New-York tribune., 1919-10-02
Report That U. S. Shipping
Board Rescinded 48-HOur
Week Order Is Said to
Open the Way to Farley
Walk-Out Not Complete
Metal Trades Council Con-
tends Fleet Corporation
ACTION Caused Shutdown

Doubt Of anything like complete sue
cess of the walkout Of 100000 ship
workers in and about New Y ork yester-
day WAS coupled with an announcement
by the press commit of the United
Metal Trades Council last night that 1t
had heard the United States Shipping
, Board had rescindcd its order relating
to the 4S-hour week.
This report, if true, the council said
after an Afternoon conference, should
pave the way for speedy settlement of
the strike situation so far as the mat
ter of hours is concerned. Nothing
was said, however. regarding the ques-
tion of general increase in pay ex-
cept that negotiations could be opened
at once.
Fleet Corpors tion Blamed
IN statement Issued following the
meeting the council laid the blame for
the walkout upon the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, and also denied reports
that trade unions affiliated with the
council were in any way out of har-
mony with the American Fede ration of
Labor. The statement said:
Several months ago the international
officers of the council tried to negotiate
with the shipyard owners on the At
lantic coast. After many conferences
their intention to enter into an agree
ment- The subject was then taken Up
with individual yard owners, including
repair shops. Some 105 yards estab-
lished the forty four hour-week. Six
employers locked out their employees.
This was prior to any action on the
part OF the government.
Inquiry at Washington last night
however, failed TO verify the report
IL,
had been taken and that the strike, so
far as the board is concerned, viii
80 on
Later the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton issued an order that no WORT
would be riven any yard not operating
on the basis OF forty e ight hours a
week, and that no employer could ne
gotlate q wage increase with his en-
ployes. This meant that n yards
where the forty-four-hour-week was IN
effect employees had to return to the
ployes refused TO do Their refusal
forced the shutdown to-day ard pre-
vented negotiation concerning wage
scale and other shop conditions.
Official Minimizes Strike
". NJ. Rice, assistant district man
ager Of the Labor Adjustment Board
Of the United States Shipping Board
declared, however. there was no gen
erel strike in the shipyards Some
men were reported to have quit, he
said. but the walkout was by no means
complete, and many OF the men, were
4 bit uncertain.
Some evidence TO confirm MIR. Rice's
statement that the strike was not gen
cral developed. Two thousand five
hundred marine steamlittcrs and pipe
filters did not go on strike John II.
Martin, president OF Local 594 Of the
Marine Steamiitters, Pipehtters and
Helpers of the United States and Can
ada, explained that his organization
was awaiting the outcome of confer
cncc now taking place in Washington
between the Shipping Board and the
international Association OF Presidents
Of Marine Workers.
Mr.. Martin also denied report that
the strikers are radical and desire the
establishment of "One Big Union" TO
oppose the American Federation of
Labor
A canvass Of the shipyards in South
Brooklyn and Bay Ridge resulted in
claims thai the strike had made little
progress there.
The most nearly complete te-uD re-
ported during the day was that involv-
ing 100 coastwise and TRANSATLANTIC
tugboats engaged in hauling lumber
and coal cut Of Philadelphia, Norfolk,
Baltimore, Newport News and Boston
to New England and overseas ports
These were tied up at noon. when 800
licensed engineers and masters struck
for more pay.
cooks engaged in The trade automati-