New-York tribune., 1921-01-20
To Ask Harding
To Bar Alien
Ship Officers
Anpeals to Wilson Fail to
End Red-Ink Licenses Civ
ing Foreigners the Right
to Operate u. S. Vessels
Americans the Sufferers
Unemployment in Shipping
Acute; Men Now Disposed
to Take Wage Reduction

Unhroken depression in shipping has
.ow brought the spread of unemploy-
ment among ships officers and seamen
n point where many thousands of
men. are walking the streets looking
vainly for work. Some estimates place
me number of unemployed at more
than $4,000.
Masters Of vessels are gladly selling
opportunities to secure berths as mates,
vhile mates are accepting berths of
lover rating where these are to be
had. Many OF the men are going into
whstever employment offers, and re-
norts have been received at the head
quarters Of some of the marine or
ganizations of men taking places as
sxpressmen and bellboys.
Uuder these circumstances the .or-
saniza:ions Of marine workers are
calling attention to conditions whereby
aliens are being assigned to places as
masters and mates on American vessels
while American citizens holding certifi-
Gates are unable to secure employme Mt
Will Appeal to Harding
Applications made to President Will
son TO end these conditions by revoking
the red ink license system having
failed, an appeal is now to be made
to President Harding. Neptune
Association of Masters and Mates of
Ocean and Coastwise Steamers. with
headouarters here. has appointed a
sueciai committee under the chairman
shin Of Captain Helmuth De Eau to
draft resolutions which will be acted
upon at a meeting Of the association
next Monday.
These will call the attention of Mr.
Harding TO the prevailing conditions
and urge him to take steps to give
= relief as soon as possible after his in
auguration. To effect this it is asked
that masters, mates and engine room
officers on vessels flying the American
flag be limited strictly to those of
American citizenship.
The red ink license system is an
outrowth of war conditions meant to
apply to the period when there were
mot sufficient American officers to
operate the American merchant marine.
Under an act of Congress OF August
IS, 1914. the President was given power
10 suspend that part of the naviga-
ton laws requiring officers on Ameri-
can ships TO be American citizens. This
suspension was ordered on September
1. 1914, and foreign vessels were per-
mitted to register under the American
flag and their officers to serve for
period OF seven years.
Extension of Order Made
On September /. 1916, an order was
issued permitting the serving on
american ships Of all alien officers who
lad previously declared their inten-
tion OF becoming American citizens.
The seven-year period originally set
would have expired next September,
but in spite OF applications for can
collation. Of the privileges granted to
foreigners. an order was issued on Feb
ruary I, 1920, extending the period for
three years and three months.
In the mean time the Shipping
Boards schools Of instruction have
continued to turn out hundreds of add-
tional officers, with the result Of ma
'erlaily swelling the ranks Of unem-
piioyed during the period Of ship
In all, about 100 red ink licenses
nave been issued to aliens, a great
number of whom have failed to take
out their second citizenship papers
ana many of whom are still employed
On American vessels.
Protests Without Avail
Protests have been made from time
. !lme against the continuance of the
,ea INK license system from Neptune
associaton, the National Association
y Masters, Mates and Pilots and the
as'ine Engineers Beneficial Associa-
non' out without result, and it has
Lu NV neen decided to place the matter
gs.ole ts Fresldent-elect Harding. These
.afss associations have waiting lists
y. thousands Of members, all Ameri-
aA eiuzens, seeking to secure berths
IN American vessels.
.ouempioymen is especially acute in
~m.aieah pama shipping, because the higher
.ts paid make 1t impossible to oper-
/ sssels at profit at a level Of
,;sa.s on which ships Of other ma
N. ms ~,.n lower labor costs can be
ovs..;. me question OF eliminating
.sLav s'"e on American vessels is to be
go up at conference between
4 ssyesnsn.asives H. Of the American Steam
s.sssv o"herS' Association and of the
cst.:ass ahd men, and in addition to
sisas iwas OUT overtime steps may be
-. towards voluntary reduction
H. wage scale to enable American
ii, az " compete with foreign YES
s.s, op1osition to the latter course ia ex-
4 saisa, I'm t ehe reprege natives Of the
-. :. among tire men to continne work
xorI <"s' Pay rather than to have no
sor,s a. al. One American line re.
e,ra ns' representatives Of the Off
Il sFs,sS s'a crews in it's employ have
n y ~ 70 accept less money in order
ss.rss.s ,, possible for the line to
snser: ent tnat representatives. Of the
auss ttnsis, tnat the current wage scale