The evening world., 1919-01-24
WAR OF WORDS
AT INQUIRY INTO
HARDOR STRIKE
Conditions of Life on Lighters
and Barges Described as
Full of HardShipS.

Most of the time at to-days ses-
sion of the War Labor Boards sub
committee, which is investigating
the recent harbor strike. was taken
up by squabbles between w. l.
Hutcheson. Chairman of the COM
mittee, and Frank p. Walsh, counsel
for the marine workers. Paul Bon
ynge. counsel for the boat owners,
when not lending Hutcheson a help
ing hand in his arguments with
walsh stood smiling with folded
urns and watched the fray. In the
opinion OF many marine workers and
boat owners the hearings simply
cannot continue under present con-
ditions.
To-day's verbal set-to occurred
while Russell Boyer OF the l.. Boyer
sons Company, owners Of steam and
non propelled lighters. was testifying.
poor living conditions on bargcs and
canal boats are, particularly IL man
tries to raise a family. Boyer said
captains Of his boats don't sleep on
them nights as a rule. When they
do remain on the craft all night, he
explained. it is solely for the purpose
OF watching valuable cargoes OF an
Iinflammable nature. For this extra
work they are paid $3.50 night.
In 1914, the witness said, the aver
age pay OF a captain on a lighter was
$40 a week. From June 10 Dec. !.
1918, the average wage OF n lighter
captain in his employ-and Boyer en-
ploys twenty-four Of them-was S34.14
week. The elght-hour day was i'm
practicable, he said. II would rob
working day OF two hours OF efii-
cheney.
To-day's clash between Hutcheson
and Walsh grew out OF cross-exam-
nation OF Boyer by Walsh. The for
mer refused TO tell how much per ton
his concern received for transporta-
tion, on the ground that it was part
of a private contract and therefore a
business secret. But he did agree 10
tell members of the War Labor Board
subcommittee and leaned forward
and whispered to the THREE members.
What is this, a secret meeting with
a black mask over it?" demanded
| Walsh.
You'd better proceed, Mr.. Walsh"
admonished Chairman Hutcheson.
is It not true" asked Walsh, turn
ing to Boyer. that your company
never paid tho award fixed by the
Federal Board during the war and
that 1t is one OF the most notorious
dodgers in the harbor?"
NO." replied Boyer.
Hutcheson objected to this method
Of questioning.
"I will be the Judge OF how l will
conduct this case" retorted Walsh.
"You will not be the judge OF how
this Board conducts its hearings" al
most shouted the Chairman, rapping
his gavel with vigor.
II will conduct the case as see
fit; you can't bulldoze me-" shouted
Walsh, "and repeat that | will con-
duct this case as / believe 1t ought 20
be conducted"
''You will not" shouted back Hutch
eson.
"Yes I WILL" insisted Walsh. 'Now
let's see what you are going to do
about II TO stop me?"
II will show you " you don't pro-
ceed," shouted Hutcheson.
81 am going to proceed as I see AZ
and defy any penalty you are TO in
flict."
The squabble temporarily subsidized
and Mr.. Walsh began reading from an
old published report showing illiteracy y
among the children who live with
their parents on barges of all descrip-
tons that enter New York Harbor. The
report figured that the average mum
Der Of children living on a coal barge
was three and that there were there
fore about 5000 children living on tho
, Thousand barges that enter this port
The old report read by Mr.. Walsh
= told of deplorable conditions amonl
: coal barge families and he asked Mr.
1 Boyer II there had been any improve.
ment since that time,