The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-13
FOOD AND FUEL
| FAMINE NEAR
IMPORT TIEUP
Chances Fair That Men Will
Return Pending Wage
Adjustment.
SERVICE BADLY CRIPPLED
Plans Made to Bring Normal
Supply Of Milk Into
the City.
SERVICE BADLY CRIPPLED

Deckhands and f1remen of the Rail-
road Administrations ferries and tugs
will vote this morning on a proposal
10 return to work and end a tieup
the continuation of which puts thou
sands of commuters to Inconvenience.
threatens New York with a serious
shortage in foodstuffs and coal and
IS working the harbor clearing house
Tor freight cars into a snarl that may
take weeks to unravel.
The strikers, members of the Rail-
road Port and Terminal Union, will
meet in White Eagle Hall In Newark
avenue, near Fifth street. Jersey City
at 8 o'clock. Joseph Stanton, business
agent, will report on a meeting yes
terday with the New York District
Conference Committee of the Railroad
Administration and read communi-
cation from A. ] Stone, chairman of
the committee, that will contain the
assurance that the complaints that led
TO the strike will be given immediate
consideration.
Whether the North River railroad fer
Ties. tugs and lighters resume operations
to-day depends on the vote OF the deck
hands and flremen. The Marine Workers
Ailiation. which includes the unions OF
the captains and pilots and Of the enEi-
neers. has lodged action on a sympa-
thstlc strike, but bound its members no,
10 work with strike breakers.
Peace Outlook Fair.
The result of the vote is problem
atical but there is considered to be
an excellent chance that the conserva-
tves 'of the MIrine Workers Afiiliation
will be able to persuade the deckhands
and firemen to return to work on the
assurance that the demand for six day
week ana 25 per cent. wage increase VIII
lave consideration. The captains, pilots
and cngneers-classes composed wholly
OF men of ma ture years and experience
and the aristocrats among harbor
boatmen--are far from being units In
support of the strike which was put into
effect as soon as It was voted by the
deckhands and firemen late Friday
night, The union of deckhands and
hremen is relatively an unimportant
member Of the Marine Workers Afhlia-
ton. Its men give comparatively I'M
skilled service and it's membership OF
1000 is small compared to that OF the
| other unions.
Thomas L. Delahunty, president Of the
tliatiOn and an engineer, and William
/. 'Maher, leader of the captains and
pilots, .domiaate the central organization
md have been able to he'd II from de-
darins a general sympathetic strike,
They led the labor side in the conference
with the Government committee yester-
DAY and tho discussion was conciliatory.
Thefe are, however, radicals in all OF
/ The unions who are eager to press the
/ deckhands' strike to "A decision i'll the
matter of Immediate adjustment of the
wage scale and other alleged grievances
These men we're not satisfied by the
terms agreed upon after the strike last
. spring and they would bring the Gov
enment TO its knees if that achievement
Tep to cause a food famine In New
| York
Alr. Stone told the union men that the
action OF the deckhands In striking with
out warning while negotiations between
heir union and tho wage commission OF
ue Railroad Administration were IN
/ progress aud In violation of the agree
ment for one year entered into on March
! had created a situation In which he
iet that further negotiations were de-
pendent upon the immediate return OF
me men 10 work. He said he felt the
wage scales that were part of the
agreement had some Determinations that
should be remedied. He gave assurance
mat the delay in action on the wage
demands Of the deckhands. which were
aIeged by them as the cause OF their
Strike, would he ended at once provided
tae men returned to work. He made II
clear that the assurance did not carry
WIN II the promise of the granting OF
the demands.
The Railroad Administrations local
eohlereneA rnmittee Is composed of the
executives OF the separate systems!
nNoHs the members at the conference
'o W. Fripp, general manager Of
ue New York Central; X. V. Massey.
eeheral superintendent of the Pennsyl-
anna Railroad; A. d. Edgar. superin-
nueht OF the Central Railroad OF New
.eIsey' ana w, b. Pollock. marine direc-
WI IoF tie Railroad Administration.
General Strike OverruIed.
iouowing the conference, the union
WI s1 mel AT the rooms OF the Marine
rh'Aers Afillatlon in rs Park place.
m proposal Of Mr.. Stone was discussed.
e,H Speakers urged that II be re-
p ana renewed the argument for a
,neiaI strike, but President Delahunty
az lrinly against them
,.,' ,"r 'cHNhands and 1renen vote 10
,IH work the ferry boats and tug7
l,t nee '''.us passengers and freight
'''e Ion hour TO-DAY.
A. ' sunday relieved the conges-
.,t... ." lhe hudson tubes and the PENN
,,ann Railroads tunnel due To tne
gu. ''E .ot an the North River ferries
psHlp' he three OF the Lackawanna
| L. W lloaoken ard those 10 Fort
,r,l, ana at pycMnan street. The tube
were crowded throughout the day,
\ continued on Fitfh Payc.