The sun., 1919-03-15
HARBOR STRIKE MAY
Be ENDED TO-DAY


War Labor Board. that commission
being unable to back up Its decisions.
If a suitable mediator Is chosen the
boat owners will agree to submit their
case. AS an aid to procuring a settle
ment the boat owners would grant an
increase In pay. but balk at allowing
general eight hour day TO all port work
ers. They told Mr.. Hughes that boat
men themselves know the eight hour day
II impossible as applied to hRrbor boats.
but that the boatmen are spurred on to
Insist upon 1t through urging from sal
aired labor leaders,
When the conference was over Mr..
Hughes said: "Nov. everything Is up to
Mr.. Bonynge he's but TO say the word
and the strike will be called OF"
Yes" replied Mr.. Bonynge. but that
word would have to be surrender.
After his meeting with the boat own
ers Mr. Hughes returned to the strike
committee last night and placed the sit
uat!on OF the employers before them.
II he can bring a compromise to the boat
owners this noon at second conference
there Is some hope that common ground
for peace negotiations between the en-
ployers and strikers will toe established.
Appeals for Protection.
So far the, strike has been orderly, but
as the days OF idleness pile up SO does
the bad temper of both sides and hence
II was that Thomas l.. Delahunty. presi-
dent Of the Marine Workers Affiliation,
appealed to Police Commissioner En-
right for protection for his strike pickets
yesterday, calling the Commissioner
attention to the fact that there were
strlkebreakers in the city and demand
ing that the Sullivan law be enforced
. ,1,a sfY,Nn fta hoo fNtr
ers appealed to the Police Commissioner
to protect their property and the lives
Of their emergency employees.
Several hundred discharged soldiers
and sailors are guarding the boats OF
the owners and a dozen tugs are being
operated by non-union men. An effort Is
being made to recruit more crews, and
an Office was established yesterday in
room 430, IL Broadway, to give jobs to
all applicants for work,
From all sources, including the Navy
Department, II was said that there was
little probability OF the navy comman-
deerlng the boats of New York har-
Dor.
In reply to a question whether some OF
the private boat owners had refused to
charter equipment &c the Government for
coaling transports Mr.. Bonynge said:
1.-THE private boat owners. individually
and collectively. viii furnish the Gov
eminent with all the equipment Il may
require in connection with the transports
and other Government shipping. II, on
the other hand II Is the purpose OF the
Government to acquire equipment not
for its needs but to break the strike in
favor OF the unions then the attitude OF
the boat owners will be somewhat DIFF
ferent"
Jacob c. RelclSert Or the Reickert
Towing Company. who owns nine tugs
was invited by the Navy Department; TO
the offices at IS Broadway yesterday to
agree to charter his boats 10 the navy
lie declined the invitation. The property
Of the MCLall Transportation Company
including scows which are over at a
New JERSEY port. was not taken over by
the Government yesterday, though ]. J.
Kelly, president of the company, char
trrsd the boatG at the Invitation Of Capt
b. +. Hutchinson Of the navy o,
President Deahunty Of the Marine
Workers Aftiliation announced last night
| the following list of private boat own
ers who have agreed 10 the strikers
terms: Tremly Oil Company, Lucas T.
Moore, Morse Stave Company, L. J.
Barton BiEkA@ age Company, -Tossof
Engineering Company, Charles Rcinstone
Company, Olsen Iron Works, johnson
Lighterage Company, Wilson Welding
and Repair Company American Fuel
and Shipping Company. Carter & Weeks
| Steve core Compeny. New Jersey Ship
building and Dredging Company. Coast
wise Lumber Supply Company. and the
New England Steamship Company
The treasury OF the marine workers
| is in such a condition that It can finance
the strike for some time. There are
about 5000 men on strike The sum of
$l45,OOO is In the treasury. but that
, amount will not be touched to pay the
strike benefits, An assessment Of IS
was levied on each engineer yesterday
to be paid by April /, and the lighterage
men who are wording are assessed so
per cent. OF their earnings But one
case OF want among the mems families
| haR Teen renorted