Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-02
THREAT OF STEAMSHIP STRIKE
COastwise Trade May BE Affected by
TrOuble Brewing In New
York.

NEW YORK. May May day found
the workingmen in comparatively few Of
the trades in this city ready 10 assert any
demands for increased wages and in conse-
quence strikes we're few. Chief interest
eentered in the possibility Of a strike today
Of the first and second and third officers
OF the coastwise steamers, who have made
demands for increased wages. Up TO today
seven OF the seventeen lines Of steamers
having terminals in this city had accepted
the new schedule. Representatives Of the
Department Of Commerce and Labor at
Washington have been sent to this city to
try To avert the threatened trouble.
The general manager Of the Consolidated
Steamship lines. owned BY c. ". Morse.
made a compromise offer. but II was de-
clined At the Offices Of the Mallory line
il was stated today that their officers had
not gone out, but there IL a strike Of
stevedores at both the Mallory and Ward
line docks
Negotiations are still in progress between
the officers and companiea
Luther B. Dow, general manager Of the
American Association Of Masters. Mates
and Pilots. said today that none OF the
first, second and third officers OF the
steamers belonging to the lines which re-
fused to advance wages would return to
their duties until the advances are granted.
Most Of the steamship lines affected by
the strike run steamers TO southern ports
and New York and Boston Captain Dow
said that the first second and third on
GERS Of the Clyde. Mallory, Ward, Old
Dominion, Savannah, New York and Porto
Rico, Red D.. all OF which operate steam
ers between New York and southern ports
had left the steamers which are now in
this port In addition, he said, the officers
OF the Metropolitan line 70 Boston. the
Maine Steamship company. running 20
Portland, Ne. and the windsor line. oper-
ating between Philadelphia and Boston
Providence, had also left their posts.
Agreements were reached. ne added, with
the Panama Bull. Luckenbach and Bruins
wick lines and the Merchants and Miners
Transportation company Of Baltimore, and
negotiations were in progress with the
Morgan line, which belongs to the South
ern Pacific company. Captain Dow de-
clared that he expected the other COM
panies to come to terms shortly.
On the lines Of the Consolidated Steam
ship company he said 80 men were out.
The journeymen painters have been on
strike for a few weeks. demanding an in
crease IN wages Tor plaln painting rom
Sl5O to - per day and for decorative paint
ing from a to $50 per day and are still
out They had hoped for sympathetic
strikes on the part OF the building trades
today to help enforce their demands. but
no such move was made by the allied
unions.
In Paterson, n. J.. 100 journeymen car
penters went on a strike today for an in
crease in wages from $3.50 to a a day.
The building operations in that city were
at a standstill.
Thirteen hundred carpenters in Newark
n. J., struck today to enforce a demand
for an increase In wages from an cents 20
50 cents Ter hour. All of these rlpn were
employed by members OF the masters as
ISOLATION. The demands of the men were
granted by independent employers and 900
carpenters remained az work
Los ANGELES, Cal. Nav l-Several
hundred teamsters here went on strike to-
day against the open shop ard TO enforce
an demand for an increase OF wage Of 81
cents a day. So far only the drivers OF the
heavy trucks have gone out. but the strike
may spread TO all branches. The strike Is
particularly serious at this time because
OF the fiesta. which begins next week. and
also the national conclave OF Shrtners.