The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-10
NOT MlJo ,, < '::s sltfT. r IN MARINE DISPUTE
 WITH BENSON FIRM
Secretary Davis Seems to Have Played About All His Cards, But Willing to Hold
 Conference Any Time
By Associated Press

Washington. May g. - Conferences which Secretary Davis has been hold ing with all parties in an effort to reach settlement of the wage dispute affecting American shipping were dis continued today after Chairman Ben son of the shipping board had re iterated hts stand for a 15 per cent wage reduction. Represe nta lives or the Marine Engineers Beneficial asso- citation announced that they would leave Washington to attend to otheg matters and Secretary Davis said he had arranged for no further confer ences. Should the situation change, however, it is understood that the sec retary will attempt to bring the sew eral parties together again.
 William S. Brown, president of the Marine Engineers Beneficial associa- ton, said tonight that his committee lad made the very best proposition possible to the shipping board and ship owners through Secretary Davis, and that no further concessions would be made. The proposals of the men, based upon the vote of locals at all ports yesterday were submitted in the after noon, but were not made public
 A conference had been held earlier between the entire joint committee rep senting the various marine engineers and Secretary DavC. The latter com municated with Chairman Benson by telephone and later announced that as efforts had proved unavaiing. the con ference would be discontinued until there was an indication that their re- sumption would be warranted. Chairman Benson said today that he stood firmly for the IS per cent wage reduction and regardless of whethe an agreement were reached, he intend . cd 70 put into effect on shipping board vessels some system which would en- able men showing efficiency to get the tenedt of the resulting savings in the form of extra compensation. Adop- tion of some such bonus system had controversy by Secretary Hoover, he said.
 Reports from all sections of the country today, the chairman said, showed that the outlook was very hope : ful and that an increasing number of officers and men were volunteering b return to work. Sailings were nearly normal, he added
 TROUBLE AT NEW ORLEANS New Orleans, May a.--Foiiowing an inspection of the water front in com pany with Police Captain Capo, Victor Loisel, United States marshal, late to- day placed a, number of deputy mar shals on duty at various wharves where trouble is expected in connec- uon wit hthe strike of marine workers.
 MT. Loisel reported that while h. and Captain Capo found everything quiet along the waterfront still it was thought by them to be the part of wisdom to prepare for any outbreak k of trouble.
 The report that, following the ar r1val of large number of strike breakers at one If the docks today, strikers were congregating near one of the wharves was followed by an all station call for all available police men to report at the river armed with riot guns and with plenty of am- munition.
 The rushing of the policemen, many of whom were called on duty from their homes, to the docks gave rise to many sensational rumors. but no trouble developed
 One tug was operated in the harbor today, non union crew having been signed to take the places of the men who quit work rather than move ships operated by non-union crews
 No American ships left this port to- day.