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24 MARINE REVIEW TUGMEN VIOLATED THEIR AGREEMENTS. Some little time ago a conference was held in Cleveland be- tween Mr. Harry Coulby, representing the Great Lakes Tow- ing Co., Capt. Bush, representing the Licensed Tugmen's Pro- tective Association, and President Livingstone of the Lake Carriers' Association, to arbitrate certain matters arising out of the trouble of the towing company with its tugmen last year. Mr. Livingstone was selected by both parties to the controversy as arbiter. After all the testimony was in he took the matter under advisement and has just delivered his opinion, Many minor issues were considered by the confer- ence, but the principal one was this: When the steamer Glid- den was sunk in the ship canal in Lake St. Clair Flats last fall, Mr. Coulby, as the general manager of the towing company, sent three tugs from Cleveland to assist in removing the wreck. Double crews were in each instance furnished each tug, making six crews in all. The removal of the tugs from Cleveland crippled the service somewhat, and fearing that the remaining tugs might not be able to perform their duties, Mr. Coulby ordered the tug Sunol from Ashtabula to Cleveland. The Sunol was manned by members of the Licensed Tugmen's Protective Association, but when she got to Cleveland, the Cleveland men declined to allow her to work. During the three weeks of her stay in Cleveland she never turned her wheel. The towing company held that in transferring the tug from Ashtabula to Cleveland they had done all that could be expected of them, and that as the tugmen of Ashtabula and Cleveland were both members of the same association, it was a matter which they should settle among themselves. The tug, however, did not work during her entire stay in Cleveland. In the course of time the three tugs sent to the ship canal returned to Cleveland. They got in on a Friday afternoon. About six o'clock that evening when orders were sent to Capt. Coulter of the tug Frank W., it was found that he had left the tug. A little later the crews of the three tugs quit and were discovered holding a conference on Superior street. They claimed that they had a grievance to the effect that they were entitled to-every third night off and every third Sunday off, a privilege which, of course, they did not enjoy while in the ship canal and which they proposed should now be given to them. At this time Mr. Coulby was in Buffalo, but he was communicated with over the telephone. He declined to treat with the men until they returned to work, holding that they were violating section 5 of the agreement with them, which reads: "All complaints, objections and questions arising under this agreement that cannot be adjusted between the parties hereto, will be arbitrated in the usual way, men to continue at work pending such arbitration." After five days of per- suasion the men were apparently brought to realize that they were violating their own agreement by suspending labor, for on the Thursday night following they returned to. work. It was contended by the towing company that the men were not entitled under the agreement to have every third night off and every third Sunday off, because section 12 of the agree- ment specifically provides that only tugs carrying single crews shall have this time off. As stated, the crews were in this instance double crews. Incidentally during the trouble, Capt. Dwyer of the Canada, who was too tired to work for the towing company, went aboard one of the opposition tugs and -worked all night. He was, of course, suspended by the com- pany, but later when the matter was presented to Mr, Coulby he ordered Dwyer to go back to work with the understanding that he was not to receive pay for the balance of the season if the arbitration board proved him to be guilty. These were the main questions considered by Mr, Livingstone. He very promptly decided against Capt. Dwyer and also against Capt. Coulter. He also decided that the men were not entitled to time off when the tugs returned to Cleveland, because of the specific language of section 12, which confers this benefit only upon single crews. Upon this statement his language is: "I was present during the entire time that the present contract was made last spring and heard all the discussions pro and con, and there is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that it was the intent and understanding of the agreement at that time that only tugs carrying single crews were entitled to lay off time. Where double crews are carried it means that the men are supposed to render twelve hours work each day for thirty days in each month." The arbiter's decision was against the men in every account except one, proving conclusively that they violated their own agreements. Other matters of less importance were also threshed out. Capt. Vosborg of the tug Lutz was found guilty of negligence in towing the Buffalo boat into the harbor. There were ex- tenuating circumstances in this, however, as Capt. Vosborg frankly admitted his blame. He went out to the breakwater to look for the boat and could not see it. The weather was rather thick and he thought he had ample time to eat his breakfast. He stepped into the cabin to do so and when he had 'finished found that the boat had passed and entered the harbor. The arbiter holds this to be a mistake of judgment and not of intent. Capt. Robertson of the tug Goulder was held guilty of non- performance of duty in refusing the request of the captain of the schocner Senator to tow into Cleveland by telling the cap- tain that his tug was bound for Lorain for tow. Upon this point the arbiter holds that the evidence showed that Capt. Robertson did not perform his duty. The arbiter says: "The duty of every captain employed by the tug company should be to work for the interests of the employer and every captain does or should at least thoroughly understand that it is his duty to do everything that he can legitimately do to further the interests of his employers in aiding them to do business and consequently increase the earnings of his company. 'The captain who does not thoroughly understand this and act ac- cordingly is unfit for the position he occupies. The evidence in this case showed that Capt. Robertson grossly neglected the interests of his employers, and still further aggravated it by the fact that he told a deliberate falsehood to. avoid doing the work." FLOATING DOCK FOR GREAT LAKES TOWING CO. The Great Lakes Towing Co. has given an order to the American Ship Building Co. for a floating dry dock to be 76 ft. long, 43 ft. beam and 6 ft. deep. It is the purpose of the towing company to locate the dock at Fairport. The dock pre- sents many novelties in construction. Instead of having the sides carried continuously from one end of the dock to the other, there will be a couple of towers in the amidship part of the dock. The advantages are that it reduces the expense of construction and increases the facilities of the dock. When the dock is established at Fairport, which will be in about two months, the towing company will be entirely self-contained as far as repairs are concerned. At present the company has a very complete machine shop at Fairport, capable not only of caring for the tugs but of also doing work upon other vessels. The company expects gradually to develop its mechanical re- sources to the end that it may build its own fleet. It is quite likely that a new steel lighter, somewhat bigger than the New- man, will be built during the present year for the company. The new lighter will differ from the Newman in that she will be sharp at both ends and will be adapted for open water work. The Newman, which has made a record for economy and dispatch in lightering, is primarily a river boat. While the contract has not been let for the new lighter it is more than likely that it will be built during the present year. Mr. Coulby, during the brief time that he was president and gen- eral manager of the towing company, did a great deal for the company as a physical property. It is in better condition now than it has ever been, there is money in the treasury and the company looks forward to a prosperous year. : RG sc