The Arvada enterprise., 1911-08-03

is out OF commission. The pay of sea,
tions, except the United States. is
lower than the British ships
Cause OF Recent Strike.
To remedy these conditions seamen
struck for minimum rate of wages
at all ports and a board Of arbitration
to which they can appeal against the
Ship Owners federation, which is
the trust the humble mariner now has
to fight singlehanded Owing to the
poor pay and generally uncomfortable
surroundings, 1t is said, the class OF
seamen has deteriorated, officers as
well as men. Modern education has
caused even sailors to think and per
ceive that there Is no future In sea
faring career except to rise to the
rank OF bosun. which pays $50 to $40
per month. and their number is linn
tied
The only successful strike in the
mercantile marine was that by the
officers of the British India company,
In the East Indian coastal service, who
struck 10 years ago and tied up every
steamship from the Persian gulf
round TO Shanghai. The vessels re
mained In port for days, costing the
company thousands OF dollars, until
the officers pay was Increased 30 per
cent. and their demands were granted.
During that time the strikers were en-
tertained and assisted by wealthy res
idents at various ports and by pas
sengers who had to wait in hotels to
go on the ships.
Officers of Atlantic liners are dis
satisfied also with their pay and be
cause OF lack of recognition by officers
OF the company until they attain
commanders rank. 1t is said that di-
rectors Of the biggest steamship lines
out Of Liverpool will ignore the chief
offic standing at the gangway and
shake hands with the chief steward
standing beside him. Old fashioned
skippers have It In their power, ow-
iHS to the confidential report system
| in vogue, to mas the career Of any
| Junior officer, who may never know
what has kept him back
Pay Of Steamship officers.
The pay of the officers on the big
liners ranges from S35 for juniors to
800 for chief officers on the biggest
mail steamers Out Of this their uni
form, gold lace and badges must be
paid, and, with washing added. the
Junior officers has little left at the
end OF a three weeks voyage. When
on mcers are unattached, which hap
pens not infrequently, they are put
on half pay.
In the last five years many officers,
some OF whom have attained the rank
of first officer. have left the Atlantic
liners to take positions ashore in the
United States. and others now in
service are on the alert to get start
In any business that holds out some
hope for the future to avoid spending
the rest of their lives at sea.
The average pay for captains of the
fastest and largest mall steamships in
the Atlantic trade ranges from $4,000
to $4,000 a year An exception is
Commodore f c Smith OF the White
Star liner Olympic. whose pay has
o. ] bttl lnNINhNtu W NNf'''r 81 - NhiNs ~
mark the advent OF the biggest liner
Of the mercantile marine into the
service These men have in their
charge vessels valued with freight
at 5000 600 to s9.OOO,OOO In addition
to 5000 lives on boord
Risks the Captains Run,
Although a captain may be in com
. mand for 20 years without an acci
dent. an error in judgment, even when
not entirely his own fault, may cost
! him his position and end his career
at sea. Most OF the big lines have a
hard and fast rule that commanders
who meet with accidents must resign
The underwriters also keep the record
OF captains and even when the com.
pany might feel inclined to give an
old and tried employe another chance
the underwriters will decline to take
! the risk OF the ship, except at very
high rates
The employment Of Chinese and
} japanese crews on British vessels has
increased very rapidly in the last ten
years because 1t has become more
dlficult each year to get European
sailors OF the standard that went 70
sea a quarter OF century ago. The
! opinion OF experienced captains OF to
day Is that the scarcity OF officers and
, men will continue to Increase unless
: some improvement Is made In the pay
; and conditions afoat In tho mercantile
marine.