Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19
MAKE DEMAND FOR MORE PAY
MATES, PILOTS AND MASTERS ON
RIVER STEAMERS.
Probability of a Tie-Up Because Of
Observation-Disclosures Regarded
as Excessive.

The probabilities are said to be growing
stronger that there will be a tie-up of the
steamboats, operating on the lower river.
caused by the refusal of the licensed mates,
pilots and masters to accept anything as
the scale of wages except that of the sched-
ue which was published in The Star Friday
afternoon last 1t is stated that Capt. E. g.
Randall. manager of the Washington and
Potomac Steamboat Company, Friday aft
ernoon invited tie licensed officers in his
employment to meet him for the purpose of
trying to reach scale mutually satisfac-
tory to the men and owners.
The men came. but their spokesman
stated that the matter was in the hands of
the American Association of Masters and
Pi o:s. and that they could accept no COM
promise measure except with the consent
OF the association, and the conference ter
minated without anything having been ac-
complished except to iHcrese the friction
already existing. AS far can be ascer-
tanned nothing has been done by the other
stea boat lines. on whom the demand for
more Pay was made, looking to a settlement
of the differences, and what the outcome
will be is IN doubt.
Date Undetermined.
1t is also a matter of doubt as to when
the men propose to walk ashore, as the let,
ter TO the managers of the lines requested
an answer to the demand for an increase
by tomorrow, while the scale asked for is
not to go into effect before June 1. 1t is
genera ly understood, however that the en-
ployes VII not leave the boats until called
out by tie general officers of the associa-
tlon who have their headquarters in New
YORK There is feeling of general unrest
along the steamboat wharves, as the only
steamboat line not invo we'd is the main line
of the Norfolk and Washington Company
to Old Point and Norfolk. The men on these
steamers are all members of the Norfolk
harbor and have. it Is stated nothing to
do with the present demand for Increase
Capt E. S. Randall, manager of the Wash
lngton and Potomac Steamboat Company,
who has a fleet of Ave steamers, all of
which would have been in commission on
the river this season. stated to a Star re-
porter yesterday that he is perfectly willing
to give his men a substantial advance over
the wages they are at present receiving, but
the business done by his boats does not
warrant the payment of from 33 Is to 66 3
per cent advance over the present wage
scale, and this seems to be the position
taken by the managers of the other lines
involved.
Scale Demanded.
The wage Scale asked for is said to be
practically that paid on the lines running
out of Baltimore, where it is SAID the bust
ness is ten times heavier than 1t is on the
:
boat man yesterday evening regarding the
pay of pilots and masters, it was declared
that since the lines operating out of Balti-
more to tributaries of the bay were forced
by the pilots association to advance wages
last spring, they have made a heavy ad-
vance IN the freight and passenger rates.
ana TINS advance was made necessary, it is
stated, by the increased cost of operating
the boats
1t is also stated that before the pilots take
lurther action officials of the pilots asso-
ciation~from New York headquarters will
come to this city and endeavor to arrange
matters. The steamboat managers say,
however, that they do not employ any one
IN New York, and that it is for. their men
70 conduct their own negotiations. 1t is very
oouotfu'. It is said, if the managers viii
confer with outside people regarding a
ployes
The boats are still running, but how long
they will continue is matter for future de-
yelopment The Washington steamboat men
are not members of the Washington har
Dor, the local branch of the pilots associa-
ton. but belong to Rescue Harbor of BaIti-
more.