New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-06
HAVE FUND, BUT NO REST
LongShoremen Still Haunt Sa-
looms While $4,000 Lies Idle.
LACK CASH TO CARRY IT ON
Philanthropic Societies Now Try
ing to Make White Elephant
Of Use to Stevedores.

"A perfectly good appropriation and MOTH
ing being done with IT," is what Mrs.
Vladimir 6. Simkhovitch thinks Of the
$3.50 which the Board of Estimate agreed
to give the Dock Department in 1911 for
erecting n building TO be used as a long
shoremens rest.
At best the stevedores Job is a most I'M
certain quantity, his days work depending
upon his being on the spot and ready for It
when he is called upon. This means that
when he is not actually employed he is still
obliged TO hold himself prepared and walt
for the chance. Unoccupied time must be
spent somewhere conveniently near, and, as
is often the case. the hospitality or rest
Ing place is quickly offered by persons who
are financially interested in doing So Along
the piers whore the longshoremen gather in
their idle hours the saloon is the natural
place for a man to go. In hot weather II
offers shade and in cold weather II supplies
warmth. At all times one may find COM
partnership. and, consequently, the saloon
becomes the rendezvous Of the freight han
dlers That these men are spoken of as fire.
duent drinkers ia doubtless due TO the cir
cumstances Of their occupation, which leave
them with few other resources.
Pioneer Is Most Popular.
Believing this to be true, the Church Tenn
perance Society opened longshoremen' $
rest at No 1914 18th street. This provided
a comfortable, convenient place for the men
from the nearby piers and became extreme
~ popular II is equipped with reading ana
lounginp rooms, games and other attractive
features. There are no religious services
and no tracts are distributed. 1t is stated
that nearly five hundred men use the rest
daily and the magazines are literally worn
out
one such place. however, is far from pc
ing a solution OF the problem as whoie'
and some persons considered IL adVisdple
for the Dock Department TO undertake inc
building Of another rest. The services OF
Mr. Kelly a former lOngshoreman ana
president OF the Longshoremen Pontlcal
Union. were secured tor purposes OF lh'eS-
tigation. After full inquiry he recommend
cd the establishment OF a place so situated
that II would attract the men Of Piers 90
n 5S and 50, North River. The proposed
site is I'm West 18th street.
Mr.. Kclly's eloquence persuaded the Boaro
~ Estimate to vote $500 for the purpose
hut the board omitted to consider the cost
of maintenance.
"There they've got the appropriation
s,vs AIRS. Simkhoyitch, which in a burst
NJ con,mendable sentiment was handed out
for the building, and now the thing TO 90
"a 70 get IL furnished and provide for the
running expenses"
AS william ]. Barney. Second Deputy
] X
pIains the situation. the Commissioner OF
! Docks did not ask for the appropriation III
the first place, and now that Mr.. Kelly has
succeeded in having It offered the depart
ment finds II somewhat of white elephant
Luncheon Room Might Aid.
II WAS suggested that luncheon room
in connection with the rest would pay the
expcnses, but Mr.. Barney could not see why
the city should be expected 10 20 into INC
catering business. Then interested resi-
dants of Greenwich House, the Social Set
tIonnent at No % Jones street. started a
search for some one to undertake the Iunch-
oon room. The management Of big res
taurant circuit was approached, but WIN
no success Various philanthropic socleues
olso declined the honor, and the whole mat
ter Is still in the air. The money is avail
able and win be used for the building as
soon as the right kind Of person or organl-
zatIon will volunteer TO look after the en-
! terprise.
Miss Graham, the superintendent OF the
! Church Temperance Society's Rest, made an
estimate of probable cost. based upon eXpe-
rience in her own work, and this amounts &c
! 81, 200 annually
The four docks which the proposed build
ing would be near employ three hundred
men. At q conservative estimate from 20
to 30 per cent of these are Italians, Few
are negroes and the remainder are Anglo
| SaXons