the vessels tied up Monday
were the Lancaster, OF the Rappahf =
mock River route, and the NOrthumher-
land. of the Potomac River rOu' Any
considerable continuance OF present con
l;tfnuo IN causa Grave frouble in places
which depend upon these steamboats, iof
supplies. and, indeed, practically all com
munication with the outside world.