Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
ENGINEERS WANT MORE PAY
INCREASE OF TWENTY-FIVE PER
CENT DEMANDED.
May Result in General Tie-Up Of Tugs
and Steamers OH the
Potomac

The edict has gone forth that If the
steamboat owners and managers operating
steamers and tugboats out of this city
do not grant an increase in the pay de-
manded by the marine engineers there will
be a strike on the Potomac that will in
volve practically every tug and steamboat
running out of the Washington harbor.
The steamboat managers were this morn
ing notified by mail of the demands OF
branch No. 90 of the Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association, and a copy of the
scale of wages they are expected to pay
after May 10 was also sent them. 1t is
stated that practically every man IN the
city holding a marine engineers license Is
a member of the association, and will stand
by it. should the owners refuse the demand
made upon them.
The lines involved are the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company, the
Washington and Potomac Steamboat Com
pany. the Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall
Steamboat Company. the Potomac Naviga-
ton Company and the tugboats operated
by A. ]. Taylor & Bro. the Smoot Sand
Company, the Columbia Sand Company and
others.
Text of the Demand.
The engineers demand was embodied in
the following circular which was received
by the steamboat men this morning:
Wage scale. crew list and conditions gov
erning marine engineers employed on
steamers sailing from Washington, D. c.:
First-class river and bay steamers. chief
engineers, $12o per month; assistant engl-
neer. 500 per month: second assistant, $40.
Note-In above class is included steamers
St John. jamestown and steamers of SIM
liar class.
First-class river steamers, chief engineer.
500 per month; assistant engineer, $50 per
month.
Note-In above class is included steamers
Manchester, Harry Randall and steamers of
similar class.
neer $50 per month, and to carry an as
sistant engineer at $40 per month when
running regularly beyond Sandy Point.
Ferry steamers-Chef engineer, 500 per
month: assistant engineer. $40 per month.
Harbor towboats-Chief engineer, 5000
per month: assistant engineer, $50 per
month.
Note-The above class applies to tow
boats running to the lower part of the
river and bay. Towboats used for har-
Dor towing exclusively, that Is to say this
side of Sandy Point. engineer, $40 per
month. az hours to constitute a week of
six days double time for Sunday work OF
any kind. and 80 cents per hour for all over
time during the week days.
Miscellaneous steamers, such as the Lilly
and Howard. etc.-Engineer, SIS per month.
Advance Of Twenty-Five Per Cent. =
The advance demanded is about 25 per
cent above the present scale of wages ex-
cept for vessels listed as '.first-class river
and bay steamers On this class of boats
the chief engineer is paid either the scale
or more than 1t, but an advance of from IS
to SIS per month Is demanded for assistant
engineers, and In addition the boats are re-
Quested to carry third engineer at SIS
per month, something they have not been
doing.
a Star reporter this morning called at the
offices of the local steamboat companies.
but found Capt. E. s. Randall, manager Of
the Washington and Potomac Steamboat
Company and Capt. c. w. Ridley of the
Mt. Vernon and Marshall Hall line were
both out of the city.
Mr.. John Callahan. general manager of
the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat
Company. stated that his line Is paying the
chief engineer more than the scale de-
manded and that the second engineers were
only few dollars below the scale. That as
far he knew his men were all satisfied
and he anticipated no trouble from them.
1t has, he said, been only a month or two
since his company had voluntarily advanced
wages, not only In the engine room of the
steamers. but In other departments as well.
President Hayden's Statement.
President William B. Hayden of Branch
%, of the Marine Engineers Benevolent
Association. was asked by Star reporter
this morning If the men would strike if the
demands were not complied with. He said
the word strike is not in the constitution of
the engineers association, but that the
men will certainly walk out If they did not
get what they asked for. When asked II
the men would be willing to compromise
he said that he did not care to discuss that
feature of the case II the steamboat own
ers and managers refuse to grant the de-
mands of the men the president of the ma
tional organization of marine engineers. Mr..
william F. Yates of New York, will come
to this city to talk the matter over with
the owners and managers.
If 1t comes to a walk-out, Mr.. Hayden
finally said, the engineers have money
enough In the treasury to take care Of the
men who leave the boats for several months.
While no official interviews could be had
with the managers of the steamers operat-
ing on the river, 1t Is understood from I'M
official sources that the business done by
the steamers will not justify the paying OF
the wages demanded. particularly as, II Is
stated, there is every proba bility of the de-
mand of the engineers for more pay being
followed by demand for increase in wages
from the masters and pilots employed on
the local steamboat lines. To grant the de-
III he engineers q tpd will add