The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-28
WAR BOARD ENDS
HARBOR HEARING
Findings Are Delayed by Other
Urgent Matters, Taft
Announces.

The hearing by the National War La
Dor Board on the demands of New York
marine workers for wage increases and
an eight hour day came to a close early
last night in the City Hall. Frank p.
Walsh, representing the workers; Paul
Bonynge. counsel for the private boat
owners, and Theodore II. Burgess. rep
resenting the United States Railroad
Administration. occupied four hours with
the presentation of their final arguments
before the full board. with Joint Chair
men William Howard Taft and Basil NJ.
Manly presiding.
Other matters OF great urgency, Mr.
Taft said after the hearing. are demand
ing the immediate attention OF the board,
so that it viii probably be some days
before It is able to announce its findings
in the harbor case.
The final argument OF Mr.. Walsh. his
bitter filings at the boat owners and his
manner OF delivery so pleased the union
men and their friends that several times
they forgot their surroundings and burst
into applause. which was promptly
checked by Chairman Taft. John Bren-
nan, president of the Tidewater Boat
mems Union, who has done more than
his share in tightening the tedium of the
daily sessions. made a final contribution
Of this nature during the course OF Mr..
Bonynges argument
Brennan Calls II a Lie.
Mr.. Bonynge. In making an assertion
about a particular point In the testimony
that concerned Mr.. Brennan. turned to
the latter and said:
That's right, isn't It, john"
NO" said Brennan in a belligerent
tone that startled Chairman Taft out OF
his contemplation OF the ceiling NO.
1t isn't. It's a lie. that's what il is -
Mr.. Walsh headed of MIR. Brennan's
evident intention OF simplifying his OBJ
lection.
Mr. Walsh asked that the board make
supplementary finding respecting the
ins!nuation made early in the hearing
by opposing counsel. and subsequently
withdrawn, that German money had
helped to finance the activities OF the
harbor unions. Mr.. Taft said the board
would consider the matter.
Mr. Walsh was unsparing III his crti-
cism of the boat owners, whom he char
acterised as the most backward set or
employers In the United States" At
one point In his argument. as he was re-
ferring 10 the EFFORT of the boat owners
to forestall the recent strike by organic
ing joint hlCbor Cancellation board.
conditioned upon the elimination of the
1ao 40, - ~
he shook his fist under the noses of the
men at the boat owners table and
shouted.
That was not an honest attempt at
Cancellation That was crooked trick
to split the ranks OF the workmen"
A reference to the fact that the War
Labor Board. during the time Mr.. Walsh
was IA joint chairman. had often handed
down as equitable wage scales far lower
than the one he now insists is the mini
mum upon which workers can live
aroused the Kansas City man. He de-
clared that while he was a member Of
the board he had always held that ~
cents an hour was the minimum and
that any awards below this amount were
made over his vote.
burgess Attacks Demands.
MIR. burgess representing the RAIL
road Administration, said that the de-
mands of the workers were unreason-
able. He declared that II they were
granted on the basis Of straight eight
hour dav they would mean increases of
from 10 TO 500 per cent. over the wages
paid in December, 1915 lie pointed out
that the railroads are facing heavy
deficits and said that these deficits are
due for the most part 20 the heavy wage
increases that have been granted in the
last year or two.
Roth Mr.. Burgess and Mr. Bonynge
insisted that the dependence Of the tow
ing business on tidal conditions and the
nature OF its operations made the appli-
cation OF the eight hour day impractical
bic. Mr. Walsh replied that practical
men had shown on the stand that the
great bulk of harbor work could be done
on a straight eight hour day basis.
All the speakers gave lengthy consid-
GRAFTON 10 the various costs OF living
budgets that have been discussed during
the hearing. counsel for the owners de-
claring that "a serious and an alarm
ing" attempt had been made TO impose
upon one group a minimum wage out OF