The New York herald., 1921-04-29
MARINE WAGE CUT
NEAR SETTLEMENT
Private Ship Owners Agree
OH ID Per Cent. Reduction
Adopted by Board.
NOW UP TO THE MEN
Companies Assert That
Scale Will Still Be Much
Too High.
SEAMEN'S ACT ATTACKED
Proposal Made to Give Presi-
dent Authority to Suspend
1t in Emergency.
NOW UP TO THE MEN
sEAMEN's ACT ATTACKED

X Private steamship owners and oper-
ators will go into their second con-
ference with representatives of or
ganized marine labor in Washington
to-day in agreement with Admiral
William S. Benson, chairman of the
United States Shipping Board demand
ing that the wage scales Of the new
contracts be reduced Is per cent. Until
yesterday the private owners and oper-
ators had demanded a reduction rang
ing from 20 to 80 per cent.
Dispatches from Washington last
night said that officials of the Ship
ping Board were optimistic over the
situation following the agreement Of
the owners to accept the view of the
board. They expressed the opinion that
the unions will make some concession.
when the conference opens tomorrow,
and It is believed that an excellent
basis for negotiation has been obtained.
Informal conferences We're held in
Washington yesterday between Dar-
ragh Delancey of the board and repre-
sentatives of the union, and later he
conferred with officials of the Shipping
Board
The Compromise" proposal was
adopted unanimously yesterday at
general meeting of the American Steam
ship Owners Association. the Pacific
American Steamship Association and
the Shipowners Association OF the Paci-
fic Coast which took place in the White
hall Club. IL Battery place The, action
rs in direct support Of the stand taker
BY Admiral Benson at the conference
Wednesday. when he laid down the 10
per cent. reduction as the one which
the marine engineers. firemen. seamen,
cooks and stewards would have to ac-
cept in the new contracts effective
May i.
Citing the general modification OF
wages and working rules which the
Shipping Board s seeking TO embody
IN it's new contracts with the seamen.
the owners and operators voted that
as compromise. with full realization
Of the fact that the proposed scale does
rot enable American vessels to success
fully compete with foreien vessels. but
in Difference TO the views and wishes
Of the chairman Of the United States
Shipping Board. the American Steam
shin Owners Association. the Pacific
American Steamship Associa ton and the
Shipowners Association OF the Pacific
Coast will put into effect on May J.,
1921 the wage schedules and classifica-
tions submitted to them by the United
States Shipping Board on April p. 1921,
instead OF the 90 per cent. reduction
heretofore contemplated by the forego-
ing associations
Winthrop l.. Marvin. general manager
OF the American Steamship Owners AS
sociation announced at the conclusion
Of the meeting that q delegation or
twenty-five would so to Washington
for the conference to-day. The delego-
ton. representative OF both Atlantic and
Pacific associations. Is clothed with full
powers. AS in the case Of the first con-
ference. It will be headed By W. a.
Thompson. president of the Texas
Steamship Company. IT also includes
H. III. Raymond. president Of the Clyde
Mallory Line. and Capt. l.. c. ODon-
nell OF Boston. chairman OF the SUB
committee on wages and working con-
dtions.
Asked what seemed 10 be the feeling
among the owners. Mr.. Marvin said la 81
night that he believed strike will be
averted." The engineers will be wise"
he added, "if they follow our lead. We
expect the meeting in Washington to-
day will be final
suspend any part or all or the La Fol-