New-York tribune., 1918-12-22
Board Orders
Boat Owners
To Arbitrate
Conditions of Agreement
Still Exists, War Labor
Body Holds i'll Decision
t aft Scores Employers
Shipping Interests Talk of
Opposing the Findings
Reached at Conference

The National War Labor Board, the
supreme court of labor disputes, yes
terday ordered boat owners of New
York to submit the matters in dispute
rine Workers Affiliaton to the New
York Harbor Wage Adjustment Board
for arbitration. In making this ruling
former President William H. Taft,
chairman of the board, overruled every
contention Of the boat owners and
scored the effort to discredit the local
arbitration board formed to adjust ma
rine labor troubles.
Immediately after the ruling of Mr.
Taft, in which members of the War
Labor Board, representing the employ
ing interests, agreed with the labor
members, B. M. Squrers, acting chair
man of the New York Harbor Wage
Adjustment Board, issued notice to
boat owners and workers to appear on
Thursday next and present the matter
of the eight-hour day and higher wages
for a settlement.
What position the boat owners will
then take neither Paul Bonynge, their
counsel, nor Joseph H. Moran, head OF
the New York Towboat Association,
who has been their spokesman, would
say last night. Speaking for himself,
Mr.. Moran said he was "standing pat
on his refusal to arbitrate the ques-
ton of hours"
Taft Silent on Plans
Speaking for the War Labor Board,
MIR. Taft declined to say what it would
no in event the boat owners stood by
Mr.. Moran in this position.
owe will cross that bridge when
we come to it," he said. "Whe nj was
on the bench it was not my hao1, 10
indicate my decision in advance.
The decision of the board followed
8. two-hour hearing in the Board OF
Estimate room in City Hall. Most OF
this time was taken up by the argu-
ment of Mr. Bonynge explaining 'ne
position of the employers, and Dy %.
M. Souiers, detailing the methods by
which New York Harbor has been kept
free fro mlabor troubles since the lut-
breaks of the war. Mr.. Bonynge
argument was largely technical ana IN
the main consisted of assertions 'ha'
the New York Harbor Wage AdJusl-
ment Board had ceased to exist Decause
the war ended with the signin gof tne
armistice; because one lnterest wniea ,
had been a party to it, the Railroad
| administration, had withdrawn, be-
cause members had resigned from 1T
ond because it had recommended that
| it be dissolved.
The position of his clients, he said
was that they were willing to arbltrate
ANYTHING but wages, that they had
never agreed to arbitrate hours and
that the eight-hour day is lmpractica-
Unions Plead Compliance
CAPTAIN William A. Maher, represent
ing the Masters, Mates and Pilots, IN
sisted that the unions had llved up &c
tbe;r agreements to the letter ano
stood GOOD Wiling at all times to arbitrate
o,,orvthing and to carry out all gov
ernmental policies.
q e I,''' A Kelley, representing the coast
...;ao steamship interests, said his prin
n;rals we're willing and had agreed tt
o,I. o,.h;trate the eight-hour question, bu
tbe nnions had refused to abide by thf
| agreement. -, -. rhor,osr De,a.
This was denied by lhomas l.. Dela
hrntv president of the affiliation, who
how.S' however, r. said the men would not arbi
lun trate with some of the employees unless
all would arbitrnte. >, .;a =. STOW,
a." eve tried that once" said he' anf
learned our lesson"
F. Paul A Vacares'i hoat eat'eu nwners "ers"reU ren
to advertisements OF poa' owners 81 lHp ;n,
sese,,Inns resemie"s sums" for working boats, ii
sams a%pa'ia Instances in excess of $1,000
Continued on page three