The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-06

Responsibility for the complete tie
up of the port of New York was placed
at the door OF the United States Gov
ernment yesterday by the boat owners
of New York. whose craft lay idle at
the piers of Manhattan. Brooklyn and
the Jersey shore. ..
There is not the slightest hope Of
further mediation OF the differences be-
tween the boat owners and the strikers,
the reason being simple: an award was
asked by the strikers from the Ma
tional War Labor Board in January.
1t was given, the boat owners accepted
1t, but now the strikers won't recognize
1t. Owners of lighters, tugs, barges
and all craft in New York harbor are
unanimously determined to reject any
offer Of another arbitration. The effort
Of James L. Hughes, concfliator from
the United States Department of La
Dor, to bring about compromise is
futile so far as the boat owners ane
concerned.
Heads of the Railroad Administra-
tion in this city made several attempts
yesterday to try to bring the boat
owners to reason, but had to be eau
tious in making any offers for substi-
tutes for the Macy award, because
changing that award might be consid-
cred an insult to the President and the
National War Labor Board, which ar
bitrated the strike at Mr.. Wilson's own
cabled behest.
Railroads Are Helpless.
While all the railroads are affected by
the strike, individually none can try to
operate boats because they are under
Federal control. The New Jersey Gen.
tral obtained strike breakers yesterday,
and was about to start boats across
the river to Jersey City when the Rail-
road Administration discovered It and
Immediately ordered that road to stop
operating boats at once. The action
was severely criticised by railroad men,
who charged the Railroad Administra-
ton with being cowed by the strike
The reason advanced by the Railroad
Administration was the operation OF
boats might influence conference that
was hed in the Offices OF the Erie be-
tween A. J. Stone. Federal manager OF
the Erie, and the strike committee and
seeral other railroad heads.
Boat owners Gain it is plainly the
duty of the United States to enforce the
Macy award. which was made after a
long hearing of the evidence of strikers
and boat owners. II Theodore Roosevelt
-
day, they declared, the boats in New
York harbor would be running and the
men made to obey the ruling of the Gov
ernment. What President Wilson will
do by wireless or cable upon reaching
France is problematical No move will
-sN made by h5at owners to ask his In
terveotion. He did it7h January. and
now the strikers balk at the result.
Compromise Plan Rejected.
Mr. Hughes proposed the owners &c
TO Washington and place the case before
Secretary Daniels, Secretary Baker and
Secretary Wilson. and abide by ruling
The boat owners laughed at the pro-
posal. They are perfectly willing to see
the Secretaries, but there Is nothing In
the province OF these officials which
would override the decision of the Ma.
tional War Labor Board.
The meeting OF the boat owners with
Mr.. hughes and Mr.. Stone was held lr
the office OF Mr. Stone. II. NJ. Lee
Joseph ]. Glatzmeyer, Joseph Fl. Morar
and Paul Bonynge represented the own
ers of harbor craft During the confer.
ence Mr.. Hughes received a telephone
call from Washington from the Railroad
Administrations labor chief. When h,
returned to the conference he asked
what the owners had to say, and one ol
them said in substance:
THE owners have but one message fol
you. They want TO know whether tn,
Federal Government has enough respect
for itself and for the President to up
hold its own dignity and honor and thai
OF the President.
The RAILROAD Administration reluc.
! tantly entered into an arbitration at the
behest OF the President, and there Ia
Just one question now, whether Wash.
ington oftieialdom IL going to stand BY
that award or bend the knee once moro
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