Arizona republican., 1919-03-13
NEW Y0RkFEARS GRIP IF DREAD
 HARB0R STRIKE
Lack of Fuel Threatens Tie up of Subway, Elevated and Surface Lines-Other Unions Assure Sympa- thetic Aid - Government Aid Being Sought

NEW YORK, March 12.-A com- plete tie-up of New York CitYs sub way, elevated and surface car lines, as well as paralysis of the harbor shipping, is threatened by the strike of harbor workers which has been lu progress more than @ week, it was asserted today.
 Frank Hedley. general manager of the lnterborough Rapid Transit and allied lines, declared that unless coal barges are moved at once a shutdown of transportation on Manhattan Island will result.
 Freight is piling up at piers and the movement of transatlantic and coastwise shipping has been demeral- ized.
 The last regular delivery or coal was made to the Interborough a week ago yesterday" MT. Hedley said. While we have been able to get a few loads here and there. the total amount has been far from sufficient to keep the lines running We require about 2,00G tons a day, and if We cannot get it in some way we will have to sus- pend operations until we do get it, as we cannot run without fuel"
 Appeals to Washington today de scribed the situation as critical and called for federal intervention by the communicating of tug boats. The Wholesale Coal Dealers association telegraphed Secretary of War Baker yesterday, petitioning him to seize enough equipment to coal troop ships tied up here.
 Engineers to Aid Strikers
 While these appeals were going for ward the situation was further com plicated by announcement by Matthew McConville. head of the hoisting engi- neers' union, that his organization would support the strikers if coal barges were manned by non-union men.
 A statement by the Longshoremen' association said that unless the fed eral government intervened it will be impossible to load vessel in New York harbor.
 All efforts toward a settlement et the strike were suspended today pend ing the return of James L. Hughes, federal mediator The war labor board issued a statement in Washington, in which it said that while it could not change or enforce the award of ". ! Everet Macy, it's umpire, which re-
 
 would not object to an adjustment Of the controversy through the offices of ! MT. Hughes, even by a modification of the award.
 The Boatowners' association de- 1 clared it would not meet the strikers through the union leaders, and the Marine Workers utilization flatly re- fused the employers suggestions for a joint conciliation commission to dis | cuss grievances.
 It was announced tonight that the war and navy departments had auth 1 oriZed Colonel H. J. Kerrick, super i intendent of water transportation of | the port of New York, to grant to the | men employed on their boats the working conditions and wages agreed | upon between the railroad administra- | tion and the marine workers affilia- tion.
 May Rent Private Boats
 Captain William H. Maher, vice. president of the strikers union, de- ciared his organization had authorized the railroad administration to lease boats from private owners providing they were operated by union crews. | He said however, that boat owners had ! declined to rent their craft to the rail- | road administration. Maher also as- serted the union would welcome com mandeering of boats by the govern ment, provided they were operated by union men under union working con- ditions.
 WASHINGTON, March 12.-As q step looking to the settlement of the boat workers strike in New York har bor, the war and navy departments to day agreed as far as existing con tracts will permit. to approve for men employed on army and navy floating property at New York, working con
 ditions and wages agreed to between the railroad administration and Sma rine workers at that port.
 Neither of the departments has beer affected by the strike, their workers remaining on the job, but James l.
 Hughes, the federal mediator, felt that this action by the departments would greatly relieve the entire situation. H. , also has suggested that the shipping , board take similar action, but thu
 board has reached no decision.