The sun., 1919-03-18
IA CREWS QUIT ON
GOVERNMENT TUGS
Private Owners of Boats Char
tered to Army and Navy
Withheld Increase.
GENERAL STRIKE FEARED
Unions Look to Federal Agen-
cies to Make Up Difference
in Wage Scales.

The harbor strike situation was fur
Their complicated last night when the
crews Of fourteen tugs chartered by the
army and navy quit work upon receiv-
ing their pay envelopes and finding that
they were being paid under the old
schedule. The tugs on which the men
quit work were privately owned craft
chartered with their crews to the Gov
eminent for coaling Government vessels.
The men had expected that they would
be paid the Railroad Administration
scale.
1t was believed last night that the
Government will settle the matter by
paying the men the difference between
the private owners scale and that paid
on the Governments own boats. Union
leaders said that unless the matter was
satisfactorily adjusted there was grave
possibility of a renewal of the general
strike, as the men have become exasper-
ated over the whole situation.
The matter will be taken up at meet
ing to-day between the strike commit
tee OF the marine workers and represent
tatives Of the Government. At the same
meeting complaints to the effect that the
Railroad Administration marine mana
gers in connivance with the private OPP
orators have been discriminating against
strikers will be investigated.
Army ana Navy to Borrow Tugs.
Pending the settlement of the griev-
ances of the men on the fourteen char
tered boats the army and navy will prob
ably borrow Railroad Administration
boats to handle their coaling and other
jobs. 1t is quite likely. however. that
hA lad
to-day.
Efforts Of James l.. Hughes, Federal
conciliator, to bring the harbor strikers
and the private boat owners together
again proved frultless yesterday and
both sides announced that they would
devote all their energies hereafter to
wearing each other down.
The union leaders told Mr.. Hughes that
they were willing to send a committee
to the conference he proposed. but they
stipulated that Paul Bonynge. counsel
for the boat owners, should not be per-
mitted to participate in it. The boat
owners informed Mr.. Hughes that they
would deal no more with the present
leaders OF the Marine Aflliation. but that
they were willing to meet the men as In
dividuals at any time.
Eight Hour Day Called Impossible.
Until the demand for an eight hour
day Is definitely and publicly abandoned
there will be no more conferences" said
Chairman Joseph H Moran of the New
York Towboat Exchange last night in a
statement explaining the refusal of the
boat owners to grant Mr.. Hughes's re-
quest.
I'VE do not propose to discuss that
question further the statement de-
which cannot be conducted within the
same hours that apply to other callings
Our men actually work no more than
six or seven hours a day on the average,
but owing 70 tidal conditions they are
required to be on duty for a longer
period daily .han in other occupations.
We are and always have been willing
TO compensate them for this disadvan-
tage by the payment of a relatively
higher wage.
I'm private the men admit the truth
and justice of our position. In public
they allow their views to be misrepre-
sented by leaders who demand the i'm
possible. We can afford to keep our
equipment tied up or moving on part
time Just as long as they can afford to
follow incompetent leadership.
We are prepared to join with our
men in the creation OF a central body to
adjust all present and future differences
with 5000 representation to employer
and employee. II we knew a better plan
we would in the public interest suggest
It."
One Private Concern Yields,
President Delahunty OF the Marine
Affiliation repeated his declaration that
the eight hour day is the paramount
issue and that the men will remain out
until they get It,
One more private concern, the Under
cliff Warehouse and Lighteraee Com
pany. operating one steam lighter and six
barges, agreed to the strikers terms
yesterday. according to an announcement
made by Vice-President William A.
Maher OF the Marine Afflliation.
Capt Maher denied that the marine
workers were responsible for the delay
in the sailing OF the troopship Adriatic,
which has been held up for several DAYS
for lack of coal. Maher said that the
boat owners had refused 10 charter coal
boats to the Government. The union, he
said, stood ready to furnish the neces-
sary crew. At the Offices of the Water
Transportation Service II was said that
the cause OF the delay OF the Adriatics
sailing was the refusal of stevedores to
coal her because the coal came from
companies operating their own harbor
craft.
The inefficiency of a nonunion crew
was responsible, according to officers OF
the Marine Affiliation, for a marine ac-
cident which occurred of Staten Island
Sunday. Capt. Maher said a coal barge
broke loose from the Edouard and Alfred
and wencsUA Ore on South Beacn&AG eli
Island. He said that the union crew OF
the tug Fuller. OF the Barton Lighterage
Company. rescued n man and woman
from the barge before 1t went ashore.