New-York tribune., 1919-07-15
Freight Shipments to City
Will Be Held Up Soon
Unless Situation Here
Clears, Chiefs Predict
Will Renew Peace Effort
Walkout of More Crews
Is Answer to Shipping
Boards Offer of Raise

the seamen's strike, officials of the
Railroad Administration were consider
ing yesterday the declaration of an
embargo on export freight originating
at interior points. 1t is not expected
that general embargo will be neces-
sary, but it was unofficially stated
that embargoes on some classes of
freight may be looked for later in. the
week unless the situation clears.
Another effort will be made to End
the trouble to-day when members Of
the United States Shipping Board will
meet in this city with representative
of the unions and the ship owners.
The purpose of the meeting is to dis
cuss wages for deck officers, but in tho
course of the day it is expected that
the entire situation will be canvassed.
So far as the seamen are concerned,
the situation showed small signs of
clearing. The response of the men to
the offer of ten per cent increase in
wages made by the United States
Shipping Board, and reiterated during
the day by the American Steamship
Association, was the walkout Of the
crews of more than score of shipping
board vessels, making, according to G.
H. Brown, leader Of the seamen. 400
vessels now held in port by the strike.
Private Owners Sign
Against this loss in transportation
facilities. gain was made by the sign
ing of the union contracts by a number
their ships to sea, conceded everything
demanded, including preferential treat
ment Of members of the union.
The possibility of settlement with
the engineers in the immediate future
loomed up when the local organization
was unofficially advised that the Ameri-
can Steamship Association would make
large concessions. The concessions in.
dicated by these advices are increases
of $40 a month to first assistants, $50
month to second and third assistants.
and revision of ship classification by
which the two smaller types of yes
sells are consolidated, with the en-
sineers on the consolidated class re-
eeiving the pay of the higher class.
For these men the union asked an in
crease of S35 month.
For the chief engineers whose WAGES
have run from $500 to 1915 a month.
Che union asked for an increase of
$3.50, to wipe out the differential now
existing between the wages paid the
head OF the engine room staff and the
master. The suggested settlement
would leaves differental of but s25.
making the increase S62.5O a month,
plus such increase as may be given
the deck officers.
Debate Question To-day
This question will be thrashed out
today when William S. Brown, in
ternational pres dent of the engineers,
arrives in New York from Buffalo.
Under no circumstances, however,"
SAID Thomas L. Delahunty, the local
leader OF the engineers, will any set
liement permit the use of our men for
strikebreakers or with strikebreakers.
We stand with the seamen."
The American Steamship Association.
OF which H. H. Raymond, of the At
iantlc, Gulf and West Indies Company,
IS president, notified its members
me new schedule of the Shipping
Board effective. In making this order
the ASSOCIATION made public a telegram
70 X. b. Stevens, of the Shipping
board, protesting against the increase
on the ground that it makes difficult
the efforts to build up an American
merchant marine
Do Not Favor Increase
The members of this association
feel" said this message, chat existinr
conditions do not warrant any in
creases IN wages aboard ship, though
at your urgent solicitation certain in
crases were consented to. The associa-
uon, therefore, feels that it must 90
on record to the effect that all ad-
Vances in wages aboard ship which in
crease the cost of operation over SIM
liar costs on foreign ships with which
american shlpplng must compete will
inevitably interfere with the upbuild-
ing and maintenance of an American
merchant marine in the overseas trade.
The action taken by your board in con-
ierrlng substantial increases on the
1ntirc perSs.-AA,s of American ships
still further wfdens the difference be-
tween American and foreign ship oper-
atlng costs and to this extent cripples
the efforts of Americans to develop
their merchant marine"
The trouble with this statement is
that it is not true" said S. B. Axtell,
counsel for the seamen. THE fact is
mat foreign ship owenrs are paying
'ne wages American owners pay. The
seaman's act, to which the American
Steamship Association members are
much opposed. has done that"
Forcsees Greater Shortage
9. H. Brown, leader of the seamen,
said one affect Of the strike would be
10 make greater the shortage of sea-
men now existing through the depart
are for the West Of men to work in the
harvest fields.
Agents are Offering IS to SO a day
Tor able bodied men to work the har-
vests" he said, "and the men are TAX
ing advantage of it, OF course, this is
ea'y temporary, but it serves to make
Dply Of men already short still
re going ahead signing up such
owners az are willing to pay the full
scaie and abide by the union rules
lnis IS going 20 leave those who play
Witn the American Steamship Associa
@on up in the air when it comes to
more."
Brown explained that the strike af-
seets bread and butter ships" rather
man tbe big liners.
ire steamship companies will prob
aeiy De able to keep some Of the coast
|'se passenger boats going" said he
Du, they are unable TO move their
lssightcr, and it is the freightcr that is
1eighter and it is the freighter that is
ssting its head off at its pier or an
shgred in the stream
anere was more congestion apparent
ys the piers yesterday. During the day
ssaefeases were apparent on the Brook
IN piers as we'll az in Manhattan.
riekets we're on duty at all Of the
p'ers warming union and non n-union
men 70 keep of the ships, but no
s'asnes were reported.