The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-02

4
the marine labor organizations. It is
in tho effort to clear the situation that
have thought 1t best to ask you gen
tleunen to meet me this morning so
that I might put before you my views
| as to the reasonable basis of readjust-
ment required in the present situation
and state to you the course Of action
which the shipping board finds it nee
essary to take under the present cir
| Gums tances.
s.In order that I may be perfectly
clear, I understand that the Marine
Engineers Beneficial association de-
| sires to continue the present agree
| ments both as to wage scales and
! working conditions. I understand that
the unlicensed personnel have present
| ed these points on which they ask ia
| vorable assurance before they are will
ing to discuss wage scale and work
ing conditions. These six points un-
derstand are as follows:
| /. The abolition or the sea service
| bureau. =
q The enforcement Of section 10 Of
the seaman's act, especially the Ian
| guage clause.
/ 3. The enforcement of section IA of
| the seamen's act covering life saving
equipment, especially on foreign ships.
4. The enforcement of section Of
i the seamen's act covering the division
of watches.
5. Preference to be given in en-
ployment to union men, which It is
commended would develop efficiency.
| g. The union to examine the men
and not to admit to membership any
not reasonably qualified.
| Taking up first the six points noted
I would say that the shipping board
| cannot consent to the abolition of the
sea service bureau for reasons which
have been expressed in recent press
statements. nor can it assent as a gov
eminent institution to points five and
| six involving union preference. The
| shipping board as a government insti-
tuition must stand for that equality in
| it's relations to the government which
is guaranteed to every citizen by the
constitution of the United States. So
far as points two, three and four are
concerned, it is my opinion that any
| act of congress, until definitely re-
| pealed or modified, so long as it stands
upon the statute books should be en-
forced by the department charged with
such enforcement.
1--WE now come to the point of deter
mining what is a reasonable basis for
readjusting wages and conditions III
| the merchant marine. l have given
much thought to this matter. | want
to be fair to the interests of the men
and officers who are manning OR
ships, to the operators and owners WHO
are running them. and to the people of
! the United States who look to the
shipping board to protect their inter
| ests in the merchant marine. All of
us should consider the interests of the
| private ship owner in foreign trade
who is manfully carrying the burden
of competition unassisted by the gov
/ eminent. l have weighed this matter
carefully and long. have taken advice
freely, and have come to a mature and
we'll considered conclusion. I might
come to you with figures in excess of
those which / think should really be
! put into effect in order that we might
trade together This would not only
be impossible when you are dealing
with the government. but would also
be repugnant to my sense of fairness.
| II will, therefore, tell you that l am
| convinced that the economic conditions
at the present time fully warrant re-
|
WINGED that the amount of this re-
duction must be not less than Is per
cent of the present wage scales. am
convinced that the maintenance Of
overtime which has been subject to
such notorious abuse and which is SO
foreign to the spirit and customs OF
the sea is improper and that it should
be virtually eliminate. I am con-
WINGED that the continuation of the
night deck mad engineer officers is not
warranted and that there should be
also a substantial reduction in the
subsistence allowance, and such other
notifications Of the working rules
should be made as will make for eff
ficiency and economy Of operation
"These are my views of a reasonable
adjustment of this present matter and
the basis on which the shipping board
must and wilT- act.
"These matters so vital to the sue
cess of our merchant marine should be
considered and adjusted on reasona-
| BILE basis. What l have stated above
represents the shipping boards views
of what constitute a reasonable basis.
The shipping board, as trustee of the
money Of the people of the United
Estates, cannot compromise a vital
principle.
cit must insist upon equitable read
| justment of the present wage scale
and working conditions in order to eff
ficiently operate it's ships. The United
States is determined to have a mer
chant marine and the shipping board,
| so far as is possible, is endeavoring
| to have its ships American manner. I
make an earnest appeal to all of you
who have the interests Of our mer-
chant marine at heart to come with
me and the shipping board in making
the above basis effective and in CO.
operating to secure a readjustment of
these conditions In line with those of
other American industries"