The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-15
PORT STRIKEYOTED,
ACTION IS DELAYED
Marine Workers and Regional
Director Smith Of Rail-
roads Discuss Issues.
WILL MEET AGAIN TO-DAY
Hylan's Offer to Arbitratc
Dispute Rejected by Men
by a Large Majority.


other general harbor strike recorded
yesterday by the marine workers en,-
ployed by the Railroad Administration
there will be no strike for at least an
other twenty-four hours. and the opinion
both at the mems headquarters at 2e
Park place and at the office OF Regional
Director A. II. Smith was that matters
were nearer a settlement than they have
been since the beginning OF the trouble.
A committee representing the marine
the Harbor Boatmen's Association, the
hosting engineers and the port and ter
minal workers called on Mr.. Smith at
his office in the Grand Central Ter
minal yesterday afternoon and a two
hour conference followed. Those present
besides the Regional Director were
Thomas l. Delahunty. Capt. William A.
Maher, r. Paul A. vaccarrelli. James
Taylor of the Marine Workers Affilia-
tion and James MCGUIRE, president of
the Lighter Captains Union. who con-
tinues to support the affiliated organiza-
ton in spite Of the fact that his union
has broken away and made separate
agreement with the private boat owners.
This action Of the lighter captains and
the tidewater boatmen resulted in a
number of the private craft in the har-
Dor being placed in operation. and 1t was
the refusal Of tho AFFILIATED union men
to tow barges manned by members OF
the two seeding unions which caused
the dismissal of twelve tugboat crews
employed by the Railroad Administra-
ton and resulted in the threat to again
tie up railroad tugs. barges and ferry
boats in the port of New York.
Settlement Seems Probable.
At the end OF the conference Mr..
Delahunty OF the affiliated unions an
rourced that the conference had ad-
journed to meet Mr.. Smith again at II
o'clock to-day. that the question of the
restoration to duty of the suspended
tugboat men was In a fair way to be
settled in manner satisfactory to both
sides, and that IN spite of the vote of
ia TO by which the first shift OF ma
rine workers had recorded themselves
In favor of a strike earlier in the day.
there would be no suspension of opera
tons until after another conference
with the Regional Director. All of the
members of the committee expressed
themselves az hopeful of an amicabe
settlement. and Mr.. Deiahunty. in reply
to a question. said that Mr.. Smith mad
agreed to take back the dismissed EN-
Llcyees subject TO certain conditions,
which were to be discussed at the meet
ing to-day
Regional Director Smith gave out the
following brief statement last night,
through his assistant, Pitt C. Hand, at
tie Grand Central Terminal
"Messrs. Delahunty. Maher. Vaccar-
relli. Taylor and Mcguire called upon
the Regional Director this afternoon
to try to reach a settlement of the
difficulties and have the men who have
been taken out of service returned to
work. The position OF the Regional
Director was that the Railroad Admin
istration had settled ard entered into
an agreement that required the men to
do their work to the same extent that
has been the practice in the past and
which was performed previous to the
strike. full discussion was had and
tire men finally presented a modified
proposition. which the Regional Dlrec-
tor took under consideration, promising
70 meet them again tomorrow
smith sticks to His Position,
The attitude OF the Regional Director
Is that the men have been guilty OF n
fragrant breach of their agreement In re-
fusins to do the work which the railroad
tugs were accustomed to do before the
strike in moving privately owned barges
about the harbor. and that the relations
Of the union with the owners OF the
! barges formed no part of the mems
agreement with the Railroad, Administra-
ton and did not affect their obligations.
The men take the position that whether
or not the owners OF the barRes have
made an agreement with the Tidewater
Boatmen and the Lighter Captains
Union, the fact that these two organiza-
| tions have withdrawn from the Affiliated
Marine Workers leaves these boats in the
same category with those manned by
non union men. II seemed probable last
night that n settlement would be eff
fected on the basis of the return to duty
| of the recently dismissed tucboat crews
and the promise by the affiliated unions
| 20 live up to their agreement of March 7
and handle barges In the usua! way re-
gardless of the union or non-union status
| OF the crews.
| That the more pacific attitude as
, sumed by the employees had resulted
| from depletion OF the union war chest as
result OF the long strike. which has
lasted. as far as the employees of the
! private boat owners are concerned, since
March I, was strenuously denied at union
headquarters
Besides voting yesterday in favor OF
a renewal OF the strike the Affiliated Ma
| rine Workers rejected by a large ma
jor,y the offer of Mayor Hylan TO Arbi-
trate the dispute. The reason was a
picture taken at PAIN Beach showing
Mr.. IIylan in conversation with an
owner of n large towing feet
Late last night another shift of the
marine workers voted 1856 to 10 i'm favor
of a strike. making the total vote yes
terday 27O for strike and II against.
1t was announced that II the men fail TO
reach an agreement with Regional Di-
rector Smith and quit work forty-eight
hours notice will be given the Govern
ment before crews are called of the
army. navy and Shipping Board tugs.
Paul Bonynge, counsel for the New
York Boat Owners Association, an
nounced last night that the private own
ers have 100 tugs and two steam light
ers In operation. constituting IS per cent.
| of all the privately owned craft in the
harbor