Evening star., 1921-04-27
Shipping Board and Sea-
mems Representatives
Clash Over Reduction.
Rejects SIX DEMANDS
ASKED TO AVERT STRIKE
Admiral Firm on Lower Pay and
Subsistence, and Elimination
of Overtime at Sea.

wage reductions between Chairma
Benson of the Shipping Board. and
spokesmen for the marine workers
developed at the opening today OF
conferences at the Cosmos Club. called
by the chairman IN an effort to avert
a threatened strike on American
steamers May 1.
Andrew Furuseth. president of the
international Seamens Union, and
other spokesmen for the workers de-
clared that Is per cent wage re
duction declared by Rear Admiral
Benson to be necessary was unac-
<eptable to the unions.
Chairman Benson. in opening the
conference, declared that wages had
to come down and that at least
Is per cent reduction was the basis
on which the Shipping Board would
work William S. Brown, speaking
for the Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association. declared the engineers
were willing TO negotiate on working
rules, but that they would not Will
ingly accept reduction in the pres
ent wage scale.
I'VE want to deal in a fair spirit
he said, but we can't agree with
Chairman Benson when he says there
should be a Is per cent reduction.
Wages Already Reduced.
Mr, FuTuSeIn Sdlu 0Shdlioi III SEA
mems wages took place ten days after
the armistice. the so per cent increase
allowed during the war being cut on
without complaint by the men. He
added that there was no excuse for
overtime at sea. but that the reduction
OF Is per cent in wages plus ellmlna-
ton of overtime and reduction OF SUD-
siStence allowances meant 90 per
reduction the Seamcn 8 In
"The Shipping Board doesn't know
anything about this business" declared
Edward B. Griffin. representing the
cooks and stewards
Practical passenger steamship oper-
ators. he said. would not advance such
{. proposition as Is per cent reduction
IL wages. because they would know
that if they took away that much OF
the mems pay the men would take as
much and more from the operators by
the service they would give in return.
Present economic conditions fully war
rant a reduction in marine wages. Chalr-
man Benson declared. adding that he
had weighed the matter long and care
fully. taken advice freely and come to
mature and well considered conclusion.
In addition to the wage yeoacfioH the
chairman declared there should be vir-
tual elimination of overtime. discontinu-
ance of night deck and engineer of1-
GERS. a substantial reduction in the sub
sistence allowance and such other
modification Of the working rules as
would make for efficiency and economy
Of operation. These. he said. were his
views Of reasona BILE adjustment of the
matter.
.The Shipping Board" the chairman
said. docs not desire arbitrary wage re-
auctions based solely on the present
cept the seafarers from the higher
standards of living. In making read
justments, he added, it proposes to
stress the same factor which was so
largely considered in making increases
the return of the purchasing value OF
the dollar toward its normal worth as
reflected in the percentage drop IN the
cost of living.
Fair to All Interests.
"I have given much thought to this
matter" he said. II want to be fair
to the interests of the men and officers
who are manning our ships. to the
operators and owners who are rum
ming them. and to the people of the
United States who are looking to the
Shipping Board to protect their in
terests in the merchant marine All
of us should consider the interests
of the private owner in foreign trade
who is manfully carrying the burden
of competition unassisted by the gov
ernment.
Rapidly changing economic condi-
tions resulting from the war. Chair
man Benson continued, have caused
tremendous decline in ocean freight,
the tying up of many ships and the
unemployment of many men. Wide
price revision has been brought about.
too. he asserted. by the pressure of
reconstruction in land industry. Cen
eral liquidation IS taking place. he
declared and far la Dor is con-
cerned substantial reductions in wage
scales are reported daily.
Six points on which the marine engi-
neers asked favorable assurances be-
fore discussing wages in the presen,
negotiations were rejected by the
chairman. The board he said. could
not give it's consent to the abolition
of the sea service bureau. which
places American seamen on American
ships.
"as a government institution to points
FIVE and six involving union prefer
erce. The Shipping Board gov
arnment institution must stand for
that equality in its relations TO the
government which is guaranteed to
every citizen by the Constitution OF
the United States"
Points two. three and four which re-
ferred to Interpretation Of the sea-
mems act. he said. must be rejected
as long as the law was in force.
No Formal Call for strike.
ne was tdlitC ny the
chairman after negotiations in New
York between the owners and some of
the marine unions had resulted in a
break and a call had been issued by
the Marine Engineers Beneficial AS
ecciation for strike May l. when
existing agreements expired. The In
fernationai Seamen's Union, according
TO it's president. voted not to accept
wage reductions, but issued no forma
call for strike.
A reduction in wages of from 90 10
so per cent was sought by the owners
but the men refused to consider the
wage cuts and made counter demands
for certain changes in the present
regulations.
William A. Thompson of the Texas
Steamship Company headed the own
ers' delegation to the conference
while the unions were represented nv
Andrew Furuse,h for the seamen a nd
fremen and William S. Brown for thu
marine engineers. Representatives al
all the marine unions on both the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts were in
Vited to the conference. as well as the
owners from both coasts.
Ofhcials of the Department of La
Dor are observing the negotiations
but as yet have taken no official part
The matter so far has been entire IN
in the hands of the Shipping Board
according TO board officials, who how
aver, have indicated that the LabaT