The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-04-27
MEN REFUSE
|PAYCUTURGED
BY BENSON
Admiral Warns Vessels May Be
Run by Foreign Crews if
Workers Quit.
mo COMPROMISE" HE SAYS
Spokesman for 10000 En-.
ployes Fight to Keep Pres
ent Wage Scales.

A strike of 10000 marine
workers, tying up virtually all
shipping under the American flag,
loomed nearer today when repre-
sentatives of the employees flatly
refused to consider a proposal of a
fifteen per cent decrease in wages,
made by Admiral w. S. Benson.
chairman of the United States
Shipping Board.
AGREE TO CONSULT BENSON.
Operators and workers. after a
conference in New York yesterday.
agreed to place the question before
Admiral Benson before final strike
action ives taken. Private ship ope-
rators are urging a reduction OF ap-
proximstely 20 per cent in wages
Organized ship workers are contend-
Ing for continuation of the present
scales
Admiral Benson told the cohferees
today that the rising value of the
|, dollar justified a decrease in wages,
the same basis having bsen used in
| establishing increases during the war.
II am convinced that the amount
OF this reduction must be not less
than Is per cent of the present wage
sqales,' he added.
THE marine workers won't accept
Is per cent or any other reduction"
said w. S. Brown, head of the Ma
rine Engineers Association.
William A. Thompson, representing
the shipowners of the Atlantic and
Guf coasts. stated that the ship
owners were willing to negotiate on
the basis laid down by Admiral
Benson.
OPPOSITION VIGOROUS.
Admiral Benson's proposals for
wage reductions were met with in
slant and vigorous opposition from
the representatives of marine work.
ers.
w. d. Brown. Of the marine en-
gineers. declared that his men would
negotiate the matter Of modification
of working regulations, but would
not accept reduction in wages.
Andrew Furuseth, representing. tho
| seamen, declared 1t time for the ship
owners to "learn to deal with seamen
| as human beings" He charged tho
"crimp" system of securing seamen is
still being used with his voice
aquiver, the aged leader declared, "for
| fair treatment for the seamen and
| now 1T doesn't look as though they
| will ever get it"
'It is well known fact that the
Shipping Board doesn't know any
| thing about the operation of ships. for
| IL 1t did IT wouldn't propose wage re-
ductions," declared Henry B. Griffith.
| representing the Cooks and Stewards.
Patrick Flynn. representing the
| Firemen and oilers. also voiced his
| opposition to wage reductions
HINTS AT FOREIGN CREWS.
Ih reply to this opposition, Admiral
m ha
may man their vessels with foreign
labor. 81 would rather have no Amer
| ican merchant marine than to have a
marine that is not purely American"
Admiral Benson declared.
The Shipping Board does not de-
sire arbitrary wage reductions oased
solely on the present Industrial de-
preston" Admiral Benson said. In
making readjustments 1t proposes to
stress the same factor which was SO
largely considered in making in
lcreases-the return of the PURCHASING,
value of the dollar toward its normal
value as reflected in the percentage
drop in the cost OF living"
| Admiral Benson said he felt that
wages of seamen since 1914 have
kept pace with the Increases in
wages in other industries. He de-
clared that the maintenance OF
overtime which has been subject to
such notorious abuses" is improper,
and recommended reduction In
subsistence allowance and other
notifications in the working rules.
"CANNOT COMPROMISE
The Shipping Board. as trustee of
the money of the people OF the United
States, cannot compromise a vital
principle" declared Admiral Benson,
giving warning that the Government
will intervene to prevent a strike.
1T must insist upon equitable read
| justment of the present wage scale
and working conditions in order to
efficiently operate it's ships The
Finite pAtes Ia determined to have
. rsefthant marine and the Shipping
Bdard, so far as possible, L. endeav-
oring to- have. its ships American
m. .h 96Esk |. AZ ,.rn.., = .D0.,, 60 81
OF y6o9kho have the interests Of our
merohsAe marines at heart to come
with me and the Shipping Board In