The sun., 1919-01-22
WALSH IN HOT TILT
AT HARBOR HEARING
Impugns Boards Fairness for
Refusal to Force Produc-
ton Of Books.
SUBPOENA Is IGNORED
Boat Owner Testifies U. s.
Pays 1926 Rent for His
$4,000 Boat.

Tie constant wransling that has
marked the progress OF the harbor LABOR
hearing before a section Of the National
War Labor Board eliminated yesterday
In bitter row in which Frank p. walsh
representative Of the workers and him
self a former joint chairman OF the body,
impugned the fairness of the board and
made a yelled threat TO suspend the pro-
ceedngs.
Thoroughly ansered by the refusal OF
Chairman Hutcheson. a member OF the
labor representation, to insist upon the
production of books of the boat owners,
for which It had issued subpoena, Mr..
Walsh shouted:
II think 1t best we do not proceed
further with this hearing until We get
another labor member on this board.
(Adam Wilkinson. one of the two men,
bers Of the labor group assigned to the
section. was absent on account Of the
death OF a relative in Ohio.)
stiIl Wants the Books.
You can do as you please about
that" retorte1 the chairman with some
show OF heat.
We'll, I want those books" loudly in
sisted Mr.. Walsh. II must say. Mr..
Chairman. that your rulings arc the
the first time In any forum that have
seen the best evidence kept back
Mr.. Walsh had explained in the
course OF an argument with Paul Bo-
nynge. counsel for the boat owners. that
he wanted the books for the purpose OF
showing what the companies had paid
out In wages, what prices they were re-
ceiving from the Government and pri-
vate cstomers expenses Of operation and
similar Information. His irritation was
heightened when Mr.. Bonynge declined
10 put his clients on record as refusing
TO produce the desired Information.
Walter S. Smith. vice-president OF the
Red Star Towing and Transportation
Company, had remarked under cross
examination that his failure to obey the
order to bring his company's books was
due to the fact that he didn't have
time"
II don't say that we refuse to pro-
90 not know OF any legal reason why
We should do 60" He then conceded
a willingness TO produce tho payrolls
OF the company. but not the other evil
dence requested.
The payroll does not give the !nfor-
nation l want want the books from
which It IL made" rejoined Mr.. Walsh.
Il want to prove that In 5000 cases
tho companies did not pay the men
tho wages get by the adjustment board
and that In some cases they have
worked the men sixteen houss a day"
The chairman suggested that the pay
roll alone ought to be sufficient But
Mr.. Walsh was not TO be notified.
subterfuRe, He Charges.
81 want those books" he stormed
ito prove the claim these owners make
that they can't put an eight hour day
Into operation IS just a subterfuse like
II was with the railroads We are max
ing night against the strongest CON-
binatlon In the harbor"
Tho incident was closed when NJ
Walsh finally said. I'VE will proceed
on the ruling that the board has sub.
p9naed the books and they have not been
The complainants closed their case
with the testimony OF Alfred VI. Sorell
business agent OF the Hosting Engi.
neers' Union, that members Of his or
ganizat!on ara dying right and LEFT
from overwork They are asking Sc 70
SIS for an eight hour day. with double
pay for overtime and sunday work
They now vork on the basi, Of a ten
hour day fo- s32 week.
When Theodore l. Burgess, represent.
Ing the Railroad Administration, said
he had eight or nine witnesses but that
hey were not prepared. and Mr.. Bonyngs
suggested he had enough witnesses to
keep the board busy until Mr.. Burgess
was ready. Mr.. Walsh prec.pitated an.
other wordy exchange by expressing the
hope that the defence would not tax,
up the time OF the board by extending
the hearing beyond to-day. 1t had taken
tho complainants five days to presen,
their testimony.
Frederick 3. Dalzell head o. the tow.
ing company OF that name. testified ,h,,
operating expenses OF the comnsnics
were increasing while business is he.
ginning 10 slacken. He and John ]
Ruggc. president o.: the T!cs TOWNS
Company, testified at length as to IN,
effect OF tidal conditions on TOWING
operations.