New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-28
Ship Strikers
Make Peace
With Benson,
If Terms of Agreement Are
Ratified by Unions Com
troversy With u. S. Ship
ping Board Will End
Owners May Not Accept
Believed Terms Include
Wage Reduction and Gut
ting Out of Overtime Pay

WASHINGTON, May 27.--An agree
ment on wages and working conditions
was reached tonight between repre-
senvatives of the Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association and Chairman
Benson of the Shipping Board in the
controversy which has threatened a
tie-up of American shipping. The
terms will be submitted to the various
local unions Sunday for ratification.
The agreement was reached at a con-
ference with Secretary Davis, after
Chairman Benson had discussed the
situation with President Harding sew
eral hours. If the terms are accepted
by the locals the agreement will be
signed to remain in effect for one
year.
The action was taken regardless of
the decision of the American Shipown-
ers' Association, which was communi-
Gated to Secretary Davis to-day, to
refrain from entering into any agree
ment with the men. The Shipping
Board, however, it was pointed out,
operates four-sevenths of all American
ships.
Secretary Davis departed for New
York Immediately after the conference
to attend to some personal affairs, but
1t is understood he will see representa-
tives of the ship owners there.
The terms of the tentative agreement
were not made public, but in general
they are understood to follow the lines
previously laid down of providing for
a Is per cent wage reduction and max
ing some changes in overtime rules and
working conditions.
Inc agreement reached by Admiral
Benson and the representatives of the
strIklng engineers may not actually
end the shipping strike, labor authori-
ties mere said early this morning, but
u IS the most hopeful sign forthcoming
thus far g
The possibility that the bulk Of the
strikers will turn down the agreement
approved by their delegation in Wash
1ngton was said to be slight. There is
good chance, however, that one wing
OF the strikers will refuse to admit
the right of the representatives in
Washington to speak for them.
The committee in Washington is be-
lieved to have the confidence of the
deep sea engineers, who will probably
indorse it's action. The tugboat engi-
neers may turn down the compromise.
mat is the predicted reaction of labor
to the proposed settlement.
~ vi 0ito oeAeT manu- the american Ship
Owners Association has announced
its intention of refusing to Weld an
inch to the demands of the strikers.
and their announcement of no compro-
mise has already been sent to Wash
ington. 1t is possible, it was said this
morning, that Secretary Davis May be
able to induce them to recede from
this position on his arrival here TO-
day. If they refuse, the situation is
nevertheless improved, since the agree
ment will be put into effect at once
on all Shipping Board about
four-sevenths of all American tonnage.
II the ship owners stick to their
guns it will be necessary for them to
turn back the ships allocated to them
by the. Shipping Board or else place
themselves in the unprecedented posi-
ton of operating these according to
the terms of the agreement and operat-
ing their own, if possible, at their own
terms