The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-01
BOAT OWNERS ACT,
STRIKE NOT LIKELY
Bonyngc Agrees to Meet Rep
resentatives Of Men This
Afternoon.
TO REOPEN WAGES ISSUE
: Proposition From Employers
Will Be Submitted-Men
Still Suspicious.
TO REOPEN WAGES ISSUE

A strike Of harbor workerr, which
would paralyze the port during the busi-
est days Of its history has been deferred
and possibly avoided.
Paul Bonynge, representing the boat
owners. agreed to meet representatives
OF the men to-day at o'clock and is
reported ready to submit new proposal
of increased pay and a plan for the
adjustment of hours by a joint COM
mission.
This offer was accepted by the strike
committee of harbor workers which
earlier In the day had rejected the award
OF the Federal umpire V. Everit Macy,
and were making preparations for .
strike They had telesraphed President
Wilson that they would not submit to
the 'Injustices'' OF Mr.. Mays decision
and were making their plans to quit
work when word was received that Mr..
Bonynge was willing TO talk to the men.
Mr.. Bonynge made 1t clear that he
had not yet had time to consult the boat
owners, whom he represents. lie Is re-
ported to have offered the men a 10 per
cent raise and they are reported to have
insisted on more. Mr.. Bonynge promises
them q proposition to-day after consulta-
tion with his clients. 1t was stated at
strike headquarters that Mr.. Bonynge
had said he would resign unless q settle
ment was reached
Even II the strike is declared, which
both sides think improbable. tho men had
agreed to mitigations which would not
strangle New York as did tho three day
tieup in January. BY agreement with
army and navy officials military and
naval vessels will not be interfered with
SO long as they engage in no commercial
work and are clearly marked as military
or naval vessels.
Had Made Exemptions.
The strike committee also resolved to
exempt from any strike order the en-
ployees of ferries to be designated by
them and boats carrying food to sick
and wounded and to city and State hos
pitfalls as well as boats carrying troops
from overseas.
Mr.. Bonynge was quoted at the Ma
rine Affiliation headquarters as admit
ting that the Macy award did not give
them all they deserved. In addition 10
Mr.. Bonynge representing the private
boat owners there will be present at to-
days conference Capt Hutcheson of the
navy, Col II. 8. Carrick OF the army
and. 1t IS hoped. a representative OF
Walker d. Hines, Federal Railroad Ad-
ninistrator. and of A. H. Smith. Re
sional Director. both OF whom were
asked by the men to-day to send a rep
resentative.
The report OF the committee of three
which arranged these details was unani-
nnously accepted when brought back to
the strike committee Of thirty-five, sit
ting in the affiliations headquarters in
Park place last evening. The committee
will meet to-day at and confer with
Mr. Bonynge at 3. In the meanwhile the
strike vote will be held in allegiance.
Only one possibility of trouble was
admitted at the workers headquarters.
That was that the men would refuse TO
obey their leaders and would quit any
way.
THE buck has been passed so many
times from one commission 10 another"
said J. V. Condor. general secretary OF
the afflliatton. that our men are becom-
Ing suspicious, They want 10 know
what's going to be done. Some OF them
talk to-day about quitting work anyway
We've got to report real progress II we
want TO hold them In line. They are
femly convinced that they have been de-
ceived."
A. H. Stockder. formerly secretary OF
the Board of Arbitration OF the New
York Harbor Wage Adjustment Board,
II was learned yesterday, brought the
two sides together. When the men met
in the morning they were determined
to go on with strike and the commit
tees were taking the necessary steps.
During the meeting. however. word was
received from Mr.. StoclIder that he had
seen Mr.. BonynEe and that the latter
was ready 10 talk with the men.
Committee Appointed.
- After long and heated discussion the
meeting finally adjourned AT $50 o'clock.
and a committee consisting of Thomas
l.. Delahunty OF the Consolidated Marine
Engineers, Capt. William a. Maher Of
the Masters. Mates and Pilots Associs-
tion and 4. Paul Naccarelli OF the Long
shoremen and Ti5ewater Boatmen's As
sociation was appointed to see the Fed
eral officials and Mr.. Bonynge
Tie committee found the Federal off,
cials fully prepared to cope with the
situation so far as IL affected their own
interests. Twenty per cent. OF the
5000 men concerned with a possible
strike order now are connected with tho
work of the army. the navy and the
Shipping Board. and officials of the port
representing these three arms OF the
Government made It plain that no inter
ference would be brooked
On the other hand these officials as
sured the men that they would not per-
nit boats under their control to be used
as strike breakers. II was agreed that
the Government boats exempted from
any strike order would not be allowed
10 answer help calls TO save perishable
produce or In any other commercial
capacity. The boats exempted will be
plainly marked "U. s. Army" or ~. s
Navy" as the case may be. and will not
he .interfered with in ttc Sae7t Of a
strike.
The objection OF the men to the Macy
award lies in the fact that il treats only
of the hours OF labor and not OF wages.
According to their statements It would
give the eight hour day to the crews OF
only some sixty boats in the harbor
The six or seven hundred other crews
would be adversely affected.
The boat owners are also dlspleased
with the eight hour day programme as It
does not agree with the tide schedule. In
fact both sides irtimated that IL Mr.
Macy had given the increase IN wages
demanded or part OF it and had not
treated OF working hours, his decision
would have been accepted. The boat
owners are also constrained TO make
concessions at this time because the
season OF the year is approaching when
they must make their coaliag and other
contracts.
The men to-day unequivocal,y with
drew the dispAte from the National War
Labor Board, which appointed Mr. Macy
umpire after it had failed to settle the
January strike itself.
LOSES LIFE IN JERSEY FIRE.