New-York tribune., 1921-05-24
Owners Reject
Davis Plan tt,
End Sea Strike
Declare They Never Will
Sign Another Agreement
With Unions, but Parleys
Are TO Continue To-day
Benson May Bring Truce
Agreement of Mem and q. s.
Board Expected Through
Washington Pres sure


The American Steamship Owners AS
sociation, at an executive meeting yes
terday, fatty refused all compromise
offers made by Secretary of Labor
James j. Davis ia end the nation wide
shipping strike, which has been in CT
feet since May !. The association re-
affirmed its previous decision that it
would never again sign an agreement
With scagoing labor organizations.
This action. coming on the heels Of
the marine engineers refusal to accept
the proposed terms arrived at between
their representatives and Secretary
Davis, appeared TO Indicate that the
strike would be q long drawn out and
bitter struggle between the marine
workers on one sido and the steamship
owners and the Shipping Board on the
were many signs last night that an
early settlement of the strike might be
made.
I Immediately after their refusal TO
accept terms the steamship owners
appointed Il committee to proceed to
Washington to meet Secretary Davis
to-day. The Marine Engineers also ap-
| pointed committee to meet the Labor
Secretary. On this committee are
Thomas B. Healey and Ernest i, Pegg.
the two men who fought the compro-
mise offers most strenunusly. The
third member was Bert l.. Todd, bust
ness agent of the seagoing section of
! the marine engineers organization, and
| the man who negotiated the compro-
mise proposals with Secretary Davis.
There appeared yesterday for the
first time since the strike was called
a comprehensive outline of the real
situation, 1t was sketched by one of
the leaders in the following manner.
"The marine engineers have been
repeatedly informed by the owners
they would have to accept three wage
cuts this year. They look upon the
in Washington, under which the Ship
ping Board will sign All agree n1ent
| of one year with the union in return
for the acceptance of the Is per cent
wage reduction, as a considerable vic
tory, because it eliminates the posi-
bility of further reductions during the
year. IN addition to this the arbitra-
tiop on the working conditions will
make the cut actually less than Is per
CEN.
1.-THE rejection Of these proposals
wa forced by the members of Healey's
organization, composed entirely of en-
gineers on tugboats in the harbor The
agreement of these men does not ex-
pire until the end of the year, and
they know they will have to accept
whatever wage cut is imposed on their
are so anxious the deep-sea men shall
remain on strike and oppose all re-
ductions.''
1t was said yesterday that there was
every possibility that the Shipping
Board. through Admiral Benson, its
chairman, would sign the agreement
with the unions, because of pressure
exerted by the Administration in
Washington. If this is done, peace
will be established with more than two
thirds of American shipping. In ad-
dition to this, some steamship COM
panies who operate both their own
privately owned ships and ships al
located to them by the Shipping Board
viii be in the anomalous position of
signing agreements with the union so
FAR as the Shipping Board vessels are
concerned and refusing to sign such
an agreement for their own ships.
Comparative tables compiled by the
Department Of Commerce in Washing
ton and released yesterday show that
during the period of the strike 936
saliings were made from ports through
out the country, as against 100 steam
ers held In port because of the strike.
Reports from Portland Me, state
the chief of police there has given all
striking seamen forty eight hours no.
tlce to leave town or be arrested. This
acuon was taken as a result of the
large number of assaults that were
made on strike breakers by pickets of
the union and the general reign of ter
ror that has existed since the strike
began.
In announcing the decision OF the
executive and wage committees Of the
american Steamship Owners Associa-
general manager of the association, said
fA3t the committee, which left fo1
Washington last night, had no power
to negotiate, but could only inform the
Secretary of Labor that the owners
would refuse to accept the compro,
mise proposals.
Union Has Stormy Meeting
The union delegation before leavine
Tor Washington held a stormy session
at the Hotel Continental, which lasted
several hours. AT its conclusion TODD
ISSUED the following statement:
At the request OF Secretary of La
Dor James J. Davis, a Subcommittee
vent to Washington to see what the
best proposition was that Secretsr ,t srv re
Davis could obtain from Admiral Ben-
son, chairman of the United States
Shipping Board. Before leaving Wash
ington TOR New York the sub-com-
mittee signed full authority for ma
tional President William S. Brown. Of
the. .arine Engineers Beneficial As
soclatlon, to act for the committee dur
ing its absence.
The understanding was that any
/ basis arrived at would be referred to
, the entire membership of the national
d. e.. B. A. Inasmdch as it is re-
ported that the ship owners themselves
t have turned down The proposition. tine
| officers and members of the NJ. T.. 3,
a. so will fight to the last ditch against
any reduction in wages"