http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/93e969abb3110fe2814c1286fb93a223.PDF 4b925ec37dbf7770be2259d1645c9c44 PDF Text Text • yT-'i''- r. '•--•*^-;i7'' 7 CG Ok'd Districts Safety Code Evasion Story On Page 3 / ! SEAFARERS LOG • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • f -1 DISABlfD ORE SHIP 5-Day Battle Saves SS Steeiore -Story On Page 3 A five-day battle by its SIU crew to keep the Steeiore afioat met with success when the 22,000-ton ore carrier safely reached Morehead City, NC, under tow. The 32-year-old ship had been taking water in a ballast tank because of a broken vent pipe and it was feared she would have to be abandoned. She is shown here enroute under the watchful eye of a Coast Guard cutter before the fully-loaded ship was taken in tow by the tug Curb. (Story on Page 3.) Crew Wins Fight. _ :l �rm. -fc Paie two JanUaiT ?1, 1955 SEAFARERS 106 The Two - Headed Monster A two-headed monster is on the loose in Wash­ ington these days and its bodes no good for Sea­ farers. One head is the US Maritime Administration, which shapes and enforces the Federal Govern­ R' r-' ment's, shipping policy. The other is the Foreign Opera­ tions Administration, which has the responsibility of man­ ning the many far-flung aid programs sponsored by the US. This modem-day monster, however, has a very disturb­ ing problem. Its heads are moving in opposite directions. •fhe facts of the dilemma are simple. For the past five months, the MA has given American-flag trampship own­ ers the green light for the transfer of 66 Liberty dry cargo ships to the registries of Panama and Liberia. This means, in plain terms, that a US Government agency has allowed the nation's trampship fleet to be cut right in half. Many other ships, including freighters, tankers and passenger vessels, have also been allowed to transfer, but they, for the moment at least, do not com­ plicate the present picture. And while the Maritime Administration last month in­ dicated a halt in the transfers, it quickly reversed its field in a hasty "clarification" of its "stop" order. This enabled eight more Liberty ships to become "runaways" up to last week and at least one more has joined the stampede since then. So much for the MA. Enter the other monster. FOA right now is In the midst of a program to ship ten million tons of coal and huge quantities of agricul­ tural surpluses overseas. To do this, it needs shipping space, lots of it. Therein lies a problem. American tonnage is pretty well tied up these days. Freight rates for exports to Europe are going April 1, so that cargo movements for that area are being rushed. In addition, the Government is already making bulk ship­ ments of goods abroad on berth cargo liners, (the trampships' opposite number), adding to the general tightening In available tonnage. This brings up the question of usihg trampships to move the FOA shipments. Over the past few weeks, even as some of the latest trampship transfers were being processed and approved by the Maritime Administration, there have been persis­ tent reports from Washington that the MA and FOA were jointly developing plans for a breakout of idle Govern­ ment-owned tonnage from the various reserve fleets. This likelihood is based on the fact that the amount of available tonnage for FOA needs is shrinking, and that shipping space must be found somewhere—and soon—^for handling the FOA's cargo movements. Thus, even as the head of the American Tramp Ship­ owners Association, whiph represents the bulk of the re­ maining tramp shipping under the US flag, was protest­ ing—as late as last week—that there is plenty of private tonnage availabre to handle the traffic, the country was being presented with another one of those Invigorating spectacles which periodically spotlight attention on Wash­ ington. The comedy of errors this time arises In the spectacle of one Government bureau—the Maritime Administration —rushing headlong into wholesale transfers of US ships to foreign flags, while another—^the Foreign Operations Administration-^yisualizes so serious a shortage of that saine type of tonnage fof its own needs that it Is forced i:' i ? to call on the party of the first part to take some, of thaV same type of tonnage out of mothballs at terrific expense to the Government. The situation is one which leaves the SlU and the thou­ sands of seamen it represents—many thrown out of work because of these ship transfers—mumbling under their breaths about "fouled-up mess.. .bumbling Government officials . . . people whose left hands don't know ^ what their right hands are doing." Many other rational people both in and out of the maritime Industry are likewise wondering what is going on In Washington, and not. only for this reason. Ship Transfer.<: Continue Ship transfers are still being permitted at the same time that other Liberty ships will have to be taken out of the reserve fleets to do the same jobs the "runaway" ships could have done in the first place. The taxpayer, of course, will have to foot the bill for breaking out these ships and overhauling them. The taxpayer, of course, al­ ways gets stung in these situations. The matter is also somewhat complicated by the fact, reported in The New York Times one week ago, that "only a few Liberty ships are available in near-by East Coast reserve fleet anchorages. Most of the Liberty ships In the Hudson Hiver (NY) and In the James River (Va.) are being used for grain storage. Breaking out these vessels for ordinary ocean transportation would Cntail discharge of the stored grain before they could be moved into the shipyards for survey and overhaul." Where the displaced grain would go, of course, nobody knows. It will be Interesting to see If Maritime Administrator Louis Rothschild and FOA Director Harold Stassen can supply the answers. Port O' Call Opened In Balfo: SlU On TV SEAFARERS LOG art editor Bernard Seaman (left, rear) takes breather while putting finishing touches on Baltimore Port O' Call mural. Looking over work are Baltimore Port Agent Earl Sheppard, SlU Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Bob Matthews and A1 Tanner, Port O' Call manager. Packed house celebrates opening of Fort O' Call cafe in new Baltimore halL Cargo netting separating bar proper from seating area and brass lanterns are two of many nautical touches. LOG Artist 'Muralizes' Baito Among the most striking features of the Port O' Call bar just opened in the new Baltimore hall are the original murals behind the bar and stage, both painted by Bernard Seaman, art editor of the SEAFARERS Another luxurious unit of the gleaming new Baltimore hall,-^ ••"LOG and member of the SIU. * the Port O' Call cafe, opened for business Monday, January The mural behind the bar old-fashioned sailor's straw hat. SEAFARERS LOG is 38^4 feet long and 5 feet The entire layout, design and 17, to an overflow crowd of Seafarers and their friends. Like Jon. 21, 1955 Vol. XVii, No. 2 high. In a striking color combina­ painting of the murals were the the rest of the hall the Port O'-* tion of black, gray and terra cotta, work of Bernard Seaman, who, in Call is bigger and better than three huge 60-gallon fishtanks set As 1 See It Page 4 it depicts the various shipboard addition to being LOG art editor, back into porthole enclosures in its counterpart in the Union's Burly Page 16 jobs performed by Seafarers, who is one of the best known labor the walls and featuring an assort­ Crossword Puzzle Brooklyn headquarters. .Page 8 are portrayed In two-dimensional, and political cartoonists in the Local interest in the new hall and the Union was stimulated further by the appearance of Port Agent Earl Sheppard on a local TV show, "Inside Baltimore." The show featured filmed shots of the hall's facilities and an explana­ tion of Union operations. Nautical Flavor The new Port O' Call unit is a spacious, square-shaped oak pan­ eled room, decorated with appro­ priate nautical embellishments. A large cargo net separates the bar proper from the seating area and dance floor which faces on a stage running the length of the room. The walls behind the bar and the stage are decorated with murals portraying Seafarers at work and old time ships. The bar itself is shaped like a pier with pilings run­ ning its entire length. Adding to the nautical flavor are i ment of exotic tropical fish, while mounted on the walls are barracu­ das and dolphins. Brass ship's lanterns and other familiar ship­ board gear round out the dec­ orations. The room can handle 150 guests at tables and at the bar. A three piece orchestra provides music for dining and dancing during the evening hours. The TV appearance of the new hall on station WAAM was the first time any Baltimore union had been featured on the program. The show normally deals with indus­ trial and commercial developments In the thriving Maryland city. Sec­ tions of the building featured on the show included the shipping hall, cafeteria, galley, barber shop, recreation deck, and the vacation and administrative offices of the Union. i Editorial Cartoon .......Page Editorials Page Galley Gleanings Page Inquiring Seafarer Page Labor Round-Up Page Letter of The Week Page Letters Page Maritime .Page Meet The Seafarer Page Notices, Personals Page Of! Watch Page Port Reports Pages 12, Quiz Page SlU History Cartoon Page Vote of Thanks .........Page Washington News Letter. .Page Welfare Benefits ....Pages 18, Welfare Report Page Your Dollar's Worth Page 9 9 15 8 8 9 16 8 8 17 14 13 14 6 9 7 19 18 5 Published biweekly at the headquarters of the Seafarers International Union, At­ lantic & Gulf District AFL, 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY. Tel. HYacinth 9-6600. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office In Brooklyn, NY, under the Act at AuBust 24, 3912. geometrically-patterned figures. The entire mural is done in a light vein with a modern, stylized manner. Mermaids And Seafarers In addition to the mural, the wall behind the bar contains two aqua­ riums built to resemble portholes. At the back of each of the tanks is also a painting which continues the theme of the murals. A third tank is in the opposite wall. The mural behind the stage is 23 feet long and 9 feet high. Sim­ ilar in coloring and style to the mural behind the bar, it depicts the transformation of merchant shipping from the days of the old Norse vessels of the ninth cen­ tury to the present. Near the center of this mural is a painted version of a porthole, which frames a white-capped Sea­ farer beside a seaman wearing ah country and has worked in practi­ cally all types of graphic arts. In the general field of design, he has Illustrated numerous film strips, books, pamphlets and other literature In the field of labor. He has also done poster work for the National Tuberculosis Associ­ ation and National Heart Fund, and has served as art consultant for both the Treasury Department and the War Production Board. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Fortune, Busi­ ness Week and many other nation­ al magazines, as well as in most of the major newspapers through­ out the country. For his work he has won 10 of the AFL's annual cartoon awards and a special Page One award of the Newpaper Guild of New York in 1952, the only time a labor ar­ tist ever gained this honor. �Januarj 21, 1955 SEAFARERS LOG Far* Three NY Lawyer Handled ILA $ To Fight Hall ••'1 '-tea J HACKENSACK, NJ—A Bergen County grand jury tak­ ing testimony on the murder plot against SlU Secretary-Treas­ urer Paul Hall reportedly was told by New York lawyer Benjamin B. Sterling that he handled between $26,000 to $27,000 of the money put up 3-Dept Vote Hits Snag by the old ILA for the election campaign of Ray White. White, Tampa port agent of the SIU, had been running for the secretary-treasurer's post in the Union elections which ended Jan­ uary 15. He is one of five men SAN FRANCISCO — In a under in the alleged desperate, last-ditch maneuver murder indictment plot. to stave off a certain SIU Bradley Put Up 40G's Pacific District victory, the de­ Also testifying at the grand jury funct National Union of Marine Cooks and Stewards has tempor­ hearing was ILA President Cap­ arily blocked the start of the tain William Bradley. It is reported three - department representation that Bradley admitted giving as vote on West Coast sliips. The much as $40,000 in an attempt to unseat Hali from his SIU post. Communist - dominated union, Bradley was also questioned about which has withdrawn completely the use of his airplane credit card from the balloting, has asked the by James E. Cobb, who is accused Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to of being the triggerman in the plot. order the National Labor Relations Meanwhile Cobb and Edward Seafarer-members of the stricken Steelore's deck gang take aboard running line from Coast Guard * Board to limit the vote to steward Taffe, accused as a go-between, cutter Cherokee and start pulling in submersible pump. Leak from broken vent pipe in ballast tank department members only. All in­ both pleaded not guilty and are threatened the ship. Deck department members according to crew list are: Harry Ti Collier, >bosun; dications are that the court will being held in' $50,000 bail. Also John A. Morris, Gerald W. Calendine, Henry Shepeta, QMs; Harold T. Spicer, Hipolito Ramos, Claud* not intervene. under indictment are Ray White, Fowler, ABs; Lawrence Johnson, John S. Simpson, Thomas C. Moose, ordinary seamen; William TlMKiSIU Pacific District, repre­ his brother Steely White and Car­ Mitchbll, Geoffrey Mills, Ed Atkinson, DMs. senting the Sailors Union of the men Priore, a New Yorker. Pacific, the Marine Firemen and Extradiction proceedings against the Marine Cooks and Stewards, Ray White are now underway in a AFL, had petitioned for a three Tampa, Florida, court. Steely White department vote to settle once and has not yet been found by police. for all the question of union rep­ resentation on West Coast ships. The Labor Board had approved the petition and scheduled an election »to begin on Monday, January 17, and end March 14. Regular membership meet­ ^Opposing the Pacific District is ings in SIU headquarters and Harry Bridges' International Long­ at all branches are held every shoremen's and Warehousemen's second Wednesday night at Union which has attempted to or­ 7 PM. The schedule for the ganize the shipboard steward de­ next few meetings is as follows: partments as a unit of the long­ Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23. shoremen. The court petition by MOREHEAD CITY, NC—The calm finally arrived late Tuesday for 32 em­ All Seafarers registered on the NUMC&S was seen as . a battled Seafarers and nine officers on the storm-battered, 22,000-ton ore carrier the< shipping list are required Bridges - inspired maneuver to to attend the meetings. block the inevitable. Steelore following their dramatic, five-day fight to save their 32-year-old ship and Meeting Night Everg 2 Weeks '•:7m SIU Crewmen Win 5-Day Battle To Save SS Steelore 'D/s/ricfs' Ruled Lost; Ship Safety Code Evaded With CC