New-York tribune., 1921-03-26
labor Department Sends
Federal Conciliator
Here After Men Are
Ordered Back to Work
Accept Reduced
Pay Temporarily
Action Said to Indicate
Agreementto Cut w age;
Agent Sees Both Sides

The strike Of marine workers en-
nged in the coastwise towing trade
xas called off yesterday at the sugges-
:ion Of the Federal authorities. pend
isr efforts Of the latter to bring about
81 adjustment of the controversy.
The men went out because the tow
boat owners had put into effect a
ssle Of wages reducing their pay $50
y $50 month. The order for the
sorkers to return to their posts was
sent out by Thomas z. Healey, head
.. the Marine Engineers Beneficial
association, following the receipt of q
telegram from II. L. Kerawin, Com
missioner of Cancellation of the De-
rrtmsnt of Labor. Commissioner
Esrawin requested that the men re-
'urn to their work while efforts at
cencillatlon were In progress
That the government intends to
lose no time in trying to bring about
s.settlement was indicated by the ar
rival yesterday of DR.. F. &. Davis, who
Tas sent to this city by Secretary
Davis, of the Department of Labor, to
let as conciliator in the difficulty.
Dr.. Davis said he was gratitied that
.ae union officials called off the strike
pending efforts to reach an agreement
on the wage question. He conferred
nth union leaders, and last night had
talk with Charles G. Hanna, head Of
the New England Barge and Towers
association, st the latter's home in
aontclair, N. j. 1t is understood tlsat
Dr.. Davis will try to arrange CON
ference between the owners and the
employees.
Union leaders admitted that not
more than a dozen Of the $50 boats
formally engaged.in towing coal, lum-
Dsr, grain and general merchandise be-
Eween Atlantic coast ports had been
tied up by the walk-out These are
reIng manned again.
commissioner Kerawin's message
sme as reply TO a communication
ent by Healey to Secretary Hoover
irggesting an investigation Of the
natter.
Your telegram to Secretary Hoover"
lsad Commissioner Kerawin's telegram,
sreferred to this department. We
sust no engineers or other employees
sn leare tHelr pOSlClon5 at this time
Rsase write us fully exact status of
IIsuation in order that we may assign
commissioner of conciliation to the
sase. Urge upon you the importance
u having your men remain at work
pending the effort at conciliation."
The return Of the workers to their
Jobs at the reduced scale of wages
which the owners put into effect on
March caused considerable comment
u certain circles here as being more
llgnifcant than appears on the surface.
The harbor workers always had been
unwilling in previous labor disputes
% return to their Jobs pending the
adjustment proceedings without some
detnite assurances.
Taken in conjunction with the action
atew days ago of the employees in
the packing industry at Chicago in ac-
eepting reduction in wages, the be-
lief is expressed that the Federal au-
snorities had adopted a policy in favor
Of lower wages. That the workers have
been willing to accept reductions in
these cases is attributed by some to
the representations on the part of the
government conciliators that lower
,,nfg Of the wage scale all along the
line was in order.