The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-08-06
LABOR HELD AT ROOT OF
 SHIP 5NAFU
New Bottoms, Regulated Competition Advocated
 df Hearing Yesterday


 Ship operators were unanimous In putting their finger upon labor relations as the number one snarl in the Alaska shipping situation as they testified here yesterday after noon heiore the Jackson Subcommit- tee of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.
 Asked by Alaska Delegate E. L. Bartlett if labor is not merely one of several problems in need of solu- ton in order to provide adequate water transportation to and from Alaska, L. w. Baker, Vice President and General Manager of the Alaska Steamship Company. replied: That is TIT"
 He summarized his opinion based upon 32 years in Alaska steamship operating, by declaring: All our troubles now can be summed up in one word labor"
 Principal Handtcap
 Shortly later, S. J. Swanson. Vice President and General Manager of the Alaska Transportation Com pany, in prepared statement, set out three principal handicaps fac ed by Alaska ship operators in gen. eral. Foremost of these he placed labor and declared it is futile to attempt to solve the two others until the labor condition is correct ed, In second and third places iamong the operators handicars Swanson listed the unbalanced na- ture of the Alaska trade and the lack of suitable floating equipment.
 Mondays public hearing in the Senate Chamber here was adjourn ed before Swanson had completed his statement. to resume this morn ing at 9:3o o'clock.
 Skinner's Requirements
 Previously, c. w Skinner, Pres ident of the Alaska Steamship Company. had set out three re- quirements which he gave as his answer to the provision of adequate water borne transportation for Alaska. He asked for:
 displacement of tonnage lost through sea hazards or requisition during the war;
 2-Certificates of convenience and necessity to regulate competition in the Alaska Service; and
 Legislation, if necessary, to make labor unions live up to their contracts.
 Rep. Schuyler Otis Bland, tD.Vao Chairman of tEe Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, who is one of three Congressmen ccmpris- ing the Subcommittee holding tEo inquiry here. immediately inquir- ed: How about the companies? To which MT Skinner answered, yes, if necessary.
 VISA Mus Stag
 In reply to Rep Christian A. Herter tR-Mass.). Skinner re- affirmed the position previously stated by his company, in common with other Alaska ship operators, in hearings before the U. S. Mari time Commission, that the Alaska Line would not continue to run ships to Alaska should the War Shipping Administration get out of the picture next March 1, if the same conditions prevail then as now
 He declared the labor problem is the major factor in the companies refusal to take back the Alaska shipping business. If it is ironed out, the service could be maintain ed under private operation with only a nominal rate increase, MT. Skin ner said. He added that in refer ring to ironing out the labor prob- lem he was not talking about any change in wage scales. Rather, he meant
 Days Work; Hire aud Fire
 That the company get days work for days wages. and
 
 2-That management be given back the right to hire and fire.
 Earlier. David E. Scoll, of New York City. counsel for the Alaska Development Board, had laid to management inefficiency the seem ingly uncurbed pilferage of Alaska ship cargoes. No union is strong enough to compel the hiring of theif. Scoll declared.
 Skinner flatly contradicted Scoll's contention that the operators could make the firing of man for pill tering stand up.
 Piltering Case Cited
 More on that point was heard from MT Baker, who cited case
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