Okay^ Co Admits themselves from destruction. The lull came as the vessel dropped anchor here after being towed from a point appearance of the LST Southern 300 miles east of Charles­ Districts nearly two months ago ton, SC. She was still tak­ with a crew of 23 men The Dis­ ing; in water through a broken vent pipe that sent a torrent of water rushing into her port side ballast tank and had her riding at a 15 degree list in the midst of a fierce At­ lantic storm. Ship's pumps—supple­ WASHINGTON—^An official Coast Guard statement that the Southern Dis­ mented by extras put aboard ffom tricts is considered lost and her crew of 23 presumed dead has cleared the way for a Coast Guard vessel—worked around the clock to keep the ship payment of SIU death benefits to beneficaries of deceased Seafarers. The SIU Wel­ afloat. fare Plan office is speedily| Thanks to the ingenuity with which her crewmembers hastily processing death claims in­ fashioned a plug to patch the dam­ volving payment of $35,000 age, an SOS disti'ess call sent out about 9 AM last Friday, Jan. 14, to beneficiaries of 14 lost un­ was cancelled by noon. But the licensed seamen. Steelore's troubles were far from Meanwhile, company claims over then. Monday, while under that the lost .ship was sea­ tow.of the tug Curb, and with her worthy were dealt a stunning deck reported to be less than two blow at the wind-up of Coast feet above the waterline, 19 men Guard hearings in New Orleans. were quickly transferred to the Under questioning, E. F. Railsback, tug and the ship was again thought operating manager of the South­ to be going down. ern Steamship Company, admitted Grim Moments existence of an agi'eement be­ The twin scares made for grim tween the operators, the Coast moments for the families of many Guard and the American Bureau of the crew, which originally sailed of Shipping to "get by" with from Baltimore to pick up a load patched plating under the power of Venezuelan ore and was due plant instead of renewing the back in that port fully loaded last plates, as specified in the safety Saturday. directive drawn up after the sink­ News reports last Friday morn­ ing of the Southern Isles. The two ing that an SOS had been received agencies agreed to this early,in from the ship, due to the time lag 1954, Railsback said, because re­ in some areas, made for an agoniz­ placement of worn and damaged ing three hours for the men's plating under the main engine and families and friends ashore until generator rooms would have dis­ Coast Guard hearings into the disappearance of the LST Southern the "cancel" order came through. torted equipment alignment. Such Districts wound up in New Orleans this week. Israel Seeger (left) The first shock over the impend­ distortion would require expensive •f SIU General Counsel Seymour-W. Miller's office questions CG ing disaster immediately brought inspector Alice (2nd left) as members of panel listen. (Continued on page 17) to mind the still unexplained dis­ tricts was carrying a bulk sulphur cargo and vanished somewhere north of Florida enroute to Bucksport, Me., in an earlier storm. SOS On Jan. 14 Trouble on the Steelore was fii*st reported by radio at 2 AM Jan. 14 when she messaged that she was slow ed down in a heavy storm. By 9 AM the torrent rushing into the ship through the leak brought the SOS and help was rushed to the area. The Curb and two Coast Guard cutters left from Norfolk and nearby vessels, including two other company ships, the Cubore and (Continued on page 17) • VTl Fired? Call Hail . Seafarers who have been fired aboard ship for any rea­ son are urged to contact the nearest SIU hall as soon as their ship reaches port. There have been cases where the company orders replace­ ments for the fired men and the replacements are sent out from the hall only to learn that the fired men have been rein­ stated after an SIU patrolman has arrived aboard and investi­ gated the case. This often causes inconvenience or hard­ ship to the men sent as re­ placements. Fired Seafarers are urged to contact the hall so that re­ placements will not be sent before a patrolman arrives. ^ " ••45 .-5:1 �\...; - • Taffc Few -. B';V>!'5rr-- SEAF4RBRS Gets Lowdewn On SlU Cenditions '•' • 'rr:' ^J-"-^'- • r^r- • • • >'•• ;r ^•-.•>-;f;.!ij,<v?»^ LOG SlU-Crewed SS Cuba To Begin Run TAMPA — The SIU ~ hall here is now putting a 115-man crew abroad the new P&O SIU Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Joe Algina (left) describes how 6IU shipping rules work to Captain S. Tsukada, former director for the Mitsui Line in Tokyo, during his visit to 'SIU headquarters to study how American maritime unions operate. The Union's Brooklyn hall was a major stopover on his official tour. • —^ i— Sea Chest 17 Percent Cheaper On Slops An average price saving to Seafarers of 17 percent on ship­ board slopchests compared to prices charged by other ship chandlers was reported by the Seafarer Sea Chest Corpora­ tion for the year 1954. As a-*^ result, the operations of the those ships supplied with SIU slopSea Chest have meant consid­ chests. In addition, the Sea f- If-: W-ry' t-m:: erable cash savings to Seafarers on Chest has continued to supply branded, high-quality merchandise to the ships. Unlike most ship chandlers, the Sea Chest offers full money-back guarantees on its merchandise and refuses to handle any seconds or irregulars. Ship chandlers have long made it a practice to palm off on seamen shoddy goods at high prices. These abuses led to the SIU forming the Sea Chest Corportion for the pro­ tection of seamen. The saving to Seafarers is all Government action against the more striking when it is con­ the Kulukundis shipping in­ sidered that 60 percent of all terests moved in two direc­ slopchest sales consist of tobacco tions at once this week. While products which' are standardized the Justice Department seized two in price. Consequently, the big more SlU-contracted vesisels as savings arfe on work clothes and alien-owned, a Federal judge dis­ other personal gear purchased by missed three indictmenls against the Seafarer during a voyage. Big Sea Chest Savings Manuel E. Kulukundis arising out Examination of a typical slopof earlier ship seizures. The indictments were voided by i T ,Laws. chandler to one SlU-contracted Federal Judge Bolitha J. They involved charges that Kulu­ vessel shows a total price of $1,kundis falsified records of corpora­ 183.87 to the ship. The same sloptions owned by him and his asso­ chest could be supplied by the ciates to make it appear that they Sea Chest corporation for $986.47. were owned by American citizens. When the 10 percent markup is The corporations involved had pur­ added, the gap widens with the chased several tankers from the Sea Chest slopchest retailing at $1,085.11 compared to $1,301.81, a old Maritime Commission. difference of $226.70 on one ship Two More Seized alone. Meanwhile, Justice Department Of course, prices vary from ship representatives seized two SlU-con- to ship and port to port, but the tracted ships, the tanker Tagalam above sample comes close to the In Los Angeles and the freighter average in the industry. ' Shinnecock Bay in Norfolk, both Comparisons of individual items on charges that they were fraudu­ show some startling price differ­ lently purchased from the US Gov­ ences. A khaki chino shirt sup­ ernment. The Shinnecock Bay was plied by the private ship chandler permited to sail after the captain for $3.50 is sold by the Sea Chest and first mate were deputized as for $2.75. The Sea Chest shirt, US marshals for the purpose of incidentally, is superior in qual­ retaining the vessel under seizure. ity. Raincoats sold for $7.75 by All told, the Qovernment has the private^ concern go for $5.95 seized 43 ships in attempts to re­ from the Sea Chest. cover vessels which the Depart­ The record of the SIU Sea ment of Justice claims are con­ Chest's performance and average trolled or owned by alien shipping price savings to Seafarers, along Interests. with evidence of the continuing The dismissal of the Kulukun­ abuses fostered by other ship dis* indictments were ordered on chandlers supplying Americain ves­ the ground that he had testified sels, will he brought into play before a grand jury in connection when • a dealer-inspired anti-trust with the case. By so doing, he ac­ lawsuit against the Union opera­ quired immunity from prosecution. tion comes to triaL ^ Ship Suits Piague SIU 'Alien Go's' Jaaiiary 21. 1055 SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE BY YOUR UNION in recent weeks toward its long-term objective of providing comfort­ able, well-equipped facilities for men on the beach in all ports. Just this past week, the Union-owned Port O' Call corporation was able to start functioning in the new Baltimore Port O* Call. In New Orleans, the outfitting of the new recreation room is just about com­ pleted, while in Mobile work is starting to convert a building next door to our present hall for a variety of Union functions which will allow more space for additional services for Seafarers. The SIU has pioneered in these facilities for the same reasons, that it.has inaugui-atcd so many other services that are unique for Seafarers. The working seaman, who is in any one of a doze^ ports between job.s, needs more than just an office for his union. He heeds a place to ship out of. Most men working shoreside do not have these same needs be­ cause they do not go from job to job, and have, homes in the same cities they work in. When your Union was just getting underway, the best that could be done was to find a room somewhere on the waterfront with a few tables and chairs. It's been a long uphill climb from those days to the modern facilities we now have or are establishing in many of the ports. The job isn't done yet, but your Union intends to keep pressing forwaid until Seafarers everywhere have the kind of shoreside facilities they need. passenger ship, the Cuba, which will run out of Tampa to Havana and Key West. The Cuba, formerly the Denali of the Alaska Steam­ ship Company, ^arrived from the West Coast for payoff on January 18 and goes into the new twice-aweek service on January 24. An SIU crew brought the ship around from Seattle. The 3,365-ton twin-screw turbine vessel will carry 200 passengers in berths out of Tampa plus addi­ tional passengers out of Key West for the 61i hour daytime run into Havana. There are 70 passenger rooms aboard the ship. The present schedule calls for ALL REPORTS ARE NOT YET IN ON THE TROUBLES THAT BEthe Cuba to leave Tampa 4 PM fell the Steelore in last week's Atlantic storm, but from -what has been on Mondays and Thursdays, arriv­ learned at headquarters it appears that the crew gave a very good ac­ ing Key West 8 AM the next mor­ count of themselves. While it seemed for a while that the ship and ning. A bus from Miami will make her cargo would be lost, the officers and crew got to work and success­ Key West connections in the morning with the ship scheduled fully effected temporary repairs under very difficOlt weather dHiditions. to leave Key West 11:30 AM for a As a result the ship was kept afloat and has been towed into port. 6 PM arrival in Havana, 26 hours .Offhand it would be safe to say that among the officers and crew of that ship there are probably many men who would not be able to make in all. the grade according to the testing scheme dreamed up by the Coast Northbound 23 Hours Guard. When the chips were down though, all of th^e men -delivered Northbound sailings will be 23 hours, leaving Havana 11 AM and did the job that had to be done for the safety of the ship. The'basic test of any professional seaman's ability is not a set of Wednesdays and Sundays, stop­ ping at Key West 6 PM and then gimmicks dreamed up by some self-styled shoreside "consultants" who into Tampa at 10 AM the following don't know the difference between a funnel and a hawse pipe:: It's simply his day-to-day performance on the job.' morning. Further, the Steelore incident points up another fact:that the Coast The service is to be integrated with the existing P&O Miami to Guard seems all too ready to overlook. This is a 32-year-old ship. Like Havana run served by the Florida so many old ships now in service under the US flag it may possibly by arranging for passengers have been properly maintained and serviced, but eventually it was to go from Miami to Tampa via bound to show the effects of wear and tear and age when the going got .tough. The need of the merchant marine is not new seamen but Havana and Key West. The Tampa to Havana run has newer, better built and safer US-flag merchant ships. not been serviced since before THE SERIES OF QUALIFYING TESTS FOR THE 1955 SCHOLARWorld War II. Unlike the Florida, the Denali will not carry automo­ ship awards given by the Seafarers Welfare Plan are already under biles. It has a very limited amount way. The Welfare Plan reports that several candidates have already completed all requirements while others are getting ready for the ngxt of space for cargo. Despite the growing popularity set of college, entrance examinations. Intere"kt is nmning pretty high in these four-year $6,000 scholar­ of air flights between the Florida mainland and Havana, the leisurely ships which were, first started by your Union's Welfare Plan two years travel offered by the P&O services, ago. Eight successful candidates are now^ at school under the Plan, with comfortable sleeping accom­ three .of them rank and file Seafarers. Any Seafarers or children of modations added, clicks with many Seafarers who want to take a crack at one of these awards are advised to get their applications in now. vacationers and tourists. Philadelphia Hall Host To Seafarers' Children Group of Seafarers' children wHO Were present at Christmas eve party in Philadelphia are all smiles after receiving Christmas stocking from "Santa ClaUs," William (Little'Buck) Piezczezuk. Fami­ lies of SIU men' got turkeys, fruft cake and other' fixings for use*in Christmas dinner at Dome. �aSps?-W." ' January 21, 1955 i. _ , • _v •*ijv-' • .. ., SEAFARERS LOG SiFedal Aid Response Shows , Weifare Fund Adaptabilty The SIU Welfare Plan this month once again demonstrated its versatility as a self-in­ sured operation which can respond quickly to the needs of Seafarers and their families. Acting on an appeal for specialized aid not provided for by existing benefits under the Plan, Union and shipownerstrustees voted funds for the purchase of a special type of End of the voting in New York in the SIU's biennial election for •fficers is signalled by a final test of the ballot box lock before the box is sealed with tape by members of the polls committee. The trio (I-r) includes Seafarers Edward Puchalski, Tom Bucci and John A. Ziereis. The box will remain sealed in the vault until a rank and file tallying committee is elected January 26. SlU Vote Tops Record; Tally Begins Jan. 27 Voting in the SIU A&G District's election came to an end on January 15, with a record total of 6,419 votes in the ballot boxes. The heavy turnout surpasses that of all previous A&G District elections in the Un--*—— ion's history. lots, used and unused, to the head­ The two-month election be­ quarters tallying committee. 