New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-10
Witnesses Tell U. S. Com
> mission of llliteracy
Among River Folk.
ELDERS TRADE IN
COCAINE, ONE CHARGE
Instance of Holding Out" on
Longshoremen Alleged by One
Union Organizer.

An extensive interstate traffic IN cocaine
-. ether drugs is carried on by coal
narve crews. according th the testimony
~ walter Il. Holt, organizer OF the IN
ternstional Longshoremen's Union, before
the United States Commission on inous-
trial Relations yesterday.
lie declared conditions on coal osrses
are often revolving, and cited one instance
Of eight persons, four OF them aduits'
living IN one small cabin. He said there
ara 900 children on the barges and canal
boats operating out Of New York VINO
rov.r have had an opportunity 70 attend
school and who are subjected TO degrao-
ing influences OF dives
The life OF a longshoreman in this port
was fixed at fifteen years after he began
thu Uork-if he is healthy and robust TO
s,or, with. Conditions surrounding them
here are worse than those IN o'her ldre'
cities witnesses said. Charles H. Barnes
special investigator for the commission
placed the responsibility largely with the
line owners.
Holt charged a specific instance OF
holding out on the workers. he saio
that 123 longshoremen employed by tire
BerVind-White Coal Company were PAID
81 So short after six weeks work
81 went 10 the Rev. Percy SticKney
Grant" he continued, land asked MN 10
take the matter up with officials OF the
companv. 7 did this because u. ). Der
wind was a member Of his congregation.
Mr.. Grant had an interview with MI
Berwind and then came ana 'oio nc '""'
nothing could be done
lie said Il was a common occurrence
for some men 10 pay foremen TOT thci'
Jobs. and that some foremen dlscfiihi-
noated against some OF the men,
conditions could not be worse tesu-
fed Dennis Delaney, an officer OF the sea
mems Institute, lin the abuse from lore
men and men being rushed by the
bosses
Joseph r. Franklin. organizer or the
international Longshoremens ASSOCIATION
told the commissioners he had seen men
81 startled by the curses OF foremen 1ha'
they jumped overheard. Holding up d
hand the tips OF four fingers OF which
were missing, he exclaimed: Ihat oc-
Cured the same way. A boss yeileu anu
the winchman started too soon
r. W. Hersey. who testified on Monday'
WAS recalled. He is manager Ior 'he
Bush Terminal Dock Company.
.oThe responsibility for existing condi-
lions" he said, lies first with the CITY,
then with the state. and then win 'he
national government
Mrs + Borden Hartman asked Murtna
Fortune. another witness, what class oi
men predominated among longshorelheh
"rbe Italians" he replied, "but the irish
make the best"
Where were YOU born?' asked Mrs
Hartman. smiling A..
county wexford, Ireland was the
prompt answer
Miss Mary .. Hay, formerly coi'iieC'V'
with the Society for Improving the Ooi',
dition of the Poor, told about the Goa
,hsrse children who had no opportunity
10 go to school, large majority OF "hoss
parents also are illiterate.
Daniel sullivan, an officer OF the Lohe
shoremens Union. said that not long age
his knee had been injured ana ne was
laid off for six weeks The compah! tha'
or,nloved him offered him $40 IN conlpeh'
sation: he refused the offer, brouehI sun
for $500 and was defeated.
r G. Palfrey first assistant supern.
,ondept OF the Cunard Company, testified
,,at the method Of hiring men obtaining
q, Isverpool could be applied TO New
York under certain conditions one oil
which was willingness of the transports
ton companies to pay the increased COSY
of employment lie did not think the lie
M q longshoremen particularly hazardous