The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-01
15 PER CENT CUT IN MARINE WAGES
 PUT INTO EFFECT
Full Effect of Benson Order Not Yet Known, Workers Having Voted Not to Accept Any
 Reductions
By Associated Press


 concrete result came today out of the series of conferences here looking to a settlement of the wage dispute be- tween the American ship owners, the shipping board and the marine work CTS. That was an order by Chairman Benson to all operators of govern ment merchant craft to reduce wages i5 per centN effective at midHght to night.
 in the conferences was prepared to say what would be the full effect of the or der. William s. Brown, president of the Marine Engineers Beneficial association said the engineers had been instructed not to sign any articles calling for w:.ge cuts, while Andrew Furuseth, president of the International Seamen's union stated that the members of his union had voted against signing such articles.
 Chairman Bensons order came while President Harding and his secretaries of labor and commerce were consulting on NA-N mission of three to mediate the con troversy. The suggestion that such (. commission be named was made by the union representatives who agreed to abide by any award it would make It was supported by Secretary Davis
 Both MT. Furuseth and Mir Brown were hopeful tonight that the commission would be appointed and a suspension of work by the marine employees averted. On the other hand shipping board offi- cials declared that Chairman Benson was opposed to mediation by a com mission. His position from the first has been that at least a 15 per cent wage re- duction was necessary and that the re- sponsibility rested with the owners and the men to come to an agreement with out burdening the President
 At the White House late today it was said that the President did not intend to appoint any commission but that such body might be named by Secretaries Davis and Hoover, in whose hands It was stated the whole matter had been placed. Meantime, however Secretary Davis had left for Philadelphia and did not expect to return until tomorrow
 HOOVER IS SILENT
 Secretary Hoover declined to discuss the matter. huS commerce department of fieials said that he probably would take no action with respect to the appoint ment of commission in the absence Of MT Davis.
 Chairman Benson left for Anna polls before his orders reducing wages was made public. In his absence officials said the order would stand unless in- structions were received from him to the contrary. The existing wage agree ments, except those with deck officers, expire at midnight tonight 1t was ex- -1.s -sx.n d xt..G.. as to future wages immediately neces- sary.
 The cut will apply only to employees on government ships. The ship owners have contended for an even larger cut and were expected by shipping board off cias to follow the example set by the board. It was stated that even if the men refused to sign up at the new scale there would not be an immediate general tying up of shipping on the Atlantic. Pacific and gulf coasts by reason of the fact that many vessels are at sea and the men must serve until they are brought to port. The service, however will be at the existing wage scale.
 TO KEEP SHIPS MOVING
 Shipping board officials said they had laid plans to keep the government fleet in operation in event of any walkout by the present crews. It was stated that there were some 5000 seafaring men idle at this time and that little difficulty in manning the ships was expected
 Labor department officials estimated that a general tying upon of American merchant ships would result in loss of approximately s1.00o,00O day, figured on the value of the craft. This, it was explained did not take into account losses which might accrue by reason of tying up freight. On the other hand 1t was said at the shipping board that the government might save money if the ships did get tied up, because many of them are being operated at loss un- der present economic conditions.