New-York tribune., 1919-01-18
Exhibits Barred
From Record i'm
Ffarbor Inquiry
Boat Owners Would Show
Union Head Was Convict
ed of Ballot Fraud; Prof
iteering Is Hinted AT

The New York Harbor boat owners
and their employees made charges
against each other yesterday before
the section of the War Labor Board
that is taking evidence preparatory to
a settlement of the wages and hours
dispute that caused the strike and
consequent tie-up of the harbor from
Wednesday until Saturday of last week.
The hearing was held in the Alder
manic Chamber of City Hall.
The boat owners, through their coun-
sci, Paul Bonyngc, tried to introduce
records cf the Hudson County On. j.
Court showing that Captain William
Maher, head of the union of master,
mates and pilots, had been convicted
in 1915 of balot-box stuffing and SEN
fenced to serve from one and half
to three years at hard labor Chair
r'an c. L. Michael ruled that. the ex-
hibits were not admissible.
By way of retaliation, Frank Walsh,
counsel for the strikers, ATTEMPTED to
show that the boat owners had been
profitcerinG at the expense CT the
United States government. He asked
Captain Mahor to identify a message
which he said had been sent by the
Moran Towing Company, through thelr
dispatcher, to one Of their towboat
captains. Nh. Ronynge objected to the
slip of paper being made an exhibit, be-
cause it was not signed
Walsh Reads Message
~,
Walsh read the message, which was as
follows:
Sob 4" (namc of the captain not
given).
q a. m. O'Clock in the morning
(Tuesday).
Report to Boatswain Smith at Pier
army Aoboken and work under his
orders.
"Notc.-To- morrow afternoon late
try and get water on their time; don't
wait until you get through and have
TO get water on our time
Captain Maher said it took from
forty-Gve minutes to two hours and a
falf to get water, and that the govern
ment would pay fer this at the rate OF
SIS an hour.
Emil Richards, of 5O7 Baltic Street,
Brooklyn, business agent for one of the
boatmen's unions, testified that 1t cost
him G5170 a month for rent, food and
household necessities for his family Of
wife and six children. he said he
bought second hand clothes, but was
the best dressed member of tho family
The children. he testified, wore cast
off clothing, which their mother made
over for them. He said their rent for
four rooms, without d bath, was $5 a
week. -
Became Master at Twenty-one
Captain Maher was called to the
stand, and Mr.. Bonynge asked him how
long he had possessed q masters
license. Captain Maher said he got 1t
whom he was twenty-one years old.
Mr., Bonygnc then asked Captain
Mahcr if he had been a steamboat
captain through the years that fol-
lowed
with the exception of two years
was continuously q pilot or master
until July |, 1917, when I took my pres
ent position with the union" replied
Captain Maher.
'What did you do in those two years
that you except ?" asked Mr.. Bonynge
"That's none of your business.
decline to answer that" said Captain
Maher.
"Do you dcclre to answer on the
ground it viii tend to incriminate or
degrade you?' queried Mr.. Bonynge.
Captain Maher rose to his feet
trembling. "If you are asking that to
get my goat" he shouted, u want to
say right now you can't get my goat"
Several score marine workers, pres
ent as spectators, applauded and were
rebuked by Chairman Michael Mr.
Walsh objected ito the question and
Chairman Michael ruled it was per
missable, but agreed the witness might
decline to answer it.
2,1O0 Men in Harbor Work
and think it was perfectly proper
for the witness to tell him that it was
none of his business,' retorted Mr..
Walsh.
The witness was asked how many
members there were in his organiza-
ton. He replied
eve have 2,10O members of the as
ISOLATION engaged in harbor work" He
said there were q number Of men out
OF employment, and some had engaged
IN other work who would like to return
to marine work.
"Will you give me the names of any
man who might go back to work who
had not been discharged for drunken
ness or lncompetency or insutordina-
ton" asked Mr.. Bonyngc.
Il don't know any member Of my
organization who has been DISCHARGED
Tor drunkenness" said Captain Maher.
The hearing will be resumed at 10
a. m. to-day in the rooms Of the Board