The New York herald., 1921-04-30
GENERAL TlEUP
OF SHIPPING NEAR
AS PARLEY FAILS
Benson Says All Efforts to
Avert Break Have Come
to Naught.
MAY l is DATE SET
Chairman of Board Calls on
Harding in Last Attempt
to End Dispute.
WORKERS SEND PETITION
Employers and Seamen Fail to
Reach Agreement on Any
Big Issue Involved.
MAY 1 IS DATE SET
WORKERS SEND PETITION

WASHINGTON, April ga general
tieup of all shipping at American
ports except on the Great Lakes on
May / appeared imminent to-day after
negotiations between the Shipping
Board steamship owners and marine
workers had been abandoned as a re-
suit of the refusal of the employees to
accept Is per cent wage reduction.
A last effort to avert final breach
between the employers and marine
Chairman Benson of the Shipping
Board and representatives OF the ma
rine unions called separately at the
White House to lay their cases before
the President. Previously the chair
man and the shipowners had rejected
a proposal by Andrew Furuseth, presi-
dent Of the International Seamen's
Union, to submit the whole question to
President Harding for arbitration.
Chairman Benson declined to discuss
his visit at the White House. but the
union representatives. in the absence OF
the President. left report and a
prayer in behalf of all the workers
submitting the matter to him. They
later announced that they would return
to the White House tomorrow in an
effort to see the President in person
The union representatives also called
on Secretary Hoover, but received. they
said. no assurances of action on his
part.
Charge Cut Is Unjusfihed.
The break in negotiations came after
final conference called by Chairman
Benson to consider new wage and work
ing agreements The chairman's pro-
posal for a 10 per cent. wage cut was
rejected for the engineers on the ground
that 1t was not justified by Lying costs
or necessary an economy in operat
ing expenses. II. p. Griffin, for the
cooks and stewards said the proposed
wage cut was a "sign on the dotted
controversy be submitted to a disinter-
ested party.
Mr.. Furuseth asked for assurance that
certain conditions would be made a part
OF any agreement. including preference
for American citizens In employment
enforcement OF the seamens act and
recognition OF the unions right to act
for the men.
Chairman Benson replied that he en-
dorsed the idea OF preference for Amer
ican citizens and would carry out those
parts of the law under his Jurisdiction.
but that the other points were matters
OF working conditions TO be determined
later.
Furuseth Offers Plan.
Mr.. Furuseth then offered his plan for
arbitration by the President. The offer
was rejected by the chairman and by
W. A. Thompson for the ship owners.
.'Men OF America men OF the United
states" Chairman Benson said, I'VE are
supposed to be the supporters and aid OF
the President of the United States. We
are supposed not only TO carry our own
burdens but TO help him carry his. |,
for one, will not add one iota to the
burden ne is already carrying. We are
burden he is already carrying"
Upon the rejection OF his proposal
Mr.. Furuseth declared there was nothing
more to do but appeal to the President.
and the conference came to an abrupt
end.
In n statement tonight Chairman
Henson said '"The efforts OF the United
states Shipping Board and the steam
ship interests TO avert break with
marine labor have come to naught The
refusal OF the men to recognize the need
for readjustment on reasonable basis
has ended prolonged negotiations"