The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-23
WAR BOARD HEARS
JOY OF BARGE LIFE
Almost Like Owning Ones
Yacht, According to Owner
of a Fleet.
EGGS AND PHONOGRAPH
Skipper Of the Charles GOwan
Turns CrOss-examiner and
Spells the Picture.

The inquiry being conducted into the
relations between the harbor boat own
ers and their employees by the sub
section OF the National War Labor Board
resulted in n spirited session In the CITY
Hall yesterday. Besides clashes between
attorneys and the chairman an element
of farce crept in when the boat owners
outlined the life on the bounding main
of the New York harbor as being almost
ideal. This glowing picture. however,
was dimmed when the employees at
tempted to show that their life was sad,
and that they had to sleep in cabins
byS
Testimony was general. specific cases
were not presented. so the hearing
rambled on. elictlng a fact here and
there. 1t was generally conceded that
the cost of operation Of all sorts OF craft
had skyrocketed since the war began
and that business had fallen of since
hostilities ceased. The cost OF materials,
such as canvas, rope. wire and oils and
other commodities constantly in use
we're shown to have increased more than
| 100 per cent, in some cases 200. But
despite this increased cost to the boat
owners. the employees contended that
the owners were rolling in wealth and
profits and that they could not show
| Just cause why they should not meet
their demands for increased pay.
Easy Life of barge Captains.
The barge captain was the focal point
OF discussion yesterday. The boat own
ers singled him out, collectively and in
| dvidually, TO show that he lived tho life
of Riley aboard their boats. receiving
$50 a month for occupying coy little
cabin and working only two hours a
day, the estimated time of tying up and
untying the barge before and after cruis-
ing about the scenery of New York and
| environs.
| Percy f. Morrell. representing a firm
| that owns and operates fifty-one coal
and grain barges. painted the picture OF
the barge captains ideal life, much to
the snorting disgust OF Capt. John Bren-
nan. the manager OF the Lighter Cap
| tains Union. who later cross-eXamined
Mr.. Morrell. and took occasion to change
| the key OF the picture to an ashy gray
Of mise-y-until he was interrupted by
| Chairman Hutcheson. who reminded
him that he was supposed to cross
examine and not deliver n lecture
| Mr.. Morrell said that not only was n
captain paid $50 a month for working
two hours a day but that he had his
home aboard the boat. sometimes a
vegetable garden, and that more anbi-
tious ones even had carried a poultry
farm along getting fresh eggs hourly.
Then, too. there was the sociable side
OF the life. Quite frequently he had
known captains aboard his barges TO
gve entertainments. They possessed
Photographs costing 500 or more and
heard Mt any time singing an aria on
the Hudson.
Passing of the Gowau.
This was too much for Capt Brennan.
| They paid for 'em on the installment
plan! :" the seafarer OF the hudson
snorted. Ignoring the interruption OF his
| beautiful narrative Mr.. Morrell continued
10 play upon the prosperity of his barge
captains. 1t seems that they had so
prospered that most OF them neglected
to call for their salaries until the en-
veopes had lain IN the office accumu-
lating the dust OF a month or more
Possibly they would remember 20 call
some morning while visiting their hrok-
ers down town. dropping In casually 10
leave an order for Liberty bonds
Capt. Brennan hdgeted through Il all
And after Mr.. Morrell had put on tho
finishing touches, a few offhaud free
swings of yellow lucrc, the captain arose
from the employees corner TO cross ex-
anime him.
He started or with something mys-
terious. Even the board aroused and
others awoke.
'Mr. Morren. did you have boat
named the Charles Gowan?" Capt
Brennan asked.
Yes"
as she under your control"
II don't know" Mr.. Morrell an
swered. The chairman looked TO him In
inquiry and instructed him to answer
We'll. she's at the bottom Of the river
just now Off Pier 2l--"
Capt Brennan looked pleased and
proceeded TO elicit that the barge's cap
tain almost Joined his ancestors because
OF his faithfulness to the Charles
iowan and her owner. His voice arose
to the oratorical and he began the dis
sertation that the chairman pronounced
, lecture and cut short.
In his excitement Capt Brennan fired
the question: What chance has n
father TO become n mother without a
doctor Id Ike to know :"
Ship Surgeon Suggested.
80 would l." grInned the witness
And then was brought out the fact that