New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-25
Dock Men Discuss Strike.

Transit Commission and the Public
Service Commission.
Dock Men Discuss Strike.
Leaders of the International Long
shoremen's Association admitted yes
terday that they were discussing the
advisability of strike to hinder the
unloading of British coal in the
United States. A definite announce
ment is expected today when Anthony
J. Chlopek, president of the associa-
ton. returns from Norfolk.
Steamship men said that they did not
anticipate trouble, despite the rum
blings among the longshoremen. 1t was
pointed out that British coal is mined
by union men; that the water front
laborers are not generally in favor of
sympathetic strikes, and that in the
difficulty in loading and unloading non
union coal coming to the port from
West Virginia.
Cable reports from Great Britain
indicate that the miners there are not
disposed to aid the American strike.
They recall that miners in the United
States did not assist them in their
strike last year. Also there is wide
spread unemployment in the Welsh
coal fields, which makes the union men
eager to earn the extra money in
sight on American orders.
Ship Rates Advance
Steamship rates for the movement of
coal from Great Britain are moving up
steadily as the supply of available
steamers becomes exhausted. Within
the last five days the Shipping Board
charter rate has advanced from $1.65
to $2.22 ton. The British figure has
gone still higher, from $154 to 1894 O
ton: A number Of American owners,
with a few "spot" ships, are waiting
for the increase to reach $3.50, or IL
shillings, before they put their boats
into the trade. They estimate that
they cannot make profit at a smaller
charge.
1t was said yesterday that the low
rates quoted by Shipping Board and
British owners are due to the desire
for cargoes to fill ballast space.
AT the Offices of the Shipping Board
it was said that chartering Of ships
was suspended temporarily while a
check was made on the business done
in the, rush last week. At the close on
Saturday the board had fixed forty
three vessels for early August loading
in British ports. This meant the diver
sion of many ships from their regular
routes. AS result the board has to
consider the commitments which it has
made for cargoes at its normal ports
of call, and may find it necessary to
put other vessels into operation.
May Resume Chartering To-day
1t is expected that by this morning
the board will have completed it's study
of the situation and will be ready to re-
sumo chartering. No call has vet been
made on the idle fleet The board has
about forty ships in New York which
can be put to sea on short notice, but
as these would have to cross the At
lantic with little or no cargoes there is
reluctance to draw upon them until
the need is clearly defined. After these
spot" boats are used up, others NAV
be obtained from the laid-up fleet
within thirty to sixty days.
The number of ships definitely placed
In the coal trade was estimated yes
terday at sixty to seventy, including
forty-three government, four private
American and fifteen to twenty British
steamers.
The sudden rush of consumers to
buy coal, following the collapse of the
strike negotiations, has developed
scarcity of coal both at Hampton
Roads and at New York, where stocks
were expected to last several weeks
longer. West Virginia supplies have
definitely passed the Hoover maximum
and are quoted at $1,000 to S11 q ton
delivered in New York. The equivalent
British fuel is quoted at $3.50 a ton.
1t is reported that buyers are now
anxious to contract for British sun
plies at So to 50 ton for delivery AZ
late as October is. British miners and
shippers also have taken ADVANTAGE Of
the sudden boom to advance prices
little, asking S7.70 ton now, MS
against $500 last week.
Eight Cargoes On Way
In addition to the orders placed in
the last few days for ships capable of
handling about 100000 tons of coal. two
ships already have arrived and eight
are now on the seas. One shipper re-
ported yesterday that he would be nm
able to complete orders in hand before
October l.
Furnace coal and range coal cannot
be obtained in New York CITY, accord
ing to leading dealers. Supplies OF
pea coal and coke are available. Prices
remain unchanged.
There is no anthracite coal in this
city outside of pea COAL" said Henry
J Lange, vice-president of the Weber,
Burke & Lange Coal Company. "Some
OF the dealers have enough pea coal
to last about two weeks, but after that
the city will be out of coal for domes-
tic uses.
"The strike has been hardship for
some of the dealers. They have lost
compelled to maintain heavy overhead
expenses. but have been unable to oh
tain sufficient coal for deliveries.
Under such conditions some might
have been justified in advancing prices
but we have not heard of one dealer
asking higher prices.
We have on hand orders for about
10000 tons Of furnace (egg) and stove
lnut) coal, but see no way of filIins
the orders in the immediate futnre
We have hopes, however, that coal will
be available shortly. Ordinarily about
80 per cent to 20 per cent of dome st;c
consumers place their orders during
the summer, and the shortage has ins
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