New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-30
Washington Conference
Ends When Workers Re.
ject IS P. C. Wage Cut
Proposed by Benson
Appeal Is Taken
To the President
Walk.out Would Affect
All American Ports Ex.
cept the Great Lakes

WASHINGTON, April ga general
tie-up of all shipping at American
ports except on the Great Lakes on
May appeared imminent to-day after
negotiations between the Shipping
Board, steamship owners and marine
workers had been abandoned as a re-
suit of the refusal of the employees
to accept Is per cent wage reduction.
A last effort to avert a final breach
between the employers and marine
workers was made late to-day when
Chairman Benson of the Shipping
Board and representatives of the ma
rine unions called separately at the
White House to lay their cases before
the President. Previously the chair
man and the ship owners had rejected
proposal by Andrew Furuseth, presi-
dent of the International Seamen's
Union, to submit the whole question
to President Harding for arbitration.
Chairman Benson declined to discuss
his visit at the White House, but the
union representatives., in the absence
of the President, left report and a
prayer" in behalf of all the workers
submitting the matter to him. They
later announced that they would re-
turn to the White House tomorrow in
an effort to see the President in per-
son. The union representatives also
called on Secretary Hoover, but re-
ceived, they said, no assurances of ac-
tion on his part.
Call Cut Unjustified
The break in negotiations came after
final conference called by Chairman
Benson to consider new wage and work
ing agreements. The chairman's pro-
posal for q Is per cent wage cut was
rejected for the engineers on the
ground that it was not justified by
living costs, or necessary as an econ
omy in operating expenses. H. P.
Griffin, for the cooks and stewards, de-
clared that the proposed wage cut was
sign on the dotted line proposition
and asked that the controversy be sub
mitted to a disinterested party.
Mr.. Furuseth asked for assurance
part of the agreement, including pref
erence for American citizens in en-
ployment, enforcement of the seamen's
act and recognition of the unions right
to act for the men,
Chairman Benson replied that he in
dorsed the idea of preference for Amer
lean citizens and would carry out those
parts Of the law under his Jurisdiction
but that the other points were matters
of working conditions to be determined
later
Mr.. Furuscth then offered his plan
for arbitration by the President. ave
are willing" he said, "to submit this
whole thing in its absolute entirety
without reservation, to the President of
the United States, and we will adopt
his decision as organizations and will
go to every one of our members and
plead with them to abide Loyalty by
anything that he decides, and that is
all we can do"
Responsibility Shirked"
The offer was rejected by the chair
man and by W. A. Thompson for the
shipowners.
"Men of America, men of the United
States," Chairman Benson said, 1--WE are
supposed to be the supporters and aid
of the President of the United States.
We are supposed not only to carry our
own burdens, but to help him carry
his. |, for one, will not add one iota to
the burden he is already carrying We
are responsible citizens. I trust all of
us are of America. And it is for us to
aid the President. In attempting to
carry this question to him which you
should decide and which is your re-
sponsibility you are shirking your re-
sponsibilities as American citizens."
Upon the rejection of his proposal
Mr.. Furuseth declared there was moth
ing more to do but appeal to the Presi-
dent.
In a statement tonight Chairman
Benson said:
"The efforts of the United States
Shipping Board and the steamship in
terests to avert break with marine
labor have come to naught. The re-
fusal of the men to recognize the need
for REIMBURSEMENT on reasonable basis
has ended prolonged negotiations. The
Shipping Board has endeavored to
meet the men in the fairest and most
conciliatory spirit. 1t is, however,
deeply conscious of its obligations to
the people CT the United States to pro-
tect their interests in the merchant
marine. 1t is reluctantly compelled to
meet, with all the resources at it's
command, the situation which CON
fronts it,"