New-York tribune., 1921-04-28
Union Head Blocks Open
Break When Engineers
Flatly Reject Benson's
Is p. C. Wage Cut Offer
Will Renew Peace
Efforts Tomorrow
U. s. Board Firm Against
Closed Shop, Overtime
and Present Pay Scale

WASHINGTON, April 27--A final
break between the ship owners and
marine workers was narrowly averted
at the conference called here to-day
by Chairman Benson Of the Ship
ping Board in an effort to prevent
threatened strike on May l, when
existing wage agreements expire A
last moment appeal by Andrew Furu-
seth, president of the international
union, resulted in an agreement for
further conferences Friday.
The delay was sought in order that
proposals of Chairman Benson for q
Is per cent wage reduction and changes
in working conditions afoat might be
laid before the unions, but admittedly
the outlook for an agreement Friday
was not bright
Admiral Benson told the conference
he would not recede from the outline
of reductions he had presented as nee
essary to the merchant marine.
Engineers Reject Offer
w. S. Brown, for the Marine En-
gineers' Beneficial Association, fatty
rejected the proposed wage reduction.
w. A. Thompson, representing the
American Steamship Owners Associa
ton, said that unless the unions were
prepared to negotiate a new wage scale
further conferences would be useless.
He added that his organization was
now prepared to act.
Apparently Mr.. Furuseth's action in
urging another meeting, after the sub
mission of Chairman Benson's state
ment to union members, alone averted
an immediate breaking off of the nego-
tiations.
When Admiral Benson's declaration
that he would not trade on his wage
proposals had brought matters to a eli
max the president of the international
Seamens Union made plea for delay
and further consideration in behalf of
the American merchant marine and
won the consent of the conferees to
another session.
In his appeal Mr.. Furuseth warned
shipowners that he had one more
proposition to offer, should break
come, that he hoped he would not be
called upon to present. If that could
not be avoided, he added, without re-
vealing what he had in mind, "Let the
chips fall where they may"
Men to Stand Pat
Replying to Chairman Benson's pro-
posal for a readjustment of wages and
working conditions, Mr.. Brown read q
resolution, adopted by the engineers
wage committee, which declared that
the proposed wage scale and reclassi-
iication of ships were not acceptable, al
though changes in working conditions
were Later he said the engineers
Would not recede from the stand they
had taken and would not accept a wage
reduction.
Without specifically touching on the
wage question, Mr.. Furuseth, speaking
for the seamen, firemen, cooks and
stewards, declared that there had not
been time for the men to consult. He
suggested, tentatively, that elimination
might be acceptable, together with as
surances that American citizens would
be given the preference in employment
Chairman Benson agreed that there
had been some overtime retained, but
asserted it should be most carefully
guarded to avoid abuse.
The possibility of action by the
steamship owners, who had sought to
effect 20 to 80 per cent wage cut,
was suggested. by Mr.. Thompson. The
owners, he said, were prepared to act
yesterday and were ready to act to-
morrow in the event no agreement was
reached to-day. He said. however, that
he would report the result of the pro-
ceedings to the association meetings in
New York tomorrow.
Announcing his call for the meeting
Friday, Chairman Benson said that
those who did not come in fair spirit
must bear the respons bility for the
results ,~but that the boards stand ON
the proposed basis for a new agree
ment to replace the one expiring May
was unchanged.
Expects Engineers to Strike
After the meeting Mr.. Brown de-
clared that the situation was serious
and looked like strike of the engineers,
although they probably would attend
the Friday conference. In the event
that other unions reached an agreement
with the board and the owners. he
said, "they cannot operate the ships
without marine engineers"
Some board officials expressed the
belief that while the outlook for an
/ agreement with the engineers was bad
; a satisfactory arrangement might be
sworked out with the other marine
unions and general shipping strike
averted.
Chairman Benson, however, said the
fContJnued nm mana your,