Arizona republican., 1921-05-09
MARINE STRIkE. COMMIT I TEE II
 OFFER COUNTER WAGE PROPOSAL
E Engine ers' Association Votes Committee Power To Negotiate Settlement With Ship Owners
BENSON ASKS AID
Chairman Of Shipping
 Board Appeals To Off cers And Men To Accept
 Wage Readjustments
LRepubllcan A. p. Leased WireJ

NEW YORK, May S-After reject ing two Of the six points embraced in the tentative draft forwarded from department of labor yesterday the Marine Engineers Beneficial associa- tion today voted its executive com mittee power to negotiate settlement If possible. This committee it was said, would return 10 Washington to- night with a counter proposal.
 The striking engineers rejected the l5 per cent wage reduction and the bonus plan included in the proposi- tion emahating from the department of labor.
 E. F. Pegg. chairman of the Pacific coast district of the Marine Engin- eers Beneficial association announced that similar action was taken today by the marine engineers on the west coast.
 An efficiency wage system as a substitute for the bonus plan will be one proposal of the engineers counter proposition. said T. B. Healy chair man of the Atlantic and Gulf coast districts
 The engineers endorsed four points included in the proposal of the de- partment of labor. They voted for the reinstatement of strikers, e,,ten-
 sion of the basic eight-ho day and the 1920 classification of ship tom
 mage. payment of one hour daily
 overtime to the most efficient sngin-
 eers and elimination of the opeh shop
 with the provision that contracts be made for a year.
 BENSON SOUNDS APPEAL NEW YORK, May S-ChaiIman Benson of the shipping board today addressed an appeal to officers and men of the merchant marine asking their cooperation with the board $ | policies in the marine situation.
 He urged that establishments ia wage scales be accepted The bca-sl
 has not singled out the seamen for | reduction. he said, but cuts have been asked in the wage scales in ship [ yards and repair yards which in moss l instances have been agreed to. Review of developments Of the re- grettable marine labor controversy ! he said. should convince all unbiased
 men that the course pursued by the shipping board is sound and, fair that i the economic conditions fully justify | the readjustment of wage scales and ! working conditions"
 He promised full protection would | be given by the board to all who kept ! ships in operation. The fact that the ! board is enabled to keep its boats ' operating indicated, he said that the | personnel agree with the boards po- ! sition.
 ! He reminded the men that the | board had effected increased rates to | cope with increased living costs. and
 that American laws give better pro I lection and working conditions 10 | seamen than the laws of any other
 nation. The decline in ocean freight | has necessitated general liquidation. LOCALS SUPPORT CONFERENCE | WASHINGTON, May s = Local | unions of marine workers vosed today 1 in nearly every port on the Atlantic Pacific and Gulf coasts on accepting ! terms worked out in conferences be- | tween their representatives, the ship l owners and Secretary Davis for sot | tlement of the wage controversy The results are expected to be made i known to Secretary yavis tomorrow ! William s. Brown. president of the 1 Marine Engineers Beneficial asSocia-
 tion said today no pressure had been l brought to bear by the union heads
 on the workers in connection with the , vote.
 ! A brief conference Is expected to- morrow at the labor department with different interested parties present. GALVESTON ACCEPT TERMS i GALVESTON. Tex. May S-rhe Galveston branch of the Marine En- . sineers Beneficial association today
 voted to accept the final proposition
 of the steamship owners and the shipping board which provides i wage reduction of 15 per cent but | retains the eight-hour day.