New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-08
Expected to Present Demands
Just Before HomeWard Rush
of Tourists Begins,
Late in August.
CREWS MAY SUPPORT THEM
Better Safety Equipment, More
Pay, Security of Tenure,
Greater Comfort and Triple
Watches Some of the
British Demands.

According to advices received in this
city yesterday from London, union has
been formed by the masters and mates
OF Great Britain, and before the home
ward rush of tourists begins in the lat
ter part Of August captains and officers
of the transatlantic liners will be in
position to demand many concessions
from the steamship lines with services
to this port.
If the demands are not met by the
owners II is feared that a concerted ac-
ton on the part of captains and officers
will cause a bigger tie-up of sea traffic
in England this fall than has ever been
brought about by striking stokers, fire.
men. sailors and stewards.
While Great Britain could call upon
her navy for navigators to man her
merchant ships. such action, it IS
thought. would be improbable. as she
might not wish to have her naval officers
away from her fighting ships. The or
ganized labor element between decks i
is said, would profit by the demands Of
reason would strike in sympathy with
their superiors.
The organization and perfection If
such a union, which has been going on
quietly in England for the last eighteen
months, is the most significant incident
of progress in maritime affairs that has
come out since the loss of the White Star
liner Titanic in April.
While the sounding of prominent COM
manders and their officers by the labor
leaders relative to their feeling on the
formation of the union had been n
progress for six months before the
Titanic went down, the loss Of that
steamship, it is said, is largely response
BILE for the ready response of the mas
ters and officers TO the call of the labor
organizers.
Must Guarantee Safety.
In fact, one of the salient feature OF
the new unions demands is that the
owners of steamships shall guarantee II
the travelling public proper lifesavinS
equipment on all passenger vessel and
perfectly- trained and efficient crew 10
see that no steamship is allowed to pro-
ceed to sea unless 1t is thoroughly sea-
worthy in every detail.
Many of the prominent commanders in
the services from British ports to the
Far East Australia, the Mediterranean.
South Africa and New York have en-
rolled In the union with their officers,
and the growing strength Of the organi-
zation, II is thought will compel the
doubtful ones TO cast their lots with the
majority.
Captains who have been approached
on the matter and who are in sympathy
with the movement have declared that
the union is out TO win in conservative
fashion No unreasonable demands will
be made, but those that are presented
10 the steamship owners will be fought
for hard, and there will be no backing
down.
A representative of the union who
came to this country several weeks ago
TO confer with labor leaders in this port,
Montreal and Canadian ports on the
Great Lakes, said the National Union Jf
Masters and Mates would not ask for,
but would insist on having all the
propositions thrashed out by the general
committee.
With the exception Of few command
ers who are near the age of retirement,
those who are receiving $1,000 year or
more and trose whose companies have
provided for their old age with PEN
sion, all masters and mates sailing under
the British flag are said TO be heartily
In sympathy with the plans of the union
and are preaching the gospel OF organi-
zation to their fellow sailormen In every
port in the world.
Say Masters Pay Is Too Small.
One of the chief grievances of the cap
tsins 10 that the pay of the average
master is too small for the responsibility
imposed. Exception is made, however,
In the cases of the Mauretania and the
Lusitania and ships Of their high speea
and class, whose masters receive sal
ary Of about $1,000 year. But on Brit
ish steamships below the grace OF these
the masters pay seldom exceeds so,ooo'
Discontent Of the British masters over
the small salaries paid by the ship own
ers is whetted by realization of the
generous pay and perquisites or the cap
tains OF German steamships granted oy
the Hamburg American and North Ger
man LLOYD lines. Practically all OF the
German masters retire we'll to do long
before the retirement age OF sixty-t"o.
The age of Captain Smith, commander
Of the Titanic was discussed freey III
England and in this country after the
great vessel was lost, and 1t is said that
the important companies are now oeiio-
Grating On reducing the retirement age
TO ffty-fve.
Fully four years ago the Cunard Lihe'
whose retiring age Is sixty-three' real
lied the Importance of putting younger
men on the big end fast steamships ana
when Captain Watt and Captain PITCH
ard quit the Lusitania and the Maure-
tania the younger masters OF the Meet
were assigned TO these vessels.
Captain War;, OF the Campania; cap
tain Barr, of the Caronia, and Captain
Dow, OF the Carmania, all outrankeo IN
years and service Captain Turner OF ths
Mauretania, and Captain Charles OF the
Lusitania.
The possibility OF reducing the retire.
ment age, with no prospect OF pension
is one Of the important reasons Tor 'hs
demand for higher pay.
Captain E5K~sn,a mn NJ the North Ger