New-York tribune., 1919-03-14
Owners Must Supply Craft
With Crews, Lease, or
Will Have Them Seized
EMPLOYERS Call 1t
"Bolshevik Rule
Liners Still Held for
Coal; Federal Mediator
Says He Is Progressing

The Federal government yesterday
gave the harbor boat owners of New
York their choice Of supplying the
government with boats manned by
union crews. chartering their boats to
the government without crews, or nav
ing their boats seized. The move,
made by representatives of the United
States Shipping Board. the army and
the navy, purposes to set free the
ocean liners held up here for want
Of bunker coal, thus delaying the re-
turn OF soldiers from France.
Some liners among them the Maure-
tania, have been held in port for sew
eral days. Some, as for instance the Ca
ronia, have had to go to Halifax for fuel.
Now all will have fuel, but will have
to sail in ballast, as under strike con-
ditions they can get only such cargo
as may be landed at their sides from
railroad cars or equipment of the rail
road administration.
Whether this intervention of the gov
ernment will stop at the supplying of
coal was d matter of doubt last night.
That it would not was limited in a
formal statement issued by James l..
Hughes, Federal mediator, who had
just returned from Washington, where
he put the strike situation before mem
hers of the Cabinet
Negotiations Are Progressing"
30
ably said Mr.. Hughes, toward the
complete and satisfactory settlement Of
the strike and the restoration of nor
nal conditions. thus serving the inter
ests of the public"
The action of the government off,
sials in moving to secure equipment for
the use OF the army, navy and Shipping
Board was bitterly denounced by the
boat owners. In formal statement
issued through their counsel, Paul Bo-
nynge, H. NJ. Lee, Joseph H. Moran and
Joseph j.. Glatzmayer, representing the
several associations, described it as an
act Of Bolshevism
With the statement went the intima-
ton that the courts would be resorted
TO to prevent the seizure of boats,
though Mr. Bonynge denied that this
had been agreed upon.
That" he said to reporters, "is an
academic question which you are free
TO discuss.'
We have learned to-day" says the
boat owners statement, chat Council
Of Soldiers, Sailors and Workmen has
oeen established in this port and is
nov in full working order. 1t is signi-
meant that the Russian debacle began
With similar institution.
Tells of One Capitulation
This afternoon, j. J. Kelly, mem
per Of the New YORK Boat Owners
association and sole proprietor of the
D. slcLain Transportation Line, a con-
sefn operating a number OF coal boats
sss summoned to the Army and Navy
building, 40 Broadway. lie there met
e0an Brennan, leader Of the Tidewate1
0'atnen's Union, and an imposing
array OF gentlemen in army and nav,
s"iierins. He was at once interrogatet
as 70 the number Of idle boats which h,
hso' and was informed that unless he
'aaraered these to the government the,
would be Immediately Communicated
saciing solely under this show of force
.if. heliy Was induced to accept a let
.er on paper headed Navy Department
gHiee OF the Administrator, Harbo
aioating Equipment. Port Of New York
70 Broadway, 18th March, 1919 Tht
sT.ef was addressed to the 'B. McLair
fansportation Line. New York City
=, <, and reads:
Coal Boats. no. -
Your verbal proposal of this dat
Equipment. Port of New York, Goa
~. DDslz oi about 500 to 700 tons capacity
suaer bare boat charter, az desired
1 .m ..om this date to June 30, 1919, will
III Ae privilege OF renewal unless soone
iii anceiied by this Office, at charte
|E '@as w.; oi sl1 day, is hereby accepted
IN e.a ~ was signed b. +. Hutchinson
II har hpsasn, s y: s. r., Administrator, Har
Harbor.' f'"N"
On Bare Boat Basis
e..s ~ wiii Of course be noted that thi
.saipnent 10 TO be taken over on tn
/ 'ff~sS DVat UdtiBt ItE1}t}l
..asFeby without our captain. Tn
sssvvernment tiscreupon hires unio
ssIsns yssa'ns for them on the new wag
ais ssu dccreed by it. This is socialism
ya1s III, and simple. Il ia time for tn
gsatel 1.io people Of this community t
sssi1e me danger that fnenaces them.
i ~, f honyngc supplemented this for
fss. sntateInent with the dcclaratio
as I,'a nr. Kelly made mistake in Ego
sa Y 40 Broadway
essss ssoat owners who receive tclcDbon
wsa ss rom now on 70 visit 80 Broad
Es know that IL is as far 70 4
s,.a,aaway from their Offices as Ii /
sg,e s9,> ~ Broadway 10 their ofIices.o
!. noes that mean they viii not cal
~ ~ sroadwayg" he was asked,
aoss," he replied. "Mr. Kell
called to 45 Broadway. and ther
astt net John Brennan ard lot a
~ Iapor men and 4 lot Of othe
na 49,, 70 the uniforms Of the army ar
Tss3. They .gavc him slis cnoice 3
ssas ~ boats conmanaeered Q
, f<2W{3VuHd <.ss -.