New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12
Pennsylvania and West
Shore Ferries Resume;
Normal Service Monday
Taft Board Hearing
Begins Tomorrow
Owners Are Still Defiant
and Federal Seizure of
Craft Appears Likely

President Wilson's cabied interven-
ton yesterday resulted in the sudden
halting Of the harbor strike here.
The men voted, unanimously, last
lhght to return to work Immediately
Their action affects all boats except
those operated by the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western Railroad, including
the ferryboats, tugs and lighters con-
trolled by that. corporation.
Technically, the men return to work
pending settlement of the issue bv
the War Labor Board. Actually, in
view of threatened pressure by the
government on both sides. there is be
lieved to be little probability that har
Dor conditions of the last three davs
will be repeated.
In announcing the decision of the
men. Thomas Deiahunty, president Of
the Marine Workers Affiliation, said
that many strikers would be back or
their jobs this morning and all by TO-
morrow.
President Wilson took hand in the
harbor strike situation yesterday, Civ
ing hope of prompt settlement He
sent cable message to the War Labor
Board asking it to take up the dispute
again. Pending the action of @his
body, the men will return to work.
Thomas Delahu1ty. president of the
Marine Workers Affiliation, announced,
some of them to-day and all of them
by tomorrow.
Trafficcon both the Pennsylvania ana
West Shore ferries was resumed at
midnight.
Mr.. Delahunty's announcement fol-
lowed night meeting at the Marin
Workers Affiliation Offices in 26 PARK
Place of the six members of the strike
committee with government repre-
sentative. Benjamin M. Squires, who is
a Department of Labor commissioner
of Cancellation and chairman of the
New York Harbor Wage Adjustment
Board
The governments message to the
strikers was that the members of the
War Labor Board were on their wsy
to New York City from different points
of the compass. Most IF them are due
here to-day
Paul Bonynge, speaking for his
clients, the boat owners, last night
said: "Our attitude isn't changed
bit by the decision of the men. W.
lave made it clear how we feel about
arbitration before a board that in
cludes Basil Manly"
In view of this, leaders of the strik
ers and government representatives
said there was every reason to believe
that the government would take over
the operation Of the harbor craft.
Taft to Arrive Tonight
Former President Taft. joint chair
man of the board, was in Pittsburgh
yesterday, and from Washington it was
learned that he would not reach New
York until tonight
|. The strike committee was told that
the War Labor Board would begin
hearings on the controversy at 10
o'clock Monday morning in the Board
of Estimates IS room in the City Hall
provided the men agreed to go back to
work Immediately. This information
was delivered along with an urgent
request from the War and Navy de-
partments, the Shipping Board and the
railroad administration to resume work.
So far as could be learned last night.
the government did not ask the boat
owners whether they would submit
their side of the controversy to arbi-
tration. 1t was pointed cNt that Presi-
dent Wilson in his cablegram had re-
quested the. War Labor Board to re-
sumo jurisdiction over the controversy.
so that the question of joint submis
sion had been removed by virtue ot
the Presidents request.
Predicts u. S. Seizure
One representative of the govern
ment stated fatty that if the boat own
ers baked at arbitration their craft
would be commandeered by various de
partments Of the government.
Daylight to-day, the strike leaders
predicted, would find myriads of harbor
craft striving to reduce the freight
congestion on the Jersey side. At sun
set Yesterday not more than half n
dozen boats were moving simultane-
ously in all the reaches of the harbor.
Paul Bonynge, before Mr.. Delahuuty's
announcement was made, said that il the
men should decide to return to work
they would find their boats right where
they abandoned them. Shortly nfterward
from Mr.. Bonypge's Office the boat own
ers issued statement that discussed
the possibility Of the governments seix-
! ing their equipment.
In tho Stotan,anf fho hont >