The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-29
AN INTERESTING
DEC|S|ONAF FECT|NG
WAGES OF SEAMEN

seamen sought to recover part pay
from the steamship Strathearn, was
handed down by Judge w. B. Shep-
pard, of the federal court, in which it
is held that the ship is not respon-
sible, and, in terminating such de-
cision, the court closes the interesting
opinion with the instruction that
counsel may prepare DEGREES dismiss
ing the libels.
This was a case wherein three sea-
men, who gave their names as Hugo
Ronlund, John Hoikkla and John Dill
Ion had libelled the steamer Strath-
earn for pay, alleged to have been due
them. The case, therefore is interest
ing to all shipping men. In treating
of the claims of the men, and in re-
citing the case of each of them,
Judge Sheppard gave the following
summing up, which is interesting:
"This case concerns two seamen
and a carpenter of the British steam
ship Strathearn, who assumed that
visions of the new so-called seamen's
act of 1914, under which they made
demand on the master of the Strath-
earn for wages under section of the
act. Upon the masters refusal to
comply with their demands they quit
the service of the ship and ibelled.
"The Strathearn arrived in the
port Of Pensacola between and 6
o'clock July 81, and shortly thereafter
the libellants left her under the fol-
lowing circumstances:
Hugo Ronlund went ashore in the
morning following the ships arrival
in Pensacola, without permission and
against the express command and or
ders of the master. Ronlund was dis
satisfied with the hours of service on
the ship, and upon dispute with the
master regarding the matter proceed
ed to the consul. While ashore for
this purpose he learned that there had
been passed by congress an act con-
ferring great benefits upon seamen.
He then sought a lawye. s advice.
| Thereupon the seaman's trouble over
the hours of service were overshad-
owed by the prospects of payment of
half wages in port. Ronlund then
proceeded aboard ship to demand half
wages due him up to that date. The
master refused, thereupon Ronlund
left the service of the ship and Ii
belled.
"John Hoikkla left the ship with
out permission on the morning Of
/ August 1, within "a hours after the
Strathearn's arrival, ostensibly to
see doctor. The whole day of Aug
ust l passed with Hoikkla on shore
and without his having seen a doctor.
The following day Hoikkla saw a
doctor about some injuries he had re-
ceived, and returning to the ship, ig-
norant of the beneficent provisions of
the seaman's act, was put WISE to
the American law in consequence of
which Hoikkla followed Ronlund's ex-
ample.
John Dillon, not as sagacious as
the author of the work on municipal
corporations, but content with the
distinction Of ships carpenter, like.
wise left the Strathearn on the morn
ing of August 2. Dillon's right tc
recover depends upon his conduct al
| that time. There is testimony thai
Dillon subsequently returned to the
ship and worked, but that he made M
claim for wages for such time. He
worked aboard, it appeared, sinpl,
for food and lodging, intending to pay
for same when he recovered from thu
ship. Dillon, it seems, had some
trouble with the boatswain. The mas
ter did not adjust the matter satisfac
torily and Dillon came ashore to Sc,
i the consul, but received no 'satisfac
ton from that source. While ashor,
for that purpose Dillon met the othe
two libellants who advised him of tn
/, salutary provisions of the new sea
mems act. Thereupon Dillon HE,
: himself to lawyers office. After
wards, he, too, returned to the shiI
and demanded half of his wages du