'Die gan on November 15. Seafarers had a choice between 78 candi­ dates, in itself a record figure, to fill the 49 official posts in the Union. Two years ago. Seafarers cast 5,700 votes in the last election. As provided for in the constitu­ tion, counting of the ballots will begin after the election of rank and file tallying committees at the next membership meeting, January 26. The tallying committees will be elected in each port, and will forward their coun^ and the bal­ New York committee will rechcck the count of the outport commit­ tees and then file a report for ap­ proval at membership meetings in all ports on Feb. 9. Voting^in the election was espe­ cially heavy in the early days of the voting period with the ma­ jority of the vote being cast at that time. At stake in the election are the posts of secretary-treasurer, six as­ sistant secetary - treasurers, nine port agents and 33 patrolmen. wheelchair and leg braces for Seafarer Matti Ruusukallio to aid in his recovery from a broken neck and other injuries. Ruusukallio is currently at the US Public Health Service hospital on Staten Island, New York. The unusual situation created by this case, meanwhile, prompted ac­ tion by Union trustees to determine whether the Plan can create a for­ mal benefit of some kind to deal with sipiilar situations. To Study Situation Specialists employed by the Plan will now seek to find out whether aid in unusual cases of ill­ ness or injury, with a view to spe­ cialized treatment or rehabilita­ tion, can be linked to the welfare benefits now prbvided. The rapid-fire action by the SIU Plan is in sharp contrast with what would have happened under a plan run by an insurance company. In the latter instance, it would be necessary to rewrite the entire in­ surance contract and reassign all of the premiucs in order to cover the new benefit, a procedure which would take months. Ruusukallio's problem arose in that "no man's land" in which the USPHS had no facilities to provide the specialized equipment he need­ ed and the Welfare Plan did not cover such situations. The Staten Island hospital doesn't carry the appliance he required and had nothing in its budget with which to buy it. The Welfare Plan, ac­ cordingly, stepped in to plug the gap by voting funds for its pur­ chase. Hospitalized 8 Months A New Jerseyite, the injured Seafarer suffered his mishap dur­ ing a pleasure trip last May 30, a few weeks after he paid off his last ship. He has been hospitalized ever since. Now it is hoped that Ruusukallio will be able to leave the hospital for home later this year, aided by the appliances fui-nished by the Welfare Plan. This latest development in a long series of SlU-sponsored bene- • 5 -J Voted special aid by the SIU Welfare Plan trustees to help in his recovery and rehabilitation from a broken neck. Seafarer Matti Ruusukallio eets the good news from SIU Welfare Services Rep. Tom Gould (center) at the Staten Island USPHS hospital. The Welfare Plan is buying Ruusukallio a special wheelchair and leg braces which the hospital cannot provide. Looking on is Emma Wiest, hospital social service aide. fits and services amply demon­ strates how the flexibility of the SIU Welfare Plan has enabled it to pioneer in the field of Union welfare benefits. Regular benefits now provided by the Seafarers Welfare Plan in­ clude a $15 weekly hospital bene­ fit, $25 weekly disability benefit, $2,500 death benefit' and $200 maternity benefit plus a $25 bond in the baby's name from the Union. The Plan also provides funds an­ nually for four college scholar­ ships worth $6,000 each which are good for four years of study for Seafarers or their children. YOUR SEAFARERS GUIDE TO BETTER BUYING Tips On Portable Power Tools Seafarers, being handy men, are naturally interested in the growing use of power tools for home jobs. But their wives have an interest in these tools, too. In fact, a portable electric drill, with its many uses around the house, actually is at least as useful an accessory for a womaii as a man if she gets acquainted with'the ways it can help her. With various attachments, such a drill can be used for waxing and polishing furniture, wood­ work, counter tops, hardware and leather, personal items which need ^ax like hand^gs and luggage (using a special non-smearing wax); sharpening cutlery and garden tools; scouring pots; sanding; removing rust and old painty mixing paint, and of course, drilling holes—its primary use. You can now buy a good portable electric drill for family use for $20 and less, and the accessories which extend its uses are available at moderate cost. For general household use, a quarter-inch drill is rec­ ommended I'ather than the half-inch size. Because ol its faster revolutions it is npire efficient for waxing, and a wider variety of attachments is available to broaden its usefulness. Also, it is less bulky and lighter thian a halfinch drill, and thus is easier for a woman to handle aswell as her husband. ^ Come In Three "Types Quarter-inch, drills generally come in three capacities: light, standard and heavy duty. For most home needs, a light or standard-duty Willis generally adequate rather than the. costly heavy-duty models. The low-cost lightduty models can do many household jobs. But if the tool will be used often for drilling metal or for heavy jobs like extensive sanding a standard-duty type does supply more power. You can compare the power of vari­ ous models on the market by the manufacturers' ampere ratings. Generally geared-key or hex-key chucks, which you tighten with a key, are preferable to the hand-tightened ones. They cost only a dollar or so more, and are easier to tighten and unloosen. If you already have a handtightened model, and have encountered the occasional trouble they cause in unloosening them, yOu can buy a geared chuck with a threaded adapter to replace the hand-tightened one. Be sure any drill you buy bears the seal of Under­ writers Laboratories, indicating it has been tested for electrical safety, and read the directions carefully, espe­ cially for lubrication. Many ^a portable power tool has been burned out by neglect of lubrication. Don't buy too many attachments all at once. It's wiser to start only with those you know yoti will need and add utliers as you find uses fur them. Most useful attachments for general household use, besides drill bits for drilling, are a lamb's-wool bonnet and cotton buffer for polishing, knife grinder, paint mixer, sanding attachment and hori­ zontal stand. Tips On Buying As with many other goods, you don't have to depend on a famous name or pay the list price to get a satisfactory Put dumber On Meeting Excuses Seafarers sending telegrams or letters to the New York headquarters dispatcher asking to- be excused from attending headquarters ihembership meetings must Include the reg­ istration number of their shipping card in the message. From now on. If the number is not included, the excuse can­ not be accepted by the dis­ patcher. Written exclusively for THE SEAFARERS LOG. by Sidney Margolius, Leading Expert on Buying electric drill for household or hobby use. Many inde­ pendent retailei's now give discounts of 20-25 per cent on the nationally-advertised power tools such as the Skil and Black & Decker brands. Also, both Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward have their own brand power tools at lower cost than the list prices of the national brands. In the larger cities, downtown hardware stores also often offer price concessions on power and other tools. Another good source for tools and power equipment for families, and hobbyists, is the big semi-wholesale electronics sup­ ply house. Allied Radio Corp., 100 N. Western Ave., Chicago. It would hot pay to use Allied for-very small purchases, but for larger purchases, you can get their catalog by writing. Pool Your Orders As with many other purchases, if you can pool your orders with neighbors and friends you can cut your costs sharply. At least several supply houses of which this writer knows will give special prices on group orders for power and other tools. Scott-Mitchell House, Inc.. 611 Broadway, New York, sjpecializes in better-quality tools for hobbyists, with discounts on group orders. Write for price lists. Silvo Hardware Co., 108 Market St., Phila­ delphia, is a semi-wholesale supply house handling wellknown brands of tools. You have to pay $1 for its catalog, which is credited to yo.u when yoU order. Other jobbers or large distributors offering low prices on tools and special discounts on bulk orders, include Anco Tool Sup­ ply, 12957 Hamilton Ave., Detroit; Alexander's, 58 Read* St., New York; Norton Berger, 108 Market St.,. Phila­ delphia. " ' '•^tl �•SB .;•% ' :; Face Six SEAFARERS •ammi LOG Mobile Plans Dorm, Snack Bar :^l3' • • EISENHOWER OFFERS iDONGRESS PROGRAM—In his "State of the Union" address. President Eisenhower asked Congress for legisla­ tion reducing tariffs, increasing minimum wages and wages for Federal employees, including Congressmen, a broad highway program and a new program of assisting local school boards to provide enough edu­ cational facilities. He also requested a Federal health "program that would aid voluntary health plans, as well as an extended draft law, and continuation of the Point 4 program among others. -The foreign trade proposal is likely to come up early in the session and open a battle over tariffs. il^:' • i / ill % 4" i 4 4" t 4" RUSSIANS FREE TWO AMERICANS—Two Americans, one a civ­ ilian, one an AWOL soldier, were freed by Russian forces after years in slave-labor camps. The civilian, John H. Noble of Detroit, had been picked up in Germany in 1945. The soldier. Pvt. William Marchuk of Norristown, Pa., had been AWOL since 1949. Both men complained that they couldn't get used to the soft beds in the US Ariny hospital where they were staying. A third American, AWOL Pvt. William Verdine, will be released shortly. i Work is underway at building (left) adjoining Mobile SIU hall. Added space will be used for Sea Chest retail and wholesale facilities, snack bar, TV room, and dormitory with laundry and shower facilities. ••• t PANAMA PRESIDENT ASSASSINATED^A machine gun gang as­ sassinated President^ Jose Antonio Remon at the Juan Franco race­ track near Panama City. After an investigation aided by New York City detectives, Panamanian police arrested Remon's successor, first vice-president Quizado, and other prominent citizens on the basis of .'^ome confessions. But the motives for the shooting remained unclear. ALAS POOR GINA!—Italy, the home of Gina Lollobrigida and other sultry temptresses who have made motion picture history, has sud­ denly decided to go mid-Victorian. Police have revived an old law of Mussolini's day prohibiting necking in public and are inaugurating a nation-wide campaign against the practice. The campaign started in Turin where movie theaters were raided and 35 bewildered couples hauled off to the clink. Observers agreed that Italy would survive it all. MOBILE—Provision for shoreside living facilities for Seafarers on the beach highlight Improvements being made in a building recently acquired next door to the Mobile branch 4* 4^ ^hall. ' STOCK MARKET BOUNCES AROUND—A wave of heavy buying The building, adjoining the hallway with windows along the that moved stocks up to 1929 levels caused the Federal Reserve Board present hall at the intersec­ rear of the floor will connect with to increase the down payment requirement on .stocks from 50 to 60 tion of Dauphin and Law- recreation facilities and the li- percent. The news upset stock market speculators with the result that 90c Pay Base Fight rence Streets, will be joined phy- brary-to-be in the second floor of nearly $8 billion ip paper stock values was wiped out in a two-day drop. Experts agree though, that stocks are going to stay high, which makes I IHIIL sically with the existing hall by the existing hall. Laundry Too • breaking through the walls on the people who bought in before the elections last November very happy. The third deck dormitory will WASHINGTON— A proposal for street and second deck levels. In HANSEL AND GRETEL FLEE CAPITALISTS—Czechoslovak Com­ an increase in the minimum wage addition to a dormitory, the build­ have sleeping facilities, showers, a law from 75 to 90 cents an hour ing will contain a Sea Chest retail washing machine, drier and elec­ munists have rewritten the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale to illustrate will soon be put before Congress store and warehouse, snack bar, tric irons. All three floors will be the "evils of capitalism." Instead of being caught by a witch, the in­ at the request of President Eisen­ television room and additional air-conditioned. The present hall nocent children drift across the border to the capitalist west while has been air-conditioned for some their parents are busy fulfilling work quotas. There the children be­ hower. The present wage mini­ office space. In turn, the existing time. port agent's office will be convert­ come exploited workers. They flee eastward again where they are mum under Federal law is 75 cents The first floor of the existing rescued, by a Communist border guards from the pursuing capitalists. ed into a library and writing room. an houi\ hall will be unchanged, with the 4. 4. 4. Work Proceeding Rapidly The minimum wage proposal is patrolmen's office, dispatch coun­ NO RELEASE OF US PRISONERS SEEN—A non-commital com­ expected to touch off a sharp fight Remodeling work is already go­ ter and shipping board remaining munique from UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold and China's in Congress with some groups, in­ ing ahead rapidly. The Sea .Chest as is. foreign minister,- Chou En Lai, indicates that no agreement was reached cluding unions, supporting a figure will be located on the ground floor "Plans for work now underway of at least $1 an hour and other ex­ front, with its warehouse to the will provide much needed addi­ on release of H US Air Force men jailed by Red China as spies. Indi­ pected to fight any change in the rear. Also on this floor will be the tional space in the Mobile hall as cations are that the Red Chinese are using the flyers as one of many present minimums. the snack bar and television room well as attractive facilities for the levers to attempt to win admission to the UN. Another lever is in­ If passed into law, the new which will -be ponnected with the greater comfort and convenience creased military pressucfeon offshore islands held by Nationalist Chi­ minimum wages would have con­ shipping hall through a doorway of the membership," Cal Tanner, nese with Red aircraft stepping up raids on Nationalist positions. 