The New York herald., 1921-05-23
ship OWNERS show
SIGNS OF SETTLING;
ENGINEERS DEFIANT
Committee of Employers to
Meet Benson in Wash
ington To-day.
WAGE RATE is OPPOSED
Meeting of Workers in
Cooper Union Unanimously
Opposes New Scale.
RULED BY HARBOR MEN
Shipping Board and Owners
Association Seem Well Salts
fled With NOn-UniOn Men.
WAGE RATE is OPPOSED
RULED BY HARBOR MEN

One obstacle in the way of settle
ment of the shipping strike was re-
moved yesterday when spckesmen for
the American Steamship Owners AS
sociation, in conference with Secretary
of Labor Davis in the Hotel Pennsyl-
statement that no adjustment arrived
at by compromise would be accepted
and they agreed to submit 10 their
wage committee the proposals that
Admiral Benson accepted in Washing
ton on Saturday.
This advance, however was offset
by the action of the marine engineers
in their mass meeting at Cooper Union
later in the day. The compromise
agreement, supported by the moderate
wing of their strike council was read
to them. 1t was followed BY the adop-
ton of a resolution to maintain their
original position Of rejecting any
agreement which embodies wage cut,
and of another instructing the strike
council so to notify Admiral Benson
and Secretary Davis
The Cooper Union meeting was a vic
tory for the bitter enders in the engi-
neers' organizatiou--Thoma b. Healey
president of the Atlantic and Gulf con-
ference. and Ernest Pegg. president of
the Pacific conference, who as members
of the strike council refused to partici-
pate in the Washington compromise
agreement.
Harbor Men influence Vote.
This victory was made inevitable from
the fact that the dominant strength in
the engineers organization In this port
IS in Local 33. composed chiefly of men
employed on railroad and harbor craft.
Coastwise and deep sea engineers were
in the minority at yesterdays meeting
The harbor mems jobs are not affected
by the strike. but if an agreement Is
reached resulting in a wage reduction
they would have 10 share 1t with the
deep sea men.
Arrangements were made by Secre-
tary Davis with II. II. Raymond. presi-
dent of the Ship Owners Association.
and Winthrop ID. Marvin, secretary. at
another meeting. to be held in Washing
ton tomorrow morning, at which Ad-
miral Benson and some members of the
marine engineers council are to be pres
ent. 1t is not probable that Healey and
Pegg will attend. At this meeting the
ship owners expect to be able to report
the decision of their wage committee
with respect to the compromise agree
ment.
Besides Secretary Davis. j. s. Jenkins
of the Industrial Relations Bureau. as
representative of the Shipping Board.
and Dr. Fred S. Davis. Cancellation Com
missioner of the Department of Labor
we're in the city yesterday endeavoring
to bring together the loose ends of the
marine situation. The party returned
&, Washington last night
Feel Position Is Sure.
II is the opinion OF those who are
trying to effect an adjustment that
neither the Shipping Board nor the
ship owners desire a settlement. They
feel that their position is secure. Ac-
cording to the latest figures of the De-
partment OF Commerce the strike Is
only 30 per cent. effective. When it is
remembered that so per cent. of the
Shipping Boards vessels we're laid up
at the inception of the strike and 25
per cent of private shipping it is APP
parent that the strike is not crippling in
effect.
The compromise agreement is under
stood to include acceptance of the 10
per cent. cut, pro rata pay for over
time and extra pay for work at sea on
Sunday Before 1t could become effect
i've a national referendum OF all the
marine engineers locals throughout the
country would have TO be taken.
Apparently the seamcns union has
been left out in the cold so far as
participation In negotiations IL con-
cerned. Andrew Furuseth. president OF
the seamen's organization, was in New
York yesterday, but he has not yet taken
any action with respect to the agree
nent. 1t Is expected. however, that the
seamen. the firemen and the radio OPP
orators will follow the lead OF the
ma ripa engineers