The Washington herald., 1918-12-17
SHIPPING BOARD,
FEARING TIE-UP
IN N.Y.,APPEALS
Wants Wartime Condi-
tions, Hours and Wages
to Continue.
STRIKE HARMFUL NOW
Would Slow Up Supplies to
Europe and Delay
Troops Return.

The United States Shipping Board.
fearing that the clash between the
Marine Workers Affiliation for the
part of New York and the operators
Of harbor craft there will result not
only in the paralysis of the entire
business of that harbor but also
in a suspension of the flow OF sup
plies to the army abroad AMI of the
troops home, has issued an appeal
to both sides of the controversy and
to the shipping interests of the United
States to maintain the conditions of
work. hours and wages established by
the Wage Adjustment Boards of the
Shipping Board. just as though the
war was still continuing.
The Shipping Board says that the
emergency conditions of the war
which required a continued and unin-
terrupted movement OF vessels is not
yet over, and a tie-up of New York
harbor at this time would involve the
gravest of consequence. Tnere are
still in the American armies in Eu-
rope over million and a half of men,
and II is tnconceivable that the Ameri-
can people or Its government would
permit of any action which would I'm
peril the movement of food or supplies
to these Americans. now that their
actual task of fighting is over.
In addition, there is the obligation
TO feed and Clothe the people of our
allies. in Europe. There is also the
nations obligation to its own citizens
TO bring back to America as rapidly
as circumstances will allow, hundreds
Of thousands of American troops
awaiting transportation on the other
side.
Seriously Cripple Cause.
In the performance. of all these
tasks the government would find it.
self seriously crippled by reason OF
any stoppage of work on the part
of harhor craft operators and en-
plpyes in New York harbor."
Z Ehs bsard aajoptsG resolutions max
ing its appeal.
The dispute now is understood by
the board to be deadlocked by the
refusal of the operators to submit
the hours of labor to arbitration,
though they are willing to submit
the other matters of controversy.
while the members of the union de-
mand that all matters be- jointly
submitted. and refuse any arbitra-
ton unless the hours of work is
one of the questions for decision.
Both sides are under agreement
to submit any matter affecting wages
or conditions of labor to the New
York Harbor Wage Board This
board on July 12 made an award
covering wages and working condi-
tinnS ha
part of the award: This award
shall be effective as of June !, 1918,
and shall be in full force and effect
until May 81 1915 unless in the judg-
ment OF the board conditions war
rant a change prior to the date thus
fixed for expiration"
Wants Award Reopened.
Under this clause the men asked
to have the award reopened, and
an award of eight hours with a new
wage scale. The men at first re.
fused to accept arbitration on the
straight eight-hour day but later
accepted it. The operators refused
to accept the arbitration of the New
York Harbor Wage Board. and a
second board was suggested to hear
the case by the Shipping Board.
This was to be chosen two members
by the employees. two by tho en-
ployers and the four were then t.
chose a fifth. In case this board
could not reach an agreement there
was a provision for an appeal to
the National Wage Adjustment Com
mission. The operators refused this
commission also but will submit the
wage question alone to board
somewhat similar to it.
The Shipping Board in its appeal
does not insist on the acceptance OF
either board so far refused by the
operators, but does demand that the
questions at issue be arbitrated as
both of the controversarians had
agreed. 1t puts the issue squarely
up to the operators saying:
The Shipping Board now calls up
on all of the operators involved to
submit all pending issues with their
employees to an agency of arbitra-
ton" 1t suggests that if none Of
three already outlined are accept
able to both sides. the National War
Labor Board he accepted. This is
tho ro hoard