4> if siderable effect on such low wage in the existing wall. port agent, said. COSTA RICA CHARGES INVASION—Fighting flared in northern industries as textiles and other The second deck of the building The expansion will also make soft goods trades that have been will have offices for the port possible better service to the mem­ Costa Rica as Government forces came to grips with a small fdrce of "running away" from union con­ agent, the SlU-affiliated Marine bership in the port through pro­ revolutionaries. Before the fighting broke out, Costa Rica accused tracts by establishing low wage Allied Workers, SIU Welfare vision of needed space for Welfare Nicaragua of plotting an. invasion and asked the Organization of Amer­ ican States to act to keep the peace. Costa Rica and Nicaragua have plants in the south and west. Services, and the Sea Chest. A Services and the Sea Chest. long been rivals for Central American leadership. • dCcS Cartoon History Of The SIU StU Wing 4'Year Fi^ht iVo. 81 •: uv-' : •' i'-' - I la ifr^ li i' • lii -fc •' fjjr • i |i«r .: }'. '^-'P Although the membersJiip had authorized a strike In Cities Service, SIU negotiators kept trying for a peaceful end to the contract stalemate. But fruitless sessions continued Into September, 1950. Mean­ while, the Union made ready to lay its case against CS before a special hearing of a Senate Labor sub­ committee in Washingtoib Less than 48 hours before the Senate hearing was to convene, CS capitulated on the terms of an SIU agreement. The pact brought a four-year battle to establish Union wages and conditions in the CS fleet to an end. SIU men in the fleet and Seafarers .everywhere hailed Che end of a long,, bitter and costly organizing battle. At the hearings, SIU witnesses documented a strong case against CS. Later, the Senate group's report de­ clared: "It is almost unbelievable that any uijion ^could continue in existence in the face of this com­ bination of legaLstalling and violent anti-union ac­ tivity, Certainly a smaller, poorgr and less persistent union would have been destroyed..." > �SEAFARERS JuUry 91, 1»» P«*e Sivwr' LOG SIU NEWSLETTER SIU Seeks Improved Mail Service from WASHINGTON Seeking to unravel the kinky roblem of poor mail service for Seafarers aboard ships proposed a solution in a new appeal for cooperation both here and overseas, the SIU from the shipowners. In a letter to all contracted THE OUTLOOG FOB AMERICAN SHIPPING IS MUCH BRIGHTThe Union does not have th* •r than a few monthi ago, both from the atandpoint of tramp and regu­ operators, the Union pin­ ed, however, except in special lar berth operators. For example, the 10,000,000 ton coal program pointed ways in which letters cases. In most instances it is sent facilities for sending thousands of and packages from home can be to a particular hall because a Sea­ pieces of mail to men aboard ship, speeded on their way to the crew- farer is expected to arrive there since it generally has no way of members aboard ship. The action shortly at which time he can pick knowing where a man is at a par­ ticular time. was prompted by numerous recent it up. complaints from Seafarers of diffi­ culties in getting mail, particular­ ly holida.v messages and Christmas packages. Mail, as always, is a strong morale-boostdr for seamen away from home. The SIU request to the ship­ owners for their aid in getting mail to crewmembers was directed principally to some of the small companies who often are~lax in handling this matter properly. Most of the major operators have been cooperating for some time in trying to deal with the problem of mail. Accurate Lists The proposals center around the cooperation of the ship operators in providing accurate lists of their agents for all ports where a ship is scheduled to go at the time of the sign-on. In this way, crewmem­ t 4" ' ONE INTERESTING ANGLE OF THE 50-50 SHIPPING RULE THAT bers can notify,their families and has come to light involves a so-called three-way barter deal—for ex- friends where mail can be sent and cmple, US coal to Denmark, Danish manufactured goods to India, paid be assured some regularity of de­ for by India out of FOA dollar aid. FOA is adopting a policy of let­ livery. Crewmembers are urged to ting US ships participate 50-50 on the cargo from this country to report to SIU patrolmen when Denmark in exchange for a waiver of the 50-50 rule on the move­ addresses are not provided at the time of sign-on. ment from Denmark to India. A key element in this, however, FOA feels that the NSA rates established in 1951-1952 are higher the SIU noted. Is the delivery of than "fair and reasonable rates" for US-flag vessels because (a) John Henry, a cinammon-colored, white-faced ringtail acquired by they were admittedly established at levels substantially above commer­ the mail to the ship when it ar­ Seafarer George E. Annis, DM, in Brazil, thinks nothing of it as he is the' center of attraction in the New Orleans hall. Annis, cial rates in order to avoid Government competition with private in­ rives in port. This hinges on efforts dustry, (b) they included the cost of very substantial break-out re­ being made by the agents abroad shown here catching up on the SEAFARERS LOG, picked up his pet while aboard the Del Viento. pairs as well as normal break-out costs, and (c) they included esti­ to put the mail aboard the vessel on arrival. mated cost of lay-up. , Companies To, Speed .Mali In the case of mail sent directly THE TALK AROUND TOWN IS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE of the House Merchant Marine Committee is not nearly as strong as to the companies' home Offices, It should be. After Representative Jack Shelley, California Democrat, efforts can also be made to see to announced that he would quit the Committee in favor of joining the it that it is forwarded properly House Appropriations Committee, he was besieged by industry to and promptly and will arrive in change his mind. In deciding to join. the. Appropriations group, Shel­ port by the time the ship gets ley is taking the position that he still will be in a position to aid the there.'Mail is frequently allowed WASHINGTON—^President Eisenhower this week sparked merchant marine. Besides, the Appropriations Committee is con- to pile up at the company offices hopes for- a revival of the nation's declining merchant marine sidered, after Rules, to be the tbp unit on the House side of the Capitol.s when the ships are only • low The House Merchant Marine Committee as a whole also is weak this days travel away. The result is and shipbuilding industry. In his budget message to Congress, year—one reason being that the Democrats haye lost seven of their that crewmembers either never he asked for amounts totaling"* ^ former members, either through defeat in the elections or change see it or get it several months late, $241 million for shipping ac­ only $33 million last year. over to other Committees, while the Republicans on the Committee particularly when a ship is out tivities in the fiscal year be­ Shipbuilding and ship conver­ have lost three of their former members. This wiil mean many new on a long voyage. sion take up $102.8 million in the ginning July 1, 1955. Complants about mail service to faces on the Committee, which is so important to^the merchant marine, Continuation of the US Public proposed maritime budget while date have not involved the facili­ new members with little or no knowledge of US-flag shipping. Health Service hospital program operating differential subsidies for ties provided at all SIU halls for a. 4 US ship operators account for an­ THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCE- handling Seafarers' mail address­ was also forecast by a request for other $115 million, $30 million over nearly $34.5 million for these in­ ed in care of the Union. Mail de­ ment soon on the option held by States Marine Corp. to buy sub­ what was asked last year. The sidized Bloomfleld Steamship and' subsidiary Gulf Star Steamship livered to the halls is not forward- stitutions. The hospitals received remainder is taken up by $15.1 mil­ Company. The purchase price being negotiated is $2V^! million. In lion for the expenses of the Mari­ addition to this price, Bloomfleld would collect 50 percent of net time Administration, including profits of Bloomfleld and Gulf Star, after taxes, accruing to either costs of operating the reserve fleets company from date of the agreerirent, June 4, 1954, to the date States and other MA facilities, $6 million Marine exercises its option to buy. Also, Bloomfleld will get 50 per­ more for the repair of reserve fleet cent of additional net profits that would have been realized by Bloomvessels and an. item of $2 million field and Giilf Star from capital gains on the sale of any Liberty-type for the US Merchant Marine Acad­ ships owned by the two companies in the event bona fide offers are emy at Kings Point in New York. received and permission for such sale is refused by States Marine. Hundreds of dollar-wise Seafarers and other readers of the No funds were requested to aid 4 4 4 four state officer training schools ANOTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE US MERCHANT SEAFARERS LOG have swamped the LOG with requests for in Maine, Massachusetts, NY and reprints of 45 selected columns of the popular feature "Your fleet is tfle decision of the Attorney General that the 50-50 ship­ California, as the Government in­ ping rule applies to surplus agricultural goods sold abroad for for­ Dollars Worth" offered in the-^ dicated all emphasis on ship officer booklet. eign currency. This huge program wiil involve expenditure of hun­ last issue of the LOG. training would be concentrated in dreds of millions of dollars, and American-flag ships, under the rul­ As a result of the enthusias­ Pleased by the strong interest In the Kings Point institution. the LOG feature, the Union es­ ing, wiil carry half of it. The surplus agricultural progam will involve tic response, a specially-designed a three-year period, and goods will move out in all directions—Western booklet containing the entire set timates that the heavy tide of re­ 20 New Ships Europe, SOuth America, Middle East and Southeast Asia. of '45 columns,is already on the quests will continue for some time The budget would provide for presses and will be mailed free of with readers responding from all the start of construction on 20 ^ * over the country and throughout TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM OF HELPING TO BRING the mer­ charge to all who write in. The new ships during the year, includ­ the world. chant fleet up to date. Congress will soon consider the White House ing two prototype dry cargo ships The 45 columns from the LOG request for ship construction funds of 103 million dollars for the fis­ Readers who may have missed series cover a wide iange of sub­ and a prototype tanker designed cal year beginning July 1, 1955. These funds, if approved on the Hill, the coupon and offer on the back would continue the trade-in-and-build tanker program begun this year; page of the last issue can obtain jects from the popular LOG ex­ for possible mass production in continue essential research and development work on ship design; fi­ the booklet containhig 45 "Your clusive written by Sidney Margo- an emergency, five additional C-2 nance construction of two cargo ships and one tanker as prototypes Dollar's Worth" columns by lius, the nation's outstanding ex­ or C-3 freighters for sale to pri­ for mass production in any future emergency; start orderly replace­ merely addressing a request to pert on consumer buying. Subjects vate companies, two new passenger ment of cargo ships built during or before World War II; and provide the Editor, SEAFARERS LOG, covered include home financing. In­ ships for American President surance and maintenance, tips on Lines and ten ships under the for the construction or conversion of four passenger-cargo ships. 675 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, buying clothes for the entire fam­ tanker trade-in-and-build program President Eisenhower's budget for the fiscal year 1956, for the first NY. • ily, the costs and care of automo< adopted last year. The latest bud­ time, fails to include any federal money requests for operation of biles, appliances, furniture and get, however, makes it possible the four state marine schools. The feeling on this is that the States other items for the home, hints on for dry cargo ships as well as tank­ original plan was to furnish indi­ of Maine, California, Massachusetts and New York should bear this vidual reprints of the 45 different buying food, drugs and jewelry, ers to be traded in for credit on cost alone, without US Government support. columns, but the very pleasing how to save on insurance and loans the building of new ones. Among response and the requests by in­ and many other subjects. "Your other projects, existing experi­ dividuals for almost the entire Dollar's Worth: Seafarers Guide To ments fvith Liberty ships to con­ iC/u, listing have brought about the Better Buying" has been a regular vert them to higher speeds would be continued and expanded. decision to print the full series as LOG featune since Jply, 1952. announced by the White House last fall is rapidly shaping up. This is a crash program in the light of three factors: (a) The need of foreign countries for coal during the winter 19541955; (b) The strategic desirability of minimizing the purchase of Iron Curtain coal by the free nations; and (c) Pressure from the American coal industry to get the movement started and to have it continue at a substantial pace. The Elsenhower Administration is most anxious to move all of the 10,000,000 tons of coal, or as much as possible, dur­ ing fiscal year 1955, On the basis of 10,000 tons of coal per ship, this movement would Involve 1,000 shiploads. Because of the transfer of American-fiag ships to foreign countries, the Foreign Operations Administration, as of a recent date, indicated that it would be able to handle only about 20 cargoes of coal per month, • even if there'were no demands made upon American tramps for*hauling grain. Therefore, FOA\is expected to use up all American-flag space available at "fair and reasonable rates"; thereafter to declare non-availability for purposes of the 50-50 shipping law and then re­ sort to foreign-flag shipping; finally, under FOA plans, after all for­ eign-flag shipping space available at reasonable rates has been used, then to call upon the US reserve fleet. In the light of the impending shipping shortage which FOA esti­ mates might last for at least six months and probably longer, FOA will try to put as much grain, and to get the Agriculture Department to do the same, on American-flag berth lines, using tramps primarily, if not entirely, for the coal movement. 