New-York tribune., 1919-03-25
City Coal Trouble
Caused by Strike
Put Up to Hylan.
Fuel Administrator Garfield
Declines to Act Until the
Mayor Has Exhausted His
Powers in the Matter
Nem York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Wd8hsh0ton Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 24.-The posi-
tion Of the United States Fuel Admin
istration in connection with a strike
of the Marine Workers Affiliation in
the port of New York was outlined Off
cially for the first time tonight in q
telegram from Fuel Administrator
Harry A. Garfield to Mayor John +.
Hylan.
Mr.. Garfield will not intervene, the
telegram said, unless at the MAYORS
request, after the Mayor has cx-
hausted his own powers
The telegram pointed out that coal
in sufficient quantities to keep public
utilities going can be made available
at Staten Island, and suggested that the
Mayor "consider the possibility of sup
plying facilities for the movement of
coal from these points" The text of
the telegram follows:
Con the fourteenth instant, at the
request of the Public Service Com
mission for the First District, | in
terceded with the Navy Department
for assistance in towing coal barges
IN New YORK harpor. Acting Secretary
Roosevelt, of the Navy, advises me bv
letter this morning that. as a result of
survey of the harbor situation made
last week. the Navy Department does
not consider that it should continue
furnishing tugs for coal barges as not
strictly within it's province. and ask
ing that I advise the Public Service
Commission and power plant managers
that hereafter, in case Of emergency. /
be notified instead Of the NAVY Depart-
ment.
81 have communicated this message
as requested, but do not feel mvself
n fol ~, ~
as at present understood. AS | advised
Mr.. Whitney on Friday last. coal can
be delivered via Baltimore G. Ohio to
ST: George and Arlington piers, Staten
Island, in sufficient quantity to keep
public utilities going Respectfully
suggest that you consider the posi-
bility of supplying facilities for move
ment OF coal by water from these
points.
"While I am willing to exercise such
powers as | possess if the necessity
arises, 90 not regsSd myself warranted
IN intervening unless at your request
ers." 'ON' ~"
with both sides claiming victory, the
harbor boatmen's strike situation was
deadiocked yesterday The boat owners.
through officers of their association. as
serted that they had thirty tugs. or
ABOUT liza per cent of their equipment.
working with non-union men. Strike
leaders, who made a tour of the harbor
IN power launch, asserted that they
could find only five tugs at work.
James l.. Hughes, the Federal media
tor, put in the day trying to find some
common ground on which boat owners
and strikers might be induced to meet
lie made no headway, the men refusing
TO bulge from their demand for eight
hours and the employers being equally
lnsistent on "ten hours or nothing.o
Inc inspection tour of the strike
Leaders took up the greater part of the
day. Thomas l.. Delahunty, president
OF the Marine Workers. Afiliation re-
thing is in fine shape"
owe have been from one end Of the
harbor. to the other" he said, "and
found but five non-union tags at work.
These were manned by their owners
and office men. For example, three of
the Van Alst boys were working the
James Van Alst. The Flannery tue
Garrison was being run by jim Elan.
merry and his son. The tug Hudson, one
or the kellar boats, was being run by
Captain Jake Reichcrt, one of the own
ers, with John Grady, his superin
tendent of engineers, getting his hands
dirty IN the engine room. On one of
the Ackerman tugs, the c. ]. Alderman.
Billy Hand, one of the office men, was
in charge.
"rhat sort of thing will never break
any strike; From our standpoint,
things could not be better. If nothing
else ends the strike, the piling up Of
scows with ashes will paralyzc the cf~
forts of these fellows. There were
dozens of barges tied up to piers, four
and five abreast, loaded with ashes.
which they have been unable to move"
Mr.. Dclahunty wrote Paul Bonynye.
counsel for the boat owners, declining
his invitation to lunch. In it he agreed
with Mr.. Bonynge that n Joint harbor
board would be a good thing. but he de-
clared the men would carefully ex-
anime any proposition looking toward
the creation Of one.
This, Mr.. Bonyngc said last night.
was "a distinct gain for the cause cf
peace.
at leads us to hope,' he said, chat
by and by Mr.. Dclahunty will become
reasonable"
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