The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-02
NEXT MOVE WILL
 COME FROM SHIP
 OWNERS, BELIEF
Davis Confers With Union Chiefs on Controversy Which Threatens General Tie-up.
 Men Leaving Ships
By Associated Press


 both the shipping board and represents tives of the marine workers here today indicated that some workers were walk ing out rather than accept the board S wage cut of 15 per cent which became effective at midnight last night, Secre- tary Davis conferred with union heads on the wage controversy which threat ems general tie-up of shipping at At lantic, Pacific and gulf ports, but with out apparent definite result
 lnasmuch as the unions have requested that a wage commission be appointed by fhe dispute, and shipping board officials have said they would follow the wishes of the President. it was said tonight that the next move would perhaps come from the ship owners.
 Some confusion was apparent tonight regarding the appointment of a commls- sion by direction of the President to de- eide the controversy, as requested by union heads. At the White House it was reiterated that the matter had been
  hands of Secretaries Davis and Hoover.
 STILL UP TO HARDING At the department of labor. however, it was said that Secretary Davis had not been so informed by the President and it was indicated that the matter was still in the hands of the President, so far as the appointment of a commission was concerned. Secretary Hoover commerce department officials said, has as yet taken no step in the matter Union heads declared that they also were with out information as to what action the President had taken in response to their request.
 While orders for 15 per cent wage cut were issued Friday after the marina workers refusal to accept Chairman Ben- sons proposals for a new wage agree ment. shipping board officials declared the final adjustment of the controversy would await any action President liar ding might take So far board officials stated few ships have been held in port because of the men refusing to sign at the reduced wage.
 | Ultimate disposal of the marine labor problems having been placed in the hands of Secretaries Davis and Hoover, ac- cording to White House statements, II was believed that the labor department conference with union heads might be preparatory to election of a wage com mission Selection of third party Iy the two secretaries toi Serve with them as a board, it was stated, would fulfill the requirements of the unions request.
 1000 AFFECTED AT MOBILE
 Mobile, May 1.--Marine union officials here tonight said that about 1000 men would be affected at Mobile by orders received from national officials at New York 10 refuse to work or sign on any ship for anything less than last year agreement and to come off ships imlne- diatelv" The orders were received by locals of the marine flremen, oilers and water tenders union, the marine engl- neers upion and the cooks and stew ards union.
 Union masters mates and pilots are not included ia the orders. 1t was explained, their contracts continuing in force until August l
 The orders. union officials said, affect not only the ships in service here, but approximately the 50 vessels tied up in this port on which between 300 ana foi men are employed. Some of these were said to be non-unon men, but the num- be, could not be ascertained tonight. ln addition. it was estimated that the crews of the four American ships here for cargo number about 160, while several hundred more are idle in this c.ty after having been discharged with their Ves- sels tied up Ships that are tied up Will he virtually the only ones affected imme- diately by the orders. it is said. as none of those in service is scheduled to san until late in the week. except, posslpiy' a shipping board tanker under orders to depart for Port Lobos, Mexico
 Of eight American ships due to ar rive this week for eargoes, only one or two are expected to be ready to sail within the next 10 days,
 The engineers, firemen, oilers and watertenders of the steamer Maiden Creek, which docked from Germany to- Idav. reflected the articles presented to them. but the cooks and stewards it was said, signed them. The shipping board tug Huskey left for Jackson vile. Fla. this afternoon manned by a nonunon crew in the fire room and on deck after the firemen and other union employees affected by the orders re- fused to sign the articles presented. VOTE TO REJECT CUT
 Now York. May 1.--Although union leaders declared tonight that strike had not been called, three marine workers unions meeting here today voted to reject the 15 per cent wage cut proposed by the United States shipping board until the proposed working conditions are modified
 The three organizations were the In- ternational Seamenis union. the Marine Firemen, Oilers and Watertenders' union and the Marine Engineers union.
 At all three meetings.> the marine workers voted to reship only on ves- sels offering the former wage scale with former conditions which have
 tContinued on Pare Two)