'Well, ril Be A Ring-Tailed.. . "-k • m m m I SI '•i •:4 $241 Million Asked For Maritime In '55 'Your Dollar's Worth' To Be Issued As Book • r' 4-s : ^ '•rv ^ .. ••'I 1 .a �; •- 1. \t: I w hv F f I v: j;: & S'. • 'iV'- - SEAFARERS Tage Elffht Due to be launched early this summer, a new Empress of Britain Will replace her namesake lost during World War II, and is expected to make her maiden voyage a little over a year from now. Now under construction at Glasgow, Scotland, for the Canadian Pacific Steamship Co the 22 500-vessel will be placed on the Montreal-Liverpool run She will have accommodations for 1,050 passengers... Two tank­ ers owned by Oljmipic Lines of Panama collided in the Bay of Suez Question: What's your feeling about this month, one of them catching fire in an explosion caused by the gambling aboard ship? Impact. The 17,722-ton Olympic Thunder and the 21,200-ton Olympic • Honor were involved in the mishap, during which the Thunder caught Bill Nuckols, AB: As long as a fire. Only slight damage was suffered by the ships. guy has money to spend, it's okay to toss a little of it away now and Figures reported by the Maritime Association of the Port otJiew then on a game York showed that New York handled almost one-fourth of the 102,113 of cards. It's just shins that entered and left the country's major ports last year. New bad when guys York worked nearly twice as much as the nation's second most active start losing the port, Philadelphia. US ships accounted for slightly more than half payoff before ®f New York's outbound traffic.. Flota Mercante Grancolombiana, the they get it; that's Joint shipping venture owned by Colombia and Ecuador, has an­ when you start nounced plans for expansion of its services between US ports and having trouble. I Latin America which will actually double some of its services. The like pinochle concern, which now owns 20 ships and has 10 others under charter, is mostly. It's a good way to pass the due to add 4 new ships to its fleet this year. time aboard ship. $. 4. Si ^ ^ Membership of the Federal Maritime Board was completed early Mike SpaUuto, MM: A little so­ this month when Ben H. Guill, former naval officer, former member of Congress from Texas and former executive assistant to the Post­ ciable game on the ship is alright master General, was sworn in as third member of the board. Earlier, every once in a G. Joseph Minetti of New York joined the only remaining member, while. We Louis S. Rothschild, board chairman and the Maritime Administrator, haven't got too on the panel.. .Twelve out of 14 crewmembers were lost when the much to do be­ Grimsby trawler Evelyn Rose of 327 tons sank near Oban on the tween ports and western coast of Scotland. The vessel struck a reef and sank while an as long as a man isn't playing attempt was being made to launch the lifeboat. away his last dol­ 4i 4 ^ The 19,105-ton liner Gripsholm, ex-flagship of the Swedish Ameri­ lar it's a good can line and a repatriation ship for refugees in World War II, has way to spend the been officially rechristened the Berlin. The 29-year-old liner is on in­ time. I don't like definite charter to the North German Lloyd Line.. Operation of the to make it a habit, but I go for a 18,000-ton liner La Guardia in passenger service between the US West little pinofchle now and then. Coast and Honolulu moved another step closer to reality following 4 4 4 Henry Watson, cook: When ybu the decision of a Maritime Administration examiner to allow the Hawaiian Steamship Co. to charter the ship from the Government. have a good crew and everybody gets along okay, She is idled right now in the James River (Va.) reserve fleet. there's nothing 4 t i wixmg with play­ Two shipyards in Kobe, Japan, launched new vessels last week, one ing a little cards of them a 38,750-ton supertanker for a Panamanian company. The on the ship. giant petroleum carrier is the Chrysanthy I, owned by the United Everybody has a Shippers Co. of Panama. Less than a third her size is the new 11,300good time and ton Philippines Maru, built for a Japanese company.. .Members of a the money keeps volunteer lifeboat crew on the Furness liner Queen of Bermuda who going back and performed an heroic rescue of ten Newfoundland fishermen this month forth so that no­ were honored at special ceremonies in New York after the liner arbody really loses vived back in port. The men took men off the floundering fishing out. I don't play as much as I boat Student Prince II about 200 miles NE of Bermuda. used to in the old days though. . 4 4 4 4 4 4 This country's two largest liners were filled to more than 90 per­ Francis E. Miiler, wiper: It's a cent of their passenger capacity on their trans-Atlantic voyages last year, according to the United States Lines. The company disclosed good pastime on a ship when you that the liners United States and America carried 94,456 passengers have nothing between New York and Northern Europe during 1954. The United else to do. Every­ States, largest and fastest ship in the US merchant fleet, accounted for body likes to 67,577 passengers out of the total.. The Military Sea Transportation gamble a little Service chartered 14 privately-owned and operated US-flag ships dur­ when there's a ing December, bringing the total of the Government shipping agency's small game going on. As long as chartered vessels to 36 at the end of last month. the stakes stay low and nobody ijllt!|ii.i ...J can win or lose too much, I like to play whenever I get a chance. , DOWN ACROSS 1. Vehicle Victory 1. (Victory Car­ 2. Lake cargo riers) 3. Crewmember 4. Balto has a new 4. Came to a stop one 5. Pie mode 8. What we sail in 6. Whole bunch 12. Governor of 7. Bloodsucker Kansa.s 8. Marksman 13. Kind of lily 9. Small mountain 14. Animal's skin 10. Thought 15. Control, as il. A fruit sliip's speed 16. Three famed 17. Olive £enus initiala 18. Follower of 19. The SlU helps 1 2 him 21. Stack 24. Bingle 12 25. Grow old 26. Worked with 15 shovel 28. Flat tablelands 32. Valley 34. Girl 36. City in Nevada 37. Country N of Lebanon 39. Ceylon export 41. Politician; Slang 42. US intelligence outfit 44. Palmyra is one 46. Ceylon seaport 50. Weight of India 51. Captain in Moby Dick 52. Judge 56. Actress Hayworth 57. An exclamation 58. Product of Trinidad 59. Man of action 60. Port on Kyushu 61. Compass bearing 20. 21. 22. 23. 27. 2?^3. So­ SB. That man 40. Birthplace of Wearies St. Francis Unsightly 43. Beside the ship Square sail 45. Man's nick­ Channel name Apart 46. St. Louis Soon ballplayer Exchanged for 47. Large river money 48. Not on time Island group 40. Baltic stop NW of Sumatra 53. Mahal, Hawaiian of India wreath 54. Cure leather Point a gun 55. Before (Punle Answer on Page 17) 4 4 4 January 21. 195S LOG Jerome Pine, MM: I'm for it; whoever wants to play a game of cards should be able to. Of course, I'm not in favor of gam­ bling when it means a man is going to throw away all h 1 s dough and be broke all the time. Then it means hard feelings and resent­ ment among the crew and makes a lot of trouble all around. MEET THE SEAFARER ALLEN J. FRIEND, MM. Looking over the headquarters at going to sea. He caught an shipping board for a European run Army Transport Service ship In December, 1946, and made two this past week was Seafarer Allen trips with it. Then, looking for J. Friend of Brooklyn. Bom and greener pastures, he switched over raised in the borough. Friend to the SlU in March, 1947. He'a started going to sea late in 1946 been sailing with the Union ever because as he put it, "I got itchy since. In 1948, Friend got a lengthy feet and wanted to see different taste of picketline action when the places and the way other people now-famous Wall Street strike lived." The novelty of viewing the broke out. Stock Exchange em­ other half of the world has long ployees struck for a contract and since worn off but Friend is con­ with the help of Seafarers kept vinced he made a wise choice of mass picket lines going for several weeks. Friend himself spent three vocation, if only by accident. weeks on the line in what he re­ As the father of two chUdren, calls as one of the -wettest spring ages two and four, and the owner seasons New York experienced in of his own one-family home in many a year. Brooklyn, the 31-year-old Seafarer Subsequently, Friend ^became a sees going to sea as the only sure c^ewmember of the Bull Line way he can meet all the financial cruise ship Puerto Rico on which obligations involved. he spent two happy years. The "Next to my family and home," cruise run was a popular one, he he said, "my SIU membership is recalls, with men home in New my most important possession be­ York a couple of days every two cause it means bread and butter weeks. The attraction of running for all of us." to a semi-tropical land, particu­ Enlisted In Army larly in the wintertime, was an­ Going to sea was not exactly other strong point of the run. It what Friend had in mind at the was a sad day when the company beginning. He had gone to school finally laid up the ship and later at the Food Trades Vocational sold her for foreign-flag operation. High School in New York City, "I'm stiU grieving for the old but war clouds were looming in Puerto Rico," he sighed. Europe, and here in the US, Uncle Close To Home Sam had put the Selective Service Since he's a family man. Friend system into motion. On his 18th likes to stick to those nearby for­ birthday, February 26, 1941, Friend eign and European runs which enlisted in the US Army for what mean no more than a month away turned out to be a 4V4-year hitch, from home at most. He did take considerably more than he bar­ one Far East run in the last year, gained for at the time. He was which had its quota of harrowing still in high school but managed moments. He was aboard the to get leave to graduate in uniform Greece Victory carrying a cargo that June. of ammunition when the ship's Friend was mustered out of propeller fouled on a buoy chain service on November 11, 1945, re­ in Kurihama, Japan. "The wind turning to the States with the 66th startecU acting up and it looked Dmsion after three years in Eu­ like the vessel was in for real rope. For the next 12 months he trouble. Tugs were called to help kicked around with the "readjust­ and fortunately, the ship was able ment blues." He had wanted to go to get off the next morning and to veterinary school but circum­ proceed for repairs. stances didn't work out in that di­ Friend's last ship was the Manrection. # kato Victory, recently back from Sailed ATS Europe. He intends to keep on After a considerable spell with sailing for the indefinite future, be­ the old "52-20" club. Friend de­ cause he finds its the best way he cided that he would take a crack knows of paying the bills. Efforts afoot to merge the Inter­ national Fur arid Leather Workers Union with the Amalgamated Meat Cutters (AFL) will be subject to approval by the next meeting of the AFL Executive Council. The Fur and Leather Workers is one of the unions which had been ex­ pelled from the CIO as Commu­ nist-dominated, ancl AFL officials indicated the union would have to show proof of an Internal clean­ up. Two leaders of the union; Ben Gold and Irving Potash, have both been prosecuted under the Smith Act. 4 4 4 Produce strikers In New York went back to work after a week's Arthur Mandick, wiper: There's tie-up with a $9.50 p'ackage in a nothing wrong with it as long as two-year agreement. The package you're not provides an Immediate increase of a fanatic about $6 in wages, plus improvements in it. There's quite fringe issues. Produce handlers a lot of gambling are members of Local 202, Inter­ in small games national Brotherhood of Teamsters. on the ships be­ 4 4 4 cause the guys The United Mine Workers Union haven't got much is planning to encourage the set­ ting up of local union health cen­ else to do. A ters in remote mining communities small-stake game so as to make more efficient use helps pass the time and makes things interesting of its Welfare fund. The Union is hopeful that 'the local centers while you're at it. 4 4 4, V'-f would help reduce the burden of hospital bills on the fund. Fund in­ come has been cut sharply by the decline in coal production. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4. A telecast of negotiation sessions between AFL Paper Make^S and the Rogers Corporation of Rogers, Connecticut; is planned for next month. The telecast will be sent out over a closed circuit, and wit­ nessed by industrial relations spe­ cialists attending a conference of the American Management Asso­ ciation in Chicago. A 35-hour week has been negoti­ ated for 3,000 sportswear em­ ployees, members of AFL Ladies Garments Workers Local 226 in Los Angeles. The new agreement represented a 2i/i-hour work week reduction and means that 35 hours is now standard for nearly all ILGWU members in Southern California. Construction of US bases in Newfoundland has led to the chartering of a local of the AFL Common Laborers Union. The workers Involved are building a Naval Base at Fort McAndrew, Ai;gentia, Newfoundland. �January 21, 1955 SEAFARERS Pare Nina LOG In Time Of Need!' SEAFARERS^LOG JoBBory 21, 1955 Vol. XVII. No. 2 Published biweekly by the Seafarers International Union, Atlantic & Gulf District, AFL, 675 Fourth Avenue. Brooklyn 32. NY. Tel. HYacinth 9-6600. Cable Address: SEAFARERS NEW YORK. PAUL HALL, Secretary-Treasurer Editor, HERBERT BRAND; Managing Editor, RAV DENISON; Art Editor, BERNARD SEAMAN; Photo Editor, DANIEL NI'LVA: Staff Writers, HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN SJPIVACK At MASKIN; Gull Area Reporter, Bm. MOODT, LETTER of the m /.i I 'M\ mmhr' :iffl pfp. -if WEEK ' '41 [ Ilisaster Insurance The Southern Districts disaster, involving the loss of 23 ; Wi^ht On lives, 14 of them imlicensed men, sharply points up the tre­ Shipping Threats mendous importance of the Seafarers Welfare Plan. Many of the families of the victims are in serious financial plight To the Editor: I am writing this letter and I after the shattering blow of losing the breadwinner. It's true sincerely hope you .will publish it they are entitled to file for damages, but lawsuits have a way in an early of the SEA­ of dragging out over months and years. Meanwhile the Wel­ FARERS LOGedition because it concerns fare Plan is giving them immediate assistance in the form a matter which I believe is of vital of a total of $35,000 in death benefits, just when such assis­ concern to every SIU member. tance is badly needed. Any expressions of opinion or As a matter of fact, it was at the urging of the Union that any suggestions which other broth­ the Coast Guard issued an official statement that the crew ers might care to make will be was presumed lost, paving the way for payments of benefits. warmly welcomed by this writer. Recently, the American Mer­ Normally such a statement would not come until the conclu­ chant Marine Institute issued sion of Coast Guard hearings and fidng of a report. startling but true figures showing The death benefit is one of several SlU-sponsored benefits that this great nation of ours is repeating a costly which offer speedy financial assistance at critical moments. eiTor which hurt In the centerfold of this issue are the photos of the many our economy .and Seafarers who can no longer work but who are well taken impaired our na­ care of through the SIU disability benefit. Each issue of the tional defense in SEAFARERS LOG carries reports of other benefits such as the past. This maternity and hospital payments, all of which run into hun­ error is the ne­ dreds of