The sun., 1917-09-19
GOES TO
END SHIP STRIKE
Probability That Government
Will Share in Any Increases
Granted Men.
Special Despafch to TIE suS

WAsHINGroN, Sept. 1s.-Chairman
Hurley Of the United States Shipping
Board will leave tomorrow for San
Francisco to take personal charge Of the
adjustment of the labor difYiculties there.
Following a series Of conferences to-day
with Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation Of Labor. and
Secretary Of Labor Wilson Mr.. Hurley
tried to get in touch by telephone with
representatives OF the Shipping Board
and the Department Of Labor In San
Francisco. He was unsuccessful in this
endeAvor to obtain information and 20
determined to leave without waiting for
the settlement Of the Seattle strike.
which he has been endeavoring to termi-
nate by negotiations with representa-
tives of the shipbuilders and employees,
who have been In session here for Q
week. william Blackmon Of the De-
partment OF Labor will accompany Mr..
Hurley. Secretary Wilson has tele-
graphed w. T. Boyce, his assistant in
San Francisco. to tender his services as
mediator.
Hopeful Of the Outcome.
While the situation is recognized by
the officials OF the Shipping Board here
as being serious they are not inclined
to view II pessimistically. It Is believed
that the real differences between the
strikers in San Francisco and the en-
ployers are not fundamentally very
great. 1t Is believed that II the matter
had been handled in different
way trouble in all probability could
have been averted. The Pacific ship
builders. either through a misconception
OF their position or because they were
sponsibility. took the ground at the be-
ginning Of the negotiations that the
ships with which their plants were en-.
gagged having been commandeered by
the Government the question Of wage
increase should be settled by the Gov
ernment alone.
They seemed to be under the impress
sion that the yards as we'll as the. ships
had been taken over and refused to
treat with the men in regard to the new
scale demanded. referring all inquiries
to the Shipping Board. That body said
the yards had not been commandeered
and that the Shipping Board and the
Government only assumed the obliga-
tions which were incurred by the origi-
nal owners of the commandeered ships
Wage scales were still matter for
settlement between the men and their
employers.
May Near Part Of Burden.
To take any other position. they point
out would leave the entire shipbuildina
programme open to wholesale demands
! for wage increases on the part Of the
men with the tacit assent Of employers
They have not refused to bear some
portion of the wage increases which
may be granted as the result Of negotia-
! tions between the two parties. and II is
probable that some such arrangement
| will be arrived at.
Extension OF the strike to mills pro.
ducing lumber for Government ships is
feared by Shipping Board officials From
| Portland and Astoria, Ore. came reports
| that striking carpenters were trying to
persuade other workmen to walk out
and that lumber mills might be affected
Effect on Navy Contracts.
Navy contracts involved In the strike
virtually all are of the cost plus a per.
centage of profit type adopted to meet
precisely the situation that has arisen
When bids for destroyers. cruisers and
battleships were opened private builders
| said they could not mako nat contracts
except at an extraordinary advance In
price since they had no assurance as tt
what labor might cost them before the
| work was completed.
Under the cost plus contract the Gov
ernment would absorb at least some in
crea sed wage scales.
Secretary Daniels announced tonight
that the. commandant OF the Mare IslanC
Navy Yard had reported work progress
ing efficiently there without regard Il
strikes In the vicinity. The commandan'
said all employees OF the navy yart
were loyal.