The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-28
RR0N.Y AVERT ! NAL BREAK IN
 MARINE DISPUTE
enson Informs Conference He Will Not ReCede From k Outline of Reductions as
 Presented
Isv Assoclated Press

NI By ASSOclaJe0 HTeSS
 Washington, April 27--A final break tween the ship owners and marine EFkers was narrowly averted at the Inference called here today by Chair In Benson of the shipping board in
 effort to prevent threatened strike
 May 1, when existing wage agree Ents expire. A last moment appeal
 Andrew Furuseth, president of the |, Irrational Seamen's union. resulted Ian agreement for further confer
 Friday.
 Pte delay was sought in order that Fo,osa1s of Chairman Benson for a r'S per cent wage reduction and Anges in working conditions afloat ight be laid before the unions, but lfrittedly the outlook for an agree dnt Friday was not bright.
 Admiral Benson told the conference gl would not recede from the outline l9reductions inc had presented as ne- Asary to the merchant marine.
 N Blown, for the Marine Engi- M Beneficial association, flatly re-
 h the proposed wage reduction.
 READ1 IO ALI
 A. Thompson, representing the
 ican Steamship owners associa-
 said that unless the unions were
 hred to negotiate a new wage further conferences would be
 Mss, and that his organization was M prepared to act.
 Ebparently MT. Furuseth's action in lging another meeting after submis- bn of Admiral Benson's statement to ion members, alone averted an im- idiate break off of the negotiations. hen Admiral Banson's declaration bt he would not trade on his wage bposals had brought matters to a lmax, the president of the Interna- nal Seamens union made a plea for Day and further consideration in be- tf of the American merchant marine Ia won the consent of the conferees another session.
 In his appeal, MT Furuseth warned fp owners that he had one more pposition to offer, should a break he, that he hoped he would not be lied upon to present. If that could
 be avoided, he added without re- Hing what he had in mind, let the t2s fall where they may"
 NOT ACCEPTABLE Replying to Chairman Benson's pro- sals for a readjustment of wages [ working conditions, Mir Brown sd resolution adopted by the Engi- ers' wage committee which declared at the proposed wage scale and re- sssification of ships was not accept le, although changes in working pditions were. Later he said the en- heers would not recede from the Ind they had taken and would not rept a wage reduction.
 Without specifically touching on the ige question, MT. Furuseth, speaking ! the seamen, firemen, cooks and wards. declared that there had not en time for the men to consult to- ther. He suggested tentatively that limitation of overtime at sea, but not bort might be acceptable, together tn assurances that American citi- fis would be given preference in em- oyment
 Chairman Benson agreed that there puld be some overtime retained, but Serted that it should be most care- Iy guarded to avoid abuse. The pos jility of action by the steamship Fners who had sought to affect a 20 pV per cent wage cut, was SuSBeStSI INT. Thompson. The owners, he Id, were prepared to act yesterday h were ready to act tomorrow in the ent no agreement was reached to- y He said, however, that he would bort the result of the proceedings to association meeting in New York morrow.
 STAND UNCHANGED Announcing his call for the meeting |iday, Chairman Benson said that Fse who did not come in fair spirit lst bear the responsibility for the re- Its, but the boards stand on the pro- sal for a new agreement to replace e one expiring May 1 was un- anged.
 After the meeting, MT. Brown de- Rred the situation was serious Ind pked like strike of the engineers. though they would probably attend Q Friday conference. Ia the event at other unions reached an agree ent with the owners, he said. they mt operate ships without marine en- neers"
 Some board officials expressed the lief that while the outlook for an reement with the engineers was d, a satisfactory arrangement might ! worked out with the other marine lions and general shipping strike erted
 Chairman Benson, however. said the tuation was very hopeful" The en- neers. he said, would probably come 0und hut if thau did pot ntbo;-