thousands of dollars every year. glect of the American mer­ It was just a few years ago that the Seafarer and his family chant marine. had little or no relief from misfortune or disaster. A small Latest to be bitten by the ship­ These figures burial benefit existed that was just enough to pay for a burial. Rushton board television bug is the Alcoa show that the Men in hospitals got $3 each week to keep them in cigarettes. transfer of American ships to Roamer crew. At the last ship­ All that has been changed thanks to negotiation of a sound foreign registry has reduced our board meeting crewmembers elect­ and far-reaching Welfare Plan, total tonnage to 15 million tons, ed a committee of three consisting The Welfare Plan is one of many aspects of Union activity leaving our merchant fleet at the of R. W. Miller, C. J. Beck and Blanco (first name not given) to over the years that has radically changed the way of life of lowest point in 30 months. Also, despite the declared policy look over the pros and cons of the a seaman. It offers assurance that the Seafarer and his family and come back with a re­ is protected against unforseen disaster such as befell the of transporting 50 percent of for­ question port. eign aid cargoes in American bot­ Southern Districts. Primarily the committee will be toms, only 29 percent of all Amer­ I liispection C|uestioiis Speaking of the Southern Districts, the Coast Guard has concluded hearings into the reasons for the mysterious disap• pearance of the ship. While final conclusions will not be drawn until all the evidence is in, some sharp contradictions emerge from the testimony already given. The several in­ spectors who looked over various parts of the ship at various times are in considerable disagreement with each other as to her condition and in disagreement with Seafarers who sailed the ship, before and during her final voyage. Even more startling is the information given in last minute testimony by the company's operating manager. He revealed that both the Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping had gone easy on basic safety requirements because they would have been a heavy expense to the company. In other words, the safety of the ship and crew took second place to the company's financial well-being. Three Seafarers who testified to patching holes below the waterline with bolts and wooden plugs were followed to the stand by inspectors who said they saw no such items. Then along came two other inspectors who said they saw fish bolts and wooden plugs in the hull. One Coast Guard inspector said his "inspection" of the engine room consisted of asking the chief engineer and the skipper how things were below. The chief told him they were shipshape, but one Seafarer witness told of a variety of temporary and makeshift repairs below and had his testimony confirmed by a letter written by. one of the Seafarer victims just before the ship's final voyage. Certainly there are plenty of inspectors going aboard ships. In the Southern Districts case there was an insurance com­ pany man. Coast Guard inspector, FCC expert, company inspector and an independent surveyor all taking look-sees 3t the ship. Perhaps all this overlapping and division of au­ thority defeats its purpose with some inspectors tending to let the "other guy" worry about it. In any case either the inspectors did not see the defects or were reluctant to take action that would have delayed the sailing of the ship. It boils down once again to a conflict of company profits versus human safety. For when the South­ ern Districts was last seen by a tanker December 5, she was headed at top speed into the heart of a storm which the tanker sought to avoid. In this case the attempt to make a schedule tick apparently contributed to the loss of the ship and crew. ' Vote Thanks Union book ever since. He is 34 years old and lives ashore in Phila­ delphia. !Sf if % Another baker who has been turning out top quality products is Chris Markris of the Alcoa Pega­ sus. Ship's minutes reported from the Alcoa vessel make a point of praising him for fine baking and his cooperation with hands on the ican exports and imports are car­ trying to find out whether a set ship. can be installed aboard ship in ried by American sliips. if if if such a manner as to give some de­ Other SIU steward departments Seafarers Must Act cent reception on the coastwise What can be done to stop this runs. The committee might do that received the four-star rating recently include the gang on the ridiculous situation, and what pai't we can play in encouraging a well to check the experiences of j Antirioiis (Waterman) and the Del some of the other coastwise ships Cainpo (Mississippi). The Antinous' strong and healthy merchant ma­ on this score. crew gave thanks for a "wonder­ rine is the immediate problem of Reactions Differ ful Christmas dinner" and added every man in this Union. This Some of the ships appear to be "meals in general are excellent." situation concerns our bread and well-satisfied but on other vessels Del Campo's department got "spe­ butter, and the sooner we get busy the reception has been a cause of cial thanks for wonderful tasty on it the better it will be for us. much aggravation. food" and the steward himself Our Union, as we Seafarers prai.sed the men in the galley gang Then, of course, there's the know, has played a leading role in the fight to keep our merchant problem of what kind of set to buy. for the fine cooperation they have marine strong against interests And while they are at it, shall it been giving him. 4" 3« J) which would let it be sold out for be color TV or old-fashioned black the sake of sliowing an immediate and white? It looks as if commit­ Seafarers at the last headquar­ tee-members have their work cut ters membersliip meeting elected profit of a few more dollars. a quarterly finan­ But, in addition to what our out for them. cial committee, Union as a whole is doing, what if % The vote of as x-equired by can we individual Seafarers do? dhanks to the the Union con­ For one thing, we can keep our feedbag depart­ stitution, to give pens busy, and keep writing our ment is standard the Union's finan­ Senators and Representatives in procedure where cial status its Washington. If we keep that the crew is well regular, thorough stream of mail flowing, perhaps we fed and content­ examination. The can encourage Congress to enact ed, but some of members, legislation that will really protect, the praise of­ E. Starns and W. preserve and strengthen our mer­ Stambul fered recently is McDonald for chant marine. on the lyrical the deck department; C. Stambul Hatgimisios Alert Public To Dangers side. Take the and W. La Chance, engine depart­ Moreover, each of us Seafarers can appoint himself a "committee Steel Flyer as an example. Baker ment; and W. Rcidy and R. Ewiiig of one" to see to it that the general Kosta Hatgimisios received quite a for the steward department, spent public is alerted to the dangers few accolades for what the crew several days going over Union which beset our merchant marine. called a "wonderful job of bak­ recoi'ds of all kinds in conjunction We should talk this matter up ing." They reported he made svilh Certified Public Accountants, among our families, friends and "pastries and pizza pie for coffee- taking inventory of Union property acquaintances as much as possible, time, as good or better than any and other steps required for the and see that they are made aware ever found ashore." We've heard i-eport. This of coiu'se, is a complete I'eof the disastrous policy this coun­ of bakers putting out a piece of cake or some doughnuts with cof­ porl on all the Union's finances, try is now pursuing. It is up to us who make our fee, but it's the first time that serv­ and should not be confused with livings by going to sea to keep the ing pizza pie at coffeetime has the weekly port audits which take wheels of this campaign rolling, been reported. No wonder the account of port income and outgo only each week. and to make every American boys are satisfied. 'The quarterly report will be Hatgimisios has been whipping realize that a sti'ong American merchant fleet is a valuable eco­ up batter for quite a few years presented at membership meetings nomic asset in peace as well as a now. He joined the SIU in Provi­ in all ports January 26 for ap­ dence, Rhode Island, on February propriate action by the member­ necessity In war. 10, 1939, and has been packing a ship. Edwin T. Rushton �Page Ten •.(: SEAFARERS January 21, 1955 LOG '£• ~ Benjamin Bailey, 74 Lives in Brooklyn, NY John E. Bellard, 67 Lives in Newjport, NY Clarence B. Brunda^^e, 71 Lives in Tampa, Fla. Joseph Germane, 70 Lives in Brookiyn, NY Sidney W. Ghale, 62 Lives in Charleston, SC Nick Giosue, 59 Lives in NY, NY Younggters and oldsters alike, all Seafarers who receive disability benefits under the SIU Welfare Plan, have the security of knowing that the $25 weekly payments to them will continue for as long as they may need them, whether months or years. Many of them have worked as seamen their entire lives, some for as many as 50 years. Others are rela­ tive newcomers to sailing, Wt the sea knows no bounds of age, race or religion and takes its toll of all men. The SIU disability benefit was established for this reason. Its purpose was to provide a cushion of se­ curity for Seafarers who were unable for some reason of disability to continue in their profession and earn a livelihood for themselves and their families. First launched in 1952, the disability benefit orig­ inally provided weekly payments of $15 to each qual­ ified seaman, regardless of age. Ten Seafarers qual­ ified at that time, with eligibility based on proof of seven years' se£ participating ir A few mont] October, 1952, weekly. Six mo: to its level of $! ent. This is mo ships in the 19c Moreover, ne and qualifying ond anniversar; ting the weekly those who had under protectio Today, 43 on $25 weekly ben ing made at the to the total of n^ fit originally b( None of the \k il- William A. Kemmerer, 79 Lives in Pennsgrove, NJ William E. Lake, 6g Lives in Boston, Mass. Matthew Little, 92 Lives in Staten Is., NY Bernard Y.. Boll, 77 Lives in Seattle, Wash. Charles Schrunk, 68 Lives in Jacksonville, Fla. Ifr &• Pr. g. William Bochell, 69 Lives in New Orleans, La. �SEAFARERS Januarj^ 21, 1955 LOG Benito Candamlo, 66 Lives in Miami, Fla. Alexander Dudde, 67 Lives in Brooklyn, NY Ernst E. Ekiund, 66 Lives in Brooklyn, NY Leonard F. Ellis, 68 Lives irt Houma, La. William Girardeau, 74 Lives in N. Harwich, Mass. Samuel L. Gordon, 70 Lives in Brooklyn, NY William J. Gray, 52 Lives in Mobile, Ala. .Ernest E. Gross, 65 Lives in New Orleans, La. ime on ships operated by companies the SIU Welfare Plan. 3 after the benefit first began, in payments were increased to $20 ths after that, the benefit rate rose 5 weekly, where it remains at prese than they received for working on )'s. / men are constantly applying for or the disability benefit. On its seclast May 1, 27 Seafarers were getlenefit. This figure does not include een getting benefits and died while of the Plan. e-active Seafarers are receiving the fit. Accordingly, payments are be­ rate of $1,075 per week, in addition arly $75,000 paid out since the bene?an. nen recdving it, especially the old- timers, could have visualized years ago the blessing of security they are enjoying today through the facil­ ities of their Union's Welfare Plan. The state of maritime unions was such in those days that only a few "dreamers"-—men who "walked with their heads in the clouds"—could foresee even a small portion of what is reality today. Disability benefits from a seamen's welfare plan for which the seaman pays none of the cost were the pipedreams of long ago. And while much remains to be done in this area, and will be done in time. Seafarers who become disabled and are no longer able to work will always be assured a comfortable cushion for their future years. The SIU disability benefit eliminates the need for seeking help in the form of charity handouts. Men who have given their lives and health to an industry are assured its grateful thanks in the form of guar­ anteed aid from the Seafarers Welfare Plan. The SIU takes care of its own ... Eugene Milanesi, 26 Lives in Brooklyn, NY Francisco Molina, 66 Lives in Santurce, PR Grand W. Nutting, 75 Lives in Baltimore, Md. Joseph Piiutis, 40 Lives in Brooklyn, NY Earl F. Spear, 56 Lives in Portland, Me. August Steinmann, 71 Lives in Maspeth, LI. NY Thor Thorsen, 65 Lives in Brooklyn, NY George B. Thurmer, 42 Oliver Springs, Tenn. Benjamin Trottie, 66 Lives in Brooklyn, NY �SEAFARERS Pa*e Twelve # January 21, 1955 LOG PORT REPORTS sold by Waterman to the Maritime Savannah: ping), Ann Marie (Bull), Iberville Mobile: Overseas Corporation, will be in (Waterman), Michael (Carras) and service for her new owners by the Steel Worker and Steel Flyer first of next week. (Isthmian). Sailed On Ann Marie For our Seafarer of the Week For our SIU man of the week we nominate Brotber T. C. Deale Shipping in the port of Savan­ At this writing—^three days be­ who ships in various engine room Things have been going along we have selected Joe Lapham. Joe, very nicely here in Lake Charles who was the SIU agent in Provi­ fore the close of the voting to ratings and has sailed steadily out nah was fair during the last two and during the past two weeks we dence in 1947, is an AB and has elect the Union's officials for the of Gulf ports since 1944. Brother weeks and it looks as if it will stay shipped more men than we regis­ been sailing steadily since he took next two years—there are good in­ Deale, who makes his home in Just about that way during the tered. We only hope it keeps tip his book out of retirement. His dications that the balloting in the Birmingham, Ala., is married and coming two weeks. During the last two weeks we Mobile branch will go over the 600 has one son. He believes the ma­ that way. However, we have last ship was the Ann Marie. paid off the Ines and Arlyn (Bull). Other oldtimers now on the ternity benefit is tops among the mark, thus setting a new record enough men here to fill any ex­ These two ships signed on again Welfare Plan's many benefits. pected jobs, unless something very beach are E. Eklund, O. Headley, for tills port. This indicates a very healthy in­ unusual happens, so we don' W. Prince and C. Karas. In the A few of the oldtimers now on and in transit were the Steel advise any of the brothers to dash Brighton Marine Hospital are F. terest by the members in the se­ the beach are C. Merrill, H. New­ Worker and Steel Age (Isthmian), down here expecting to get out in Alasavich, G. Weddell, J. Fawcett lection of their 1955-56 officers, berry, Eddie Yates, H. Hurlstine, Southstar (South Atlantic) and and A. Hancock. and as long as the members con­ M. Nolan, D. Bissett, T. Dailey, C. Seatrains Georgia and Louisiana a day or so. Brother Allan G. Brown died tinue to display this interest it as­ Steers, J. P. Cox, W. Wilson, W. (Seatrain). Calling in here during the past For our typical SIU