New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
8-Hour Day
Is Expected
By Boat1nnen
Continued from page l

De again RrDtratcd. This was OBJ
)ected to on the ground that it would
consume too much time and that it
would be difficult if not impossible to
get the men to return to work.
The discussion then shifted to the
original demands of the men for an
elght-hour day and substantial in
creases in wages. The representatives
OF the men declared that the eight
hour question was the important one,
and that while the men want more
money, the granting of the eight
hour day in itself would 60 far tow
ard securing settlement, assuming
that it be so arranged that it would
be real and not a theoretical eight
hour day.
The men are not looking for over
time" the railroad chiefs we're told.
"True there are some owe ertime hogs,
put the most of them want the eight
hour day for the benefit it will bring
them personally and the fact that it
will provide work for hundreds of re-
turning soldiers"
The general discussion which fol-
lowed closed with "thc intimation,"
to quote one of the conferrees, chat we
will be offered the eight-hour day"
After the conference Mr.. Hughes
said substantial progress had been
made toward settling the trouble, but
ne declined to go into details. Mr..
Stone and the railroad representatives
had nothing to say.
Two O'clock Is Time Limit
"The railroads are to make us n
definite proposal of settlement at 10
this morning." said Captain Mahcr.
"This will have to be acted on by 2
o'clock. More than that | cannot say
now"
"That means separate settlement"
suggested reporter. Don't you
think the men will accept that? p
"That's for the men to decide" he
replied. at may not be rejected"
docs the fixing of time limit for
acceptance mean that the railroads
will try to break the strike if you
don't accept?"
II don't consider it an ultimatum.
1t may be that they have rcfrained
from trying to break the strike for
the very good reason that they cannot
get strike breakers"
After the conference the members Of
the strike committee met at 26 Park
place. At this meeting it was tacitly
agreed that on receipt of the offer of
the railroads it will be approved so
far as tho committee has the power and
referred to the several unions with the
recommendation that they accept the
offer. Meetings Of the unions cannot
we'll be held before to. night or to NOR
row noon. In the mean time the rail
road managers will be advised of the
strike committees action and are cX-
pected to wait for the meetings of the
unions.
Joseph H. Moran, chairman of the
Towboat Exchange, in statement ad-
mitting the success of the strikers in
tying up the harbor, said the position
OF the private employers would not be
made public until after the railroad
managers had taken action.
Mr. Moran's organization also made
public letter to Mayor Hylan, in
which it said:
"With the mild weather now pre-
vailing we recognize that accumula-
tions of garbage and filth may readily
become a menace to the public health,
and it is our wish to do everything to
aid you in averting this danger. To
this end we hereby tender to the City
of New York the use of all or any
part of the equipment owned by our
members, consisting of over 400 tug
boats"
The scow situation was unchanged
Yesterday All Of the trimmcrs were
as those in the Bronx and Kings.
Others are out at Riker's Island and the
Hunters Point dump, including men
who were put in the places of strikers
at the time of the January 8 strike.
Will Stay to Finish
Mr. Vacarelli said last night that
his men will remain on strike until
all of the "emergency men," so called,
employed in January are dismissed.
The strike committee of the affili-
alton decided to lift the ban on the
pleasure craft to be used in welcoming
the 9th Division.
They took this action. the announced,
as patriotic duty. They further de-
cided to place union men on all the
boats and operate them free of charge
The only conditicr that the workers
demand is that a large placard be
placed on each craft inscribed: "Ma-
rine workers Of this pert are on strike,
but they deem it patriotic duty to
operate these boats for the relatives
and and friends Of the brave boys Of the
9th Division"
Boats besides those of the Mayors
Committee of Welcome exempted are
the Manhattan and the Grand Repub-
nc. the latter having been chartered
by relatives of the men in the list
ReCiment