The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-04
CIVIL WAR AMONG
PORT UNIONS NEAR
Striking Bodies Refuse to Han
die Tugs Operated by Vic
torious Colleagues.
SURPRISE BY DELAHUNTY
Likely to Nullify Settlements
of Harbor Troubles AL
ready Made.

The harbor strike situation took new
and serious turn last night when the
striking unions Of the Marine Affiliation,
notified the Railroad Administration that
union pilots and engineers would not
be permitted to handle tugp towing
privately owned barges. even though
the latter were operated by union men.
A war between the unions which are
still out and those which have con-
cluded peace with the private owners
is almost certain to result, for the effect
OF such policy would be to nullify
completely the settlements the Tidewater
Boatmen's Union and the Lighter Cap
tains Union already have made with the
private owners, as well as the one the
Hosting Engineers Union is expected
to make to-day.
The announcement Of the unions still
out on strike. which include those Of the
engineers and the pilots, was entirely
unexpected by the barge workers, who
had agreed to return to work to-day.
They expected that no opposition would
be made to having their coal and grain
oarges and other boats towed by Rail-
road Administration tugs, since the lat
ter are all manned by union pilots and
engineers Some OF the union mon acted
quickly. however, and tied up yester-
day feet Of coal barses ready for dis
tribution about the harbor.
President Delahunty of the Marine
Aniliation In announcing this decision
told A. H. Smith. Regional Director Of
the Railroad Administration. that the
affiliation could not allow privately
owned coal boats to be towed by union
engineers and pilots as long as the tugs
OF those same owners were on the ':un-
fair list" Of the engineers and pilots
organization.
I'VE don't want to tow when condl-
lions are half fair and half unfair"
said Mr.. Delahunty.
T. v. OConnor, president OF the In
ternational Longshoremen's Union. with
which the unions Of the affiliation which
have captulated are connected. said last
night that II the striking unions OF the
afiiliation did not allow union men to
handle the barges Of the tidewater boat
men and the lighter captains, the latter
would break away entirely from the az
filiation and permit nonunion engineers
and pilots to tow their craft This
would Of course mean the d!sintegration
of the Marine Affiliation as 1t Is now
constituted and leave in its membership
only the Masters, Mates and Pilots As
ISOLATION. the Marine Engineers and pos
sibly the Harbor Boatmen and the Port
and Terminal Workers, as the latter are
sill loyal"
No announcement Of the attitude to
be taken by the Railroad Administra-
ton could be obtained last night, but
II was unofficially stated that the ac-
tion of the Marine Affiliation might COM
pei the Railroad Administration to de-
clare the agreement between the Ad-
ministration and the affiliation cancelled.
The Lehigh Valley. the Pennsylvania
and other roads have scores Of privately
owned barges in commission. II they at
tempt to operate these with nonunion
tugs. as the tidewater unions probably
will ask them to do, It will mean I'M
doubtedly a renewal OF the split between
the Railroad Administration and the
Marine Affiliation.
AS we have said right along, the
strike will continue until the Marine
Engineers and the Masters, Mates and
Pilots win their demands said Vice.
President Maher OF the marine Affilia-
ton. How are the tidewater boatmen
and the lighter captains going to return
to work until We do? How are their
barges to be propelled-with oars? Our
position is Just as strong as ever. and
stronger"
The members of the Hosting Engi-
neers' Union will meet to-day to con-
slider a proposition submitted by the
owners yesterday. They probably will
accept II. II was said. The terms OF the
owners call for a wage of from sl3o5o
to 1892 a month, according to the class
Of work.
The crisis in the garbage situation 10
now passed. according to Street Clean
ing Commissioner McStay. Three
scows loaded with garbage were towed
to sea yesterday by a tug Of the Cahill
Towing Company manned by officials Of
the company and policemen from the
harbor squad. The harbor policemen
were ordered to man the tug after q
conference between Mayor Hylan. Health
Commissioner Copeland. Commissioners
Mcstay and representatives Of the Cahill
company.
Three more scow loads will be taken
to sea tomorrow. No garbage will be
collected from houses in the city to-day,
as there is no place to store the refuse.