man of the two weeks, and taking on men January 10 aboard the Blounfon- sures the election of officers consis­ Hinton and J. Knowles. week we have selected Steward lein of the Holland-America Line, tent with the wishes of the SIU were the Seatiger There are no brothers that we Ivey M. Peacock. homeward bound from Africa. membership. (Colonial) and know of in either of the two local This well-known Brother Brown was on the Robin At this writing the exact date hospitals. Council Grove, " b e 1.1 y r o bTrent when he became ill. He was for the completion: of our com­ Bents Fort, Gov­ Gal Tanner b e r " with the transferred to a hospital in Africa bined recreation room and Sea ernment Camp, Mobile Port Agent South Atlantic and then to the Blounfonlein. His Chest building is still indefinite, Chiwawa, Winter 4« 4" 4) line is known to father has asked the Union to take However, the Hill, Logans many of the care of all the details about bring­ building is tak­ Fort, Cantigny, Philadelphia: ing his son's body back for burial. ing shape rapid­ members for his Bradford Island formula for a James Sheehan ly and we will and Archers Tom Collins. Pea­ Boston Port Agent know within the Hope (Cities Silcox cock admires the 4) 4< Peacock next two weeks Service). progress the just when we Over in Port Arthur, Tex., we Vilmingfon: Shipping has been moving along Union has made over the years will be able to had the Queenston Heights (Seaand is especially proud of the wel­ move in and get trade) and in Orange, Tex., we had on an even keel in this port. fare benefits it has obtained for things set up. the Val Chem (Valentine Tankers). During the past two weeks we its members. "These benefits are This is the first For our Seafarer of the Week Deale paid off the Republic (Trafalgar), really a blessing," he says. time a retail Sea we name Brother Robert M. Among the oldtimers now on the Calmar and Seamar (Calmar), Chest outlet has been combined Thompson, an SIU old timer who Shipping in this port has been generally sails in the engine de­ very good since the first of the with recreational facilities and we Gateway City (Waterman) and beach are H. E. Rountree, W; T. partment as oiler, although he is New Year and of course we are believe the members will get a lot Winter Hill (Cities Service). These Matthews, Walter Stoil, Mike of good out of the combination. now waiting for a firing job. hoping it will keep up that way. five ships signed on again and in Kavanaugh and John Sikes. In Shipping in this port was a trifle Brother Thompson can always be transit were the Edith (Bull); An- the marine hospital are Tommy Although we had no payoffs dur­ depended upon to pitch in wher­ ing this period, we did have 16 slow during the past two weeks tinous, Yaka, Raphael Semmcs and Moore, Rufus Fields, Jimmie ever th3 Union is concerned, and ships in transit. On these we were with 78 men shipped to regular Iberville (Waterman); Robin Good- (Georgia Boy) Littleton, Albert he is particularly always ready to able to put 39 men—and that jobs and 137 men sent to relief fellow and Robin Doncaster (Seas Lima, Frank Nelson, Angelo Mar­ help out the newer members. jobs in and around the barbor. Shipping), and Steel Architect, tins and John Morris. means a lot for this port. £. B. McAuIey At our last meeting. Brother As for the future, the outlook is During this period we had seven Steel Age and Steel Seafarer Hq. Representative J. E. Mitchell of the engine depart- pretty good, as we are hoping that payoffs, three sign-ons and three (Isthmian). 4) 4« 4> • ment was chairman and Brother ships in transit. A. S. Cardullo some of the Houston: C M. Silcox of the deck depart­ Payoffs In Good Shape Philadelphia Port Agent tankers that are ment was recording secretary. The payoffs, which were all in now in the Far 4) 4> 4) Beth men did a fine job. East will be com­ good shape, were the Alcoa Pa­ On the local labor front all is ing in soon for triot, Alcoa Clipper, Alcoa Corsair Norfolk: quiet. There are no beefs outstand­ payoff, and then and Alcoa Pennant (Alcoa), Ocean ing and all the local unions report we i)rill still have Lotte (Ocean Transportation) and Shipping continues to be veiy their members all at work. Monarch of the Seas and Clai­ the in-transits. good in this port and during the Leroy Clarke At this time, borne (Waterman). past two weeks we shipped more Lake Charles Port Agent The Ocean Lotte, Alcoa Patriot we are happy to There has been a slight improve­ men than we registered. say, we do not and Alcoa Pennant signed on 4. t Penner have anyone in again and in transit were the Del ment in US-flag ship activities in In our last port report .we did Boston: the hospital here—a fact which we Santos (Mississippi) and Claiborne this port during the past two not predict such good shipping, weeks and we are looking for this but the Seagai'den (Peninsular chalk up largely to our fair Cali­ and Chickasaw (Waterman). fornia weather. Navigation) came in here unex­ Prospects for the coming two improvement to continue. Among the oldtimers on the weeks look pretty fair, with the During the past two weeks we pectedly and took on almost a full beach now are John J. Flanagan, following ships due to hit the port paid off the National Freedom crew for a grain run to the Medi­ Right now certain interests are Joe Penner, C. C. Brown, W. K. either for payoff or in transit: De- (American Waterways), Seacoral terranean. Bloomfield, which now has the attempting to have a so-called Yerke, R. L. Lambert and A. Soto, Monarch of the Seas, City of (Coral) and Southern States Alma, Afoundria, Beauregard, (Southern). In transit were the Alice Brown in the shipyard, telld "right-to-work" bill passed here in Bokan. Brother Penner just hit town a Iberville and Claiborne (Water­ Raphael Semmes (Waterman), us that they expect to get a char­ Massachusetts and of course we are requesting all of the brothers few days ago and said he is real man) and Alcoa Partner, Alcoa Bi-adford Island and Cantigny ter for this vessel and will prob.abto write their local representatives glad to be back in sunny California Pilgrim, Alcoa Patriot, Alcoa Cav­ (Cities Service), Alcoa Runner (Al­ ly call for a full crew in the next coa), Shinnecock Bay (Veritas) and few days. This, plus the fact that and ask them to vote against this after being laid up awhile in Bluff alier and Alcoa Clipper (Alcoa). Due For New Service we have two payoffs scheduled, Oceanstar (Dolphin). bill, which is really a union-bust­ Hospital, Yokohama. El-nest Tilley should make shipping continue There is a good possibility that ing measure. Ben Rees Wilmington Port Agent the Lafayette, which was recently Norfolk Port Agent good during the next two weeks. The new super highway, which During the past two weeks we is being built two doors away from paid off the Seagarden and the the hall here, is progressing nicely. William Carruth (Transfuel) and Several roads which were blocked signed on these two ships and the off because of the construction Margarett Brown (Bloomfield). In have been opened again, and this transit were the Del Alba (Mis­ artery, when completed, should re­ lieve much of sissippi); Michael and Alexandra (Carras); Margarett Brown and the traffic con­ Shipping Figures December 29 to January 11 gestion around Alice Brown (Bloomfield); Seatrains Savannah and New Jersey the hall. REG. REG. REG. TOTAL SHIP. SHIP. SHIP. TOTAL Shipping here (Seatrain); Edith (Bull); Bents PORT DECK ENGINE STEW. REG. DECK ENG. STEW. SHIPPED in Beantown has Fort (Cities Service); Ocean Lotte Boston 19 20 18 57 4 7 7 18 been slow dur­ (Ocean Transportation), and Re­ New York lis 91 81 290 85 79 58 222 public (Trafalgar). ing the past two Philadelphia 25 19 16 60 21 22 15 58 weeks and the All the payoffs and sign-ons outlook for the were clean, with no beefs. Baltimore 80 60 58 198 47 34 38 119 future is only Also, I am happy to report that Norfolk 20 20 6 46 6 6 Brown 1 13 fair. Although we have made many friends in Savannah 19 14 11 44 6 2 6 14 tjie Texas we had four ships paying off here, labor movement in the Tampa 13 4 17 34 8 9 11 28 there were only a few men getting last few months. We have five Mobile 31 28 30 89 28 18 off and consequently we did not 30 delegates to the Houston Trade 76 ship many men. Council and we intend to get very New Orleans 53 37 52 142 48 41 131 42 The ships paying off were the active in the council and also the Houston 26 16 23 65 34 19 74 21 Alexandra (Carras) and French state federation. We feel that by Seattle 20 16 19 53 18 17 8 43 Creek, Cantigny and Logans Fort enlisting the aid of all organized San Francisco 19 23 13 59 31 20 27 78 (Cities Service). labor in Texas we will be able to These four ships signed on and 13 Wilmington 5 12 12 29 12 14 get a better deal for the SIU. 39 in transit were the Robin DoncasA. (Frenchy) Michelet 277 913 TotlOf 448 860 350 1.164 348 288 ter and Robin Wentley (Seas Ship* Honston Fort Agent Lake Charles: t \ik Bull Ships Pay Off; Shipping Slays Fair Voting Seen Headed For Reeerd High Mark Shipping Fignres Top Port's Roglsiraiions Shipping Moves Along 'On An Even Keel' 16 In-Translis Make or Busy Shipping Increase Is Reported In US-Flag Activity 'Righl-To-Work' Rill Faces Union Bailie !• Seagarden Crews Up, Alice Brown To Follow �SEAFARERS January 21, 1955 Page Thfrteea LOG ... PORT JHEPORTS San Francisco: CG's Physical Plan Discussed At Mealing This poi-t has been enjoying very good shipping and the future - looks bright. . During th"e past two weeks ,we paid off the Longview Victory (Victory Carriers) and signed on this ship and the Alcoa Pegasus (Alcoa) and Lewis Emery, Jr. (Vic­ tory Carriers). In transit were the Seacomet II (Ocean CarriersT, Lewis Emery, Jr. (Victory Carriers), Yorkmar (Calmar) and John B. Waterman, Hastings, Azalea City, Morning Light and Fairport (Waterman). At our last meeting there was a discussion about the proposed Coast Guard plan of physical ex­ aminations, and the steps the Union is taking to oppose this pw)posal were explained. The Union has formally pre­ sented its opposition to the whole scheme in a letter to the Coast Guard. Since none of the sea unions like it either, the admirals are reluctant to do anything about it right now. Digging Up Old Cases Lately we have had quite a few men coming in , with complaints about the CG dragging out old cases that happened as long as seven years ago. This looks like a deal to pressure union seamen because of the fight they are put­ ting up against the CG's medical plan, so we are advising the broth­ ers to make sure they keep their noses clean on the ships because those CG guys are evidently out to get seamen on anything they possibly can. Men now on the beach include F. Votto, e. Gates, K. Hansen, H. Mease, P. Huggins, H. Skaalegaard, A. Snider, A. Brown, A. Nottage and M. Lipkin. In the ma­ rine hospital are O. Klein, > G. Promutico, M. John, F. Haigney, P. S. Yuzon, W. K. Singleton, C. Neumaier, O. Gustavsen, W. Cen­ ter and C. Brown. Tom Banning San Francisco Port Agent 4) $1 3^ Baltimore: Shipping Is Slow But Improvenient Is Seen During the past two weeks ship­ ping here in the Port of Baltimore has been slow. During the coming weeks, however, we are looking forward to considerable improve­ ment in the situation. The few ships that did come In here for payoff during the last two weeks had no beefs of any size on them and the crews were all satisfied. The ships paying off were the Suzanne (Bull), Raphael Semmes (Waterman) and Steelore, Feltore, Chilore, Cubore, Baltore, Santore and V enore (Ore). Signing on were the Bethcoaster (Calmar), Shinnecock Bay (Veritas) and Klemowicz Steelore, Feltore, Chilore, Cubore, Baltore, Santore and Venorc (Ore). In transit were the Alamar, Cal­ mar, Seamar and Bethcoaster (Calmar); Antinous and De Soto (Waterman); Alcoa Puritan and Alcoa Runner (Alcoa); Steel Archi­ tect and Steel Seafarer (Ishmian); Seastar (Merckdor); Oceanstar (Dolphin); Robin Kettering and Robin Doncaster (Seas Shipping); Bents Fort and Winter Hill (Cities Service), and Kathryn (Bull). Opening Port' C Call -At this writing we confidently expect our new Port O' Call bar to open on Monday, January 17, and the retail division of thq Seafarers Sea Chest to open February 1. Everyone is striving to make the F'ort O' Call a place of entertain­ ment to which the members will be proud to bring their friends and families, and we are also obtaining adequate supplies of all needed merchandise for the convenience of the members in the Sea Chest. Our cafeteria is doing fine and has increased its volume consider­ ably since it opened, meanwhile fully continuing its high standards of service. Incidentally, our beautiful new hall was on television last Tuesday at 10 AM on the program entitled "Inside Baltimore." We are the first union to be so honored on this program and Miss Todd, the nar­ rator, did a splendid job in ex­ plaining our welfare benefits and in describing the building aqd its many features and functions. Of course, we were very glad that the people of Baltimore got this oppor­ tunity to see just what we are doing in this port. At this time, however, we would like to ask the members to be careful and not congregate in front of the bulding or in the corridors. We don't want our neighbors com­ plaining about this and, besides, it's much warmer in the building than outside. This summer it will be much cooler inside because of our air conditioning. Parking Lot Kept Open We would like to thank the mem­ bers for their cooperation in keep­ ing the parking lot open so that it's possible for cars to come and go without having to wait for some­ one to move his car. Earl Sheppard Baltimore Port Agent $> $• Miami: Everything Is PlacM Where The Palms Grow During the past two weeks we paid off and signed on the Florida (P & O) and in transit were the Raphael Semmes, Chickasaw and De Soto (Waterman), Seastar (Mercador), Florida (P & O) and Ponce (Ponce Cement). There were no serious beefs and everything was settled to the sat­ isfaction of all concerned. Eddie Parr Miami Port Agent SlU, A&G District BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Earl Sheppard. Agent EAstern 7-4900 BOSTON 276 State St. James Sheehan, Agent Richmond 2-0140 HOUSTON 4202 Canal St. A. (Frenchy) Mlchelet. Agent. .Bresluu 6538 LAKE CHARLES. La 1419 Ryan St. Lcroy Clarke. Agent HEmlock 6-5744 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner, Agent HEmlock 2-1754 NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St. Lisdsey Williams. Agent MagnoUa 6112-6113 NEW YORK 678 4th Ave., Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. Ben Rees. gent MAdiaon 2-0834 PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St. S. Cardullo. Agent Market 7-1635 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. Tom Banning, agent Douglas 2-5475 Marty Breithoil. West Coast Representative PUERTA de TIERRA, PR Peiayo 51—La 5 Sal Coils. Agent Phone 2-5996 SAVANNAH 2 Abercorn St. Jeff Morrison. Agent Phone 3-1728 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Jeff GUiette. Agent Elliott 4334 TAMPA .. 