New-York tribune., 1919-01-13
Ferries Resume Operation;
War Labor Board TO Open
Hearing This Morning
No Concession to Owners
All Arbitcrs to Take Part
i'll Inquiry i'll Spite of
the Protest of Employers

New York harbor traffic resumed
normal Sunday proportions yesterday
with the return to work of the strik-
ing boatmen, from cooks TO captains,
in accordance with pledge reluctantly
made by their leaders on Saturday
night to Benjamin NJ. Squires. Com
missioner of Cancellation of the De-
partment Of Labor. In return for
promise Of mediate resumption of
cision b. the War Labor Board on
their demands for shorter working
day and increased pay.
Members of the board arrived in
New York during the day. 1t was
stated last night that a quorum, in
Guiding Joint Chairmen William II.
Taft and Basil Manly, would be on
hand at 10 o'clock this morning when
the hearing will open in the Board of
Estimate room in City Hall.
Owners Oppose Six Members
The boat owners issued a statement
in which they announced their inten-
tion of attending the hearing upon the
assumption that these labor members
of the board would not sit: Chairman
Manly. W. II. Johnston, Fred Hewitt,
John J. Manning, T. A. Rickert and
were in town last night and all ex-
pected to sit at the hearing to-day.
The boat owners statement indi-
Gated they would not "submit" to any
award by the War Labor Board as lony
as the members mentioned above form
a part of the body. Government Off
Gals said yesterday that it was Of little
consequence whether they "submitted"
or not; and pointed out that neither
side had been asked to submit Presi-
dent Wilson simply directed the War
Labor Board to reassume jurisdiction
and effect a settlement
Communicating Anticipated
The boat owners freely discussed the
possibility of their boats being com
mandeered, and most of them seem to
anticipate such action by the govern
ment. Their statement follows:
The boat owners will attend the
hearing before the National War
Labor Board on Monday morning. On
January Joint Chairman Manly and
W. H. Johnston. Fred Hewitt, Mathew
Woli John J. Manning, T. A. Rickert
ana L. M Guerln, members of the
National War Labor Board, issued a
signed statement, in which they said
that the boat owners had constantly
violated previous awards and that
they had 'ccontemptuously refused to
comply with orders CT the National
War Labor Board
ut Is, OF course, very plain that
ances, disabled themselves from tax
Ing any part in the hearing by or
deliberations of the board The basis
OF every hearing is that the arbiter
shall approach the matter with an
unbiased and open hind. Upon as
sumption that these gentlemen will
not sit, we shall attend before the
board and receive, with the utmost
respect, any suggestions it may dc
eide to offer"
Minority Opposes Return
1t was learned yesterday that
strong minority of the strikers op-
posed the plan to return to work mere
ly because the government requested
1t. This minority held that the gov
ern, as represented by the United
States Railroad Administration, was
chiefly responsible for the strike. Until
yesterday when the new Railroad Ad-
mlnistrator, Walker d. Hines, agreed
to the submission of his departments
interests in the vontroversy TO the War
Labor Board, it lad been the policy Of
the railroad administration to settle
Its own labor disputes.
The 40 per cent of the strikers who
are working for the railroad admins
tration had been refused an eight-hour
day, although this had been made the
standard for the rest of the railroad
workers.
At meeting Saturday night, attend
ed by fifty-two members of the strike
committee and Benjamin Squircs. rep
resenting the government ballot after
ballot was taken on the proposition
that the men return to work immedi-
ately and remain at work pending a
settlement by the War Labor Board.
Delahunty's Appeal Wins
From 7 o'clock until after 10 the
.otng continued on the basis of thirty
four members for the plan to 20 back
% work and eighteen against it.
Thomas Delahunty, head OF the Marine
Workers Affllation. was the leader Of
hose who wished to accept the gov
ernment's proposition. He made plea
% the men, supplemcn;ing one by Mr..
oqures. that resulted in making the
asst ballot unanimous for Immediate
return to work.
AT o'clock yesterday morning
,rders were sent to al police precincts
!om headquarters cancclling strike de-
,ails. BY that time all the ferry lines
1ere being operated on the usual lin
ted sunday service basis The Mu-
a'cipal ferryboat Queens left Manhat-
an for Staten Island at 6x3O a. m.
manned by her own crew after having
'een handled for several days by city
policemen on orders from Mayor Hylan
Swami Halts Inquiry
When District attorney Swami
earned that the men had returned to
work he asked that the following state
nent be publshed:
II the municipal employees sub
pcenaed to my office FOR 1880 Mon
day morning are working tomorrow
! do not want them to appear at the
District Attorneys office. want
them, If they have returned to work.
to ignore the subpcnas thief received
from me. In other words, do not
want TO interfere with their work,
II they are working
SIR. Swami had issued subpmnas for
,eventy striking city employees. He said
hey we're guilty Of a rnsdemeanor in
Riliuliy negiccting duties fixed by law.
Charges Not Withdrawn
Commissioner John II. Delaney. of
ne Department Of Plants and Struct.
1res, said last night that the charges
gainzt the men Of descrtion from their
post Of duty and abscDee without leave
iad W no means been withdrawn
"ihese men have committed an Of
,ense," said the commissioner, land
.houid under no circumstances be con-
Toned. Had IL rot been for Acting Cap
ain james w. IIallock Of the marine
iiyision Of the POLICE Department.. and
liz able mon ali skilled and properly
iceused-~coming 10 the rescue and
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