New-York tribune., 1921-05-06
Davis Gets Benson to Meet,
Engineers After q Late
Call at White House;
Bonus Compromise Plan
One Striker Is Shot;
8Boats Are Cleared
Admiral Said to Threaten
to Take Ships From the
Companies That Yield

The possibility Of settlement Of
the nationwide shipping strike seemed
rore promising last night, when re-
rcrts from Washington stated that
Secretary Of Labor Davis had succeed
"a in getting Admiral William S. Ben
ssn, chairman of the Shipping Board.
to confer with representatives Of the
Marine engineers organization for the
drst time since the strike went into ef-
feet last Sunday.
This conference began late last night,
after Secretary Davis had been in con-
sultation with President Harding at
the White House concerning certain
matters connected with che strike.
Shortly after leaving the White House
Secretary Davis received Admiral Ben
son, and at the conclusion of a brief
discussion brought the Admiral before
the engineers.
Ship owners were not represented at
the conference. but were kept informed
Of Developments by telephone. If their
representatives are not present when
the conference is resumed to-day sim
ilar telephone reports will be sent to
them. The conferees left the office of
the Secretary of Labor silent but smil-
ing.
Bert 1. Todd. secretary of the ocean
going engineers association, left hur-
riedly for Washington last night. CO.
incident with his departure, an opti-
mistic air prevailed for the first time
since Sunday around the union quar-
ters.
Violence for the first time since Che
strike began broke outain New York
last night. One man was shot and an
other beaten in waterfront riot.
Bonuses Are Discussed
Ship owners yesterday began discus
sing the possibility Of making bonus"
awards to engineeA for economic
handling of ships. II is understood
that this may be used as basis for
negotiations toward settlement.
Ship operators were warned by Ad-
miraI Benson that the Shipping Board
would deprive companies of government
ships # they granted the strikers de-
mAnds.
According to dispatch from Wash
ington, the chairman of the Shipping
Board has ordered an investigation Of o
report that the Polish-American Navi-
cation Company, the United Transport
Company and the G. w. Steamship Com
pany had renewed contracts with the
strikers at the old rates.
Each of these companies operates
government Ships" Admiral Benson was
quoted as saying. "If the report is true
shall take every one of the govern
ment ships away from them."
SCOTS at U. 8. Mail Report
He is said to have scoffed q. report
that the United States Mail Steamship
Company would renew contracts on the
old basis to-day.
The Red D Line of this port yester-
day gave UP the struggle against the
nnions, and withdrew it's steamer
Philadelphia from the Porto Rico mail
service. They chartered the Nor
wegian steamer Grove to take the place
Of the Philadelphia.
In Baltimore the Supreme Court Is
sued warning to strikers that an In
junction would be issued against them
IN the case of any further acts Of
violence. The number of men per-
limited.
San Francisco reported that three
steamers scheduled to sail from that
port yesterday had their sailings in
defnitely postponed because Of the
Say Six Have Signed
The marine engineers officials yes
serday announced that six shipping
companies had now signed agreements
With the unions under the old. wage
schedules and their ships would be
permitted to sail unmolested. The
companies are: u. S.. Mexican Petro-
leum Company, United States Trans
portation Company, Polish American
Line. National Transport Company. Old
Dominion Line and the Bella steam
ship Company.
Towboat men in Galveston reported
yesterday that they had been ordered
ny union headquarters in this city to
refuse to operate boats engaged in
docking, shifting or otherwise handling
either American or foreign vessels en-
tering or clearing the port.
The first violence broke out last
night along Front and Water streets,
Wnere strikers were lying in wait for
sne strikebreakers by p. m. Thence
forward throughout the evening 9he
fcsntiausd On page Ssur)