New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Boat O,u,.ers, Outlining
Stand, Say Men Baked
At Neutral arbitrator

The boat owners outlined their posi-
ton IN the marine controversy that led
yesterday to the issuance of a general
given out last night by Joseph II.
Moran, chairman of the New York
Towboat Exchanges:
''The National War Labor Board has
made two weeks ago. In effect, it holds
that the arbitration is either binding
on al parties or on none. The Rail
road Administration has refused to be
bound by the old award or to accept
any new award. and consequently all
parties are free of any obligation. This
is sound common sense and fully justi-
tics the stand we have taken.
'This is probably the end of Wash
lngton intervention, and the problem
now becomes one for New York to set
tie according to her own lights. We
have no monopoly of the wisdom in
this city and we will welcome the CO.
operation and advice of every sane
business man and every anti-Bolshevik
organization in the community.
"The demands presented by the men
are for largely increased wages and
for an eight-hour day instead of a
twelve-hour day. We have offered to
arbitrate the wage question immedi-
ately and to date the new award back
to January l. Last night a committee
of six boat owners sat in conference
with committee of six employees for
three hours. Two members of the Ma
tional War Labor Board were present
as moderators.
Of seven members, consisting of three
employees, three boat owners, with a
neutral as umpire. Most of the even
ing was devoted to an effort to agree
upon the umpire. We suggested that
he be selected by one of the Federal
judges in this district, but the men de-
INJURED at this and stated that they
would not allow any judge to have a
hand III the selection. We then sug-
gested Colonel Whittlesey, the com
mander of the Lost Battalion" as one
who had shown his mettle and fitness
The answer to this was that the Smen
would not accept any military man. 1t
is pretty hard to reason with people
who thus openly declare their lack of
confidence in the judges who enforce
our laws and the soldiers who have
fought for our lives.
"Our position on the eight-hour day
is just what it has always been Our
men are on duty twelve hours, but they
do not work, and never have worked
eight hours out of the twelve. We
supply our men with three square
meals a day at our expense and fur
nish the cook to prepare them. AT
least two hours out of the twelve are
devoted to the consumption of these
meals. Eating, of course, takes time
but it has never yet been classed as
hard work.
1--WE have tried to be as fair to the
men in the matter of working condi-
tions as in that Of wages. The Gus
toms appertaining to the operation of
marine harbor equipment have grown
up through generations of usage and
cannot be changed over night at the
behest OF one or six union leaders. We
have offered to create in this port a
permanent governing body, to be
known as a conference committee, con-
sisting of twelve employees, to be Sc
lected by the unions, and twelve boat
owners, to be selected by their organi-
zation.
Owe believe that such an organiza
ton would 60 far both now and in the
future to allay Misunderstanding be-
tween employer and employe. 1t would
afford a common meeting ground where
every grievance, great or SMALL could
be presented and discussed and atpro-
pirate action taken. Its function would
be to see that each side gave the other
square deal. We have proposed that
this committee investigate at once the
question of working conditions and
that the arbitration board have fuI
power to put into effect any recon-
mendations which it may make This
proposal has been wholly rejected
This is our last word, as we feel that
we have gone considerably more than
half way to avert trouble"