The New York herald., 1921-05-01
MARINE WORKERS
ONLY FEEBLY HEED
CALLFOR ASTRKE
Real Test Comes To-day,
When Eight Liners, Now
Off Sandy Hook, Will
Attempt to Dock.
HARDING'S AID SOUGHT
Workers Appeal to Presi-
dent, Who Turns Case Over
to Hoover and Davis to At
tempt Settlement.
\ 1876 VESSELS AFFECTED
Benson's Order for ID Per
Cent. Reduction in Wages
Is Sent to All Operators Of
\ Government Craft.

/. Government Craft.
h The real test Of the strength OF the
4 marine unions declaration that
strike would follow Immediately the
4. order for wage cut for harbor work
ers will be seen to-day, when fleet
\ of eight liners. reported as lying Off
Sassdy Hook at midnight. try to make
their piers The strike was called for
last midnight, but apparently the or
der was not being carried out, al
though rumors were afioat that 500
marine engineers had quit their posts.
The strike was scheduled to involve
800. 900 mon, 100000 of them in this
city. and il hung on the acceptance by
private shipowners of a suggestion
made by Admiral Benson. chairman OF
the Shipping Board, that with the
expiration at midnight of the 1920
wage scale cut of Is per cent should
be made.
In Washington last night a general
strike of all marine workers seemed
inevitable unless President Harding
took some action to compose differ
onces between ship owners and tn.
men. During the day the efforts of
the officials to settle the matter APP
peared to have been completely lost
In shuttle of official and unofficial
meetings
What the Government was to do
remained a mystery. No definite ac-
ton had been taken. although the
President called Secretary Hoover ana
Secretary Davis to the White House
on an appeal. 1t was understood Mr..
Harding turned the situation over to
his Cabinet aids to handle. not Wishing
10 go over the heads of the mediation
division of the Department Of Labor.
benson sends Word Out.
Dcsra tohes from Washington last
night said the only definite word from
tho conferees was that Chairman Ben
sons order for a 15 per cent. cut had
gone to all operators OF Government
craft. II was likely that the private
owners would follow his example am
his suggestion.
In this city both owners and workers
were hopeful up TO midnight that some
adjustment might be made through
President Harding. The action in or
dering the strike in case of failure
OF the negotiations at the capital was
led by the Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association. The ORGANIZATIONS which
were to be included in the walkout in
GUIDED the international Seamen's
Union. the Marine Firemen. Oilers and
Water Tenders Union, the Marine
Cooks and Stewards Association and
the Radio Operators Association. or
these about 10 per cent. have been out of
work recently due TO the great number
of American vessels laid up in port.
Tne deduction OF those already out of
work would reduce the 10000 local
strikers to 10000
II was pointed out by the union lead
crs that they would have tho strength
of the longshorcmen's unions, number
ing a quarter of million more. for
these men would be unable to work with
the other marine workers idle.
British Propaganda blamed.
The question of foreign shipping was
discussed at the offices OF the Marin,
Engineers Beneficial Association. with
the result that the men were ordered TO
have nothing 10 do with incoming or OUT
going ships flying the flags OF other ma
lions. In some quarters IL was felt that
tho trouble resulted from British props-
ganda and had been arranged as a blow
TO American shipping.
According - Winthrop G.. Marvin
secretary OF the American Ship Owners
Association, tho strike will affect i.s71
privately owned vessels and 1.Io5 Gov
crnment bottoms, the latter the prop
crty of the United States Shipping
Board. Mr.. Marvin's figures placed the
total number or union men ready TO
strike at only 5000. He said that fully
so per cent. OF the Government ships
are tied up and that 25 per cent. OF the
privately owned craft arc also idle.
or tho 900 vessels In this port whose
owners arc affected by the strike order
the majority arc idle.
The notification sent out by the ship
owners association placing the new
vase scale in effect was accompanied
by tables and the stipulated conditions
OF employment.
The new table indicates that overtime
II not ia be paid for, but that men are
TO have hours or corresponding to those
they are required to do extra duty. In
addition TO the wage cut. substantial
reductions are made I'm the subsIstence
allowances for shore duty.
Enect OF Cuts on Wages.
Following arc some OF the reductions.
on a monthly basis. as shown for class
A vessels on which tho maximum wages
are paid
old. New
Chief engineer. sJsT.1O $3.50 o.
First assista nj ........4s. 2fi - .nJ. ~
Carpenter .s..4xtt..4.4.4 900 81 n0
DoetswAin .s.+..4....t.. $500 sn. 90
Ablc seaman. ....,...+... $500 - 20
Ordinary seaman. ..t... 500 $50