The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-05
Major SnorI In Commerce Threatened
 Biggest Tieup
 In Maritime
 History Is On

Washington, Sept. 5-OPl The Association of Ameri- can Railroads today imposed a general embargo on most freight shipments to ports be- cause of the widespread marie time strike.
 President Truman mean time asked at a news confer ence if he planned to inter. vene directly in the dispute, said he would do so if it came to him but that it still was in the hands of Secretary of Labor Lewis B. Schwellenbach.
 The railroad embargo was of- dered to avoid piling up shipments in ports as A.FL. seamen quit their ships in the biggest strike in mari. time history.
 To Prevent Congestion The railroads said the embargo was necessary due to the tlreat- ened strike of maritime workers dA10 p4CNC141 CO14SCoIfAA1 GSb <AaA American ports" The embargo Is effective immediately. A spokesman for the railroads said the embargo would affect about 60 percent of all rail shipments for export.
 The strike was expected to result in complete tieup of all U. & coastal ports.
 The Wage Stabilization Boapd voted yesterday against immediate reconsideration of the decision to reject the wage agreement. It de- lcided to hold public hearings next Tuesday on requests of the unions and the employers for reconsidera- tion.
 I The two unions, which called the strike to protest a Government wage decision, represent only 43,000 work CTS. But the full force of the na- tion's 500,000 maritime employees was brought into the walkout when all other A.FL. and CI.O. unions pledged to respect their picket lines.
 John R. Owens, president of tlae l mentf, said the effect would be q complete tieup of all American ports"
 The futile plea for a postpone ment was made by Secretary of La- Dor Lewis B. SchweIlenbach.
 'The maintenance of shipping is such an important element in our economic structure that we cannot afford to have is interrupted" Schweuenbach said.
 The Seamen'S answer came quick 1y from an official of the SUP:
 ITO h--l with Schwellenbac He's been sitting around on it doing nothing all week. Now we'll sit tight and see how he likes it."
 Meanwhile, shipping owners called on the Wage Stabihzation Board to advance hearings on the wage cases which provoked the two A.FL. sea- mems unions to call the walkout. The board set the hearings for next Tuesday.
 Shipowners said the walkout would quickly shut off imports of such scarce items as sugar and bananas. They predicted 1t would have 8 far-reaching and damag- ing effect on American industry by cutting off raw material imports and finished products exports.
 The WISE decision involved dis approved part of the pay boosts granted the two AFL. unions in contracts negotiated with ship owners.
 The SUP. had won a $22.50 in- crease and the SI.U. $27.50 a month. WSB ruled, however, that ship owners could use only $1750 to sup port requests for higher shipping rates since that amount conStitu- ted the pattern" set for the indus try in the recent dispute involving C.I.O. unions.
 The unions were not satisfied with the W.S.B.s agreement to recon slider it's decision. Harry Lundberg, secretary of the Sailors Union of the Pacific, made it clear that the seamen wanted reversal rather than reconsideration of the decision and would stick by their strike plans un- til they got it.