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. Ray White. Agent Phone 2-1323 New York: New Year's Shipping Slarls Off Wilh Bang We started off the New Year with a bang here In the Port of New York, with the largest num­ ber of ships paying off and sign­ ing on articles that we have had for some time. During the past two weeks we paid off 23 ships, signed 10 on for­ eign articles and serviced 10 in transit. The Mankato Victory (Victory Carriers) came out of layup during this period and the Ragnar Naess (Norlo) and Ann Marie (Bull) went Into lay-up. All of the ships calling here were in very good shape with no major beefs on any of them. This is what we all like to see, for a smooth-running ship means a satis­ fied crew and a good trip, short On Pumpmen Shipping continued to be good in all departments and especially in the engine department, with pumpmen at a premium. We have had to call on our affiliates, the MFOW and; SUP, for pumpmen during the past two weeks, and with more tankers coming out of lay-up"and more being built under the new Government shipbuilding program, I would advise all tankermen who are qualified to go up and get their pumpmen's endorse­ ments. This is a good paying job on any ship and we should not haye to call' on outside men to fill these jobs when we have many men in our own ranks who can qualify for this rating. As this Is being written, this is the last week of voting to elect the officials to serve the Union for the next two years, and from all indi­ cations we will have a record vote. The voting has been heavy in all poi*ts. This we like to see, because it Indicates that the membership is taking a great deal of interest in the internal affairs of the Union, which is as it should be. Ships Paying Off The following were the ships paying off here during the past two vveeks: Kathryn, Evelyn, Bea­ trice, Ines and Ann Marie (Bull); Steel Seafarer (Isthmian); Barbara Fritchie (Liberty Navigation); Greece Victory (South Atlantic); Lawrence Victory (Mississippi); Seatrains Savannah and Louisiana (Seatrain); Northwestern Victory (Victory Carriers); Robin Doncas­ ter and Robin Wentley (Seas Ship­ ping); ValXhem (Valentine Tank­ ers); Queenston Heights (Seatrade); Ragnar Naess (Norlo), and Salem Maritime, Archers Hope, WILMINGTON. CaHf 805 Marine Ave. Ernest Tilley. Agent Terminal 4-2874 HEADQUARTERS . 675 4th Ave., Bklyn. SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul HaU ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS Robert Matthews Joe Algina Claude Simmons Joe Volpian - WUUam HaU SUP HONOLULU...., Council Grove, Government Camp, French Creek and Royal Oak (Cities Service.) Signing on were the Steel Ap­ prentice, Steel Seafarer, Steel Architect and Steel Age (Isth­ mian); Lawrence Victory (Missis­ sippi); Ines (Bull); Robin Kettering (Seas Shipping); Northwestern Vic­ tory (Victory Carriers); Greece Victory (South Atlantic), and Gate­ way City (Waterman). In transit were the De Soto (Waterman); Seatiger (Colonial); Alcoa Ranger and Alcoa Puritan (Alcoa); Bethcoaster (Calmar); Irenestar (Maine), and Seatrains Georgia, Texas, New York and New Jersey. (Seatrain). Claude Simmons Ass't Sec.-Treasurer 4, t i Seattle: Shipping 'Very Good' For Prosont, Fnluro Shipping has been very good in this Northwest port during the past two weeks and we had to send to San Francisco and Wilmington for about 15 men to complete crewing up the Tagalam (Seatrade), which came out of lay-up. We also expect shipping to con­ tinue good during the next two weeks as we Have the Mother M. L. (Eagle Ocean) and Wacosta (Water­ man) coming in for payoff, and we expect both of these ships to load again for the Far East. Dui-ing the last two weeks we paid off the Alcoa Pegasus (Alcoa) and signed on the Tagalam (S e atrade) and Cecil Noack N. Bean (Drytrans). In transit were the Paoli (Cities Service), Yorkmar (Calmar) and Fairport (Waterman). Jeff Gillette Seattle Port Agent Gil $ i4> Tampa: 6 In-Transiis Call; Few Beefs Reported All of the ships hitting this port during , the past two weeks were in-transits, and there-was a mini­ mum of beefs on them. The ships were the Antinous, Chickasaw and Arizpa (Watei-man), Alcoa Roamer (Alcoa) and Del Alba and Del Valle (Mississippi). Bennle Gonzales Acting Tampa Port Agent FORT WILLlAM....lieV4 Syndicate Ave. Ontario Phone: 3-3221 PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St. Ontario Phone: 5591 TORONTO. Onurio 272 King St. E. EMpire 4-5719 VICTORIA, BO 617Vt Cormorant St. Empire 4531 VANCOUVER. BC 298 Main St. SYDNEY. NS Pacific 7824 304 Charlotte St. Phone 6346 BAGOTVILLE, Quebec 20 Elgin St. Phone: 545 THOROLD. Ontario 82 St. Davids St. CAnal 7-.3202 QUEBEC 113 Cote De La Montague Quebec Phone: 2-7078 SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St. NB Phone: 2-5233 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND 622 N. W. Everett St. Beacon 4336 RICHMOND. CALIF 257 6th St. Phone 2599 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. Douglas 2-8363 Great Lakes District SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Main 0.290 ALPENA 133 W. Fletcher WIUHNGTON 805 Marine Ave. Phone: 1238W Terminal 4-3131 BUFFALO. NY 180 Main St. Phone: Cleveland 7391 NEW YORK 676 4tb Ave.. Brooklyn 734 Lakeside Ave.. NE HYacinth 9-6600 CLEVELAND Phone: Main 1-0147 DETROIT 1038 3rd St. Canadian District Headquarters Phone: Woodward 1-6857 531 W. Michigan St. MONTREAL 664 St. James St. West DULUTH Phone; Melrose 2-4110 . PLateau 8161 3261 E. 92nd St. HALUAK. N.S. 128V» HoUis St. SOUTH CHICAGO Phone: Essex S-34U Phone: 3-8911 New Orleans: Recreation Room Ready For Finishing Tonohes All but the final finishing touch­ es have been completed on the beautiful new recreation room iii the New Orleans hall. The two pool tables previously located on the second floor ship­ ping deck were shifted down to the new room on the first floor last weekend and a third table was in­ stalled to help accommodate the cue stick experts who always seem to be standing by waiting for a chance to display their skill be­ tween job calls. The shuffleboard also was moved down from the third floor and set up along one wall of the recreation room. Present plans call for locating the new television set, which is on order and should be delivered by the time the LOG goes to press, on the third floor where the present set is lo­ cated. The new set will be equipped with an efficient aerial to pick up both New Orleans TV channels instead of the one chan­ Holmes nel received on the old set. The new recreation room un­ doubtedly will provide Seafarers with a pleasant place to wile away their time between job calls and the whole plan of the new set­ up is intended for the greater com­ fort and convenience of all hands. Speaking of job calls, the ship­ ping board has been somewhat bare since our report two weeks ago. During that period, only 97 men were shipped to regular deep sea jobs, which is off from the usual lively shipping rate in this port. Discharged From Hospital From the USPHS hospital we have good news that L. Fontenot, Benjamin Foster, Joseph Gehringer, Bichard Gralicki, George Nich­ ols and Enoch Gaylor have been discharged to out-patient status and are looking for "fit for duty'' slips soon. Charles Jeffers, Walter Souby, Richard Johnson, Henry McKinney and William C. Wright were re­ cently admitted to the hospital. They have our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Charles Brady found it neces­ sary to return to the hospital for further treatment after being out for only a shoi-t while. William E. Alpin, Henry Sosa, Herman Holmes and Fred Fagan are still confined to the hospital, but are reported to be convales­ cing in good style. Since our last report we had six payoffs, three sign-ons and 11 ships in transit. The Alcoa Roamer (Alcoa), Del Campo, Del Norte and Del Viento (Mississippi) and Chickasaw and Antinous (Waterman) paid off. The Alcoa Roamer and the Del Santos and Del Norte (Mississippi) signed on. Ships calling in transit were the Alcoa Cavalier, Alcoa Patriot, Al­ coa Clipper and Alcoa Polaris (Al­ coa), the Del Santos (Mississippi), the Seatrains Georgia^ and Louis­ iana (Seatrain Lines), Monarch of the Seas, Claiborne and Golden City (Waterman) and the Margarett Brown (Bloomfield). Lindsey J. Williams New Orleans Port Agent •M I �ifcf; H'i' It- Psre FonieeB Swrnxaxf tl, lift SEAFARERS tOC OFF WATCH Seafarer-GI Raises His Voice For Prize-Winning Army Quintet The Government's policy on foreign transfers had many Seafarers, who are now in the Army, worried for a while that, there would be no US ships for them to come back to when they get out of service. But one Seafarer-GI who didn't have to worry too much on that score IS Pfc Gerold D. Erlinger. Gerry — who sailed SIl Thij feature if defipned to offer Mntf amt information on hobbtea,' new products, developments, publications and the like which Seafarert. map find helpful in spending their leisure-time hours, both ashore and aboard ship. Queries should be addressed to "Off Watch," SEA* FARERS LOG, 875 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY, Amateur craftsmen whose home repair and remodeling Jobs never, seem to end can probably get lot of use from a new sandpaper­ ing outfit called the L'il Sharpy. It is a combination backing of foam rubber and metal plate that is sait to give the user high speed, ac­ curacy and control in numerous hand sanding Jobs. The outfit comes as a set of four pieces of different sizes, including a small flat file, which handle like a plane for leveling wood surfaces. The kit comes with a suspension rack an( is made by the Milwaukee- File Co. able number" of addressed addressed' en> velopes, with a money order to cover the cost of the stamps to be affixed, to the respective post­ masters. ships from 1947 until he entered service in 1953—is most anxious Seafarers who up until now to get back to them, he reports to may have been reluctant to fake the LOG. But meanwhile, he's advantage of the wealth of longcarving out a second career for playing records available to suit all himself as a member of an Army musical tastes or v^o have held singing group which has won honback on purchases because of the "ors all over Europe and is bidding high "list price" on most labels, for still further recognition. can Join "with the rest of the rec­ This group, called "The Full ord-buying public in enjoying the Sails," is composed of five Army recent cuts in LP "list prices." boys who specialize in singing Both Columbia and RCA Victor, spirituals. They got together to who have set the pace, have t 4" compete in the second all-Army In addition to those aboard the dropped the "list" on most of their singing contest. And, although at Cities Service tanker Bents Fort discs^ron\ $5.95 down to $3.95 or first they didn't think they'd get who will probably want to claim a less, and the bulk of the industry very far, they promptly took first copy for the ship's library, there can be expected to follow suit very place in their initial competition are many Seafarers and other air- soon. The 45 RPMs have also been at La Rochelle, France, near chair adventurers who will be in­ cut proportionately. Rochefort, where they are sta­ Up until now, "list price" hasn't terested, in the publication of tioned. Hitting a high one is Seafarer Gerry Erlingcr (second from left), Bents Fort; A historical account meant much in most localities any­ At Orleans, prance, the quintet shown with four other GIs who make m> "The Full Sails," quintet, of the Adobe Empire that shaped way, since m^any record shops have competing in second aii-Army singing contest, took top honors in copped another "first," then went the destiny of the American South- been selling at up to a third under on to Heidelberg, Germany, and Europe, is now in race for grand prize. v/est." Historians accord Bents "list" all along. But now, even took first place in the all-Europe Fort a critical place in the west­ those who haven't had. the benefit the the Army, after that it will be back ward march of the US, and this of this will find record prices more finals, competing against the best winning recordings firom to the SIU, if he has his way, Gerry 449-page volume by David Laven­ within reach. A real record-buying talent from France, Germany and States and the Far East. England. The men don't know what their says. And meanwhile he's keeping, der reads like an epic tale. Hun- spree throughout the country can reward will be, if they take the his hand in the water, so to speak, drum life aboard the tankship by be expected. Makes Tape Recording grand prize, but are hoping either by serving as coxswain of an Army the same name might well be After this, the group made a LCM in the 81st Transportation brightened by a reading of the ex­ tape recording of their two best for a trip back to the States or to Co. (BOAT). ploits of its namesake. Published spend the rest of their ' Army numbers — "Swing Low, Sweet Discharge Greece Victory by Doubleday, the book retails at Chariot" and "Heaven, Heaven"— careers entertaining the troops Recently, Gerry reports, the $5.50. and this recording was sent to overseas. landing craft discharged the But whatever comes to him in Washington to compete against the Greece Victory at Le Verdun, With the first of 1955's new US so he was able to meet some stamp issues oiit already—the 3c Seafarers who were around of his SIU pals, and he has brown commemorating the 150th also met some at the ports of anniversary of the Pennsylvania SIU headquarters during the Rochelle and La Pallice, which are Academy of Fine Arts made its early part of 1952 will un­ only 23 miles each from where he debut last Saturday in Philadel­ doubtedly remember Harry B. Anphia—collectors can . now begin trotter. He's the seaman-author is stationed, in Rochefort. Gerry, who started sailing SIU concentrating on the future. whose play, ''Slow Boat Across," The next one is the 3c issue for had its first rehearsals at Hq in when he was 17, sailed in all deck department ratings, out of San the centennial of the founding of preparation for its presentation at Francisco, and sailed Uiroughoul the first land grant colleges in the the Cherry Lane Theatre in New the Korean War in Far Eastern US, which will receive its initial York. sale on Feb. 12 at East Lansing, waters. Since then, his play has come He was drafted off the Steel Mich., sifS of Michigan State Col­ into quite a good deal of favor on Woi'ker in June, 1953, given his lege. Following that will be an 8c the West Coast, particularly around basic training at Fort Dix, then blue for the 50th anniversary of Wilmington, Cal., where he lives, sent to Bremerhaven and then Rotary International, which will Antrotter now reports to the LOG. Over the Labor Day weekend, Rochefort. His old shipmates who have its first-day sale in Chicago, wish to write him may address him Feb. 23. (Eight cents is the rate for instance, the play had a fouras follows; Pfc. Gerold D. Erlinger for an ordinary letter addressed to night run at the Labor Temple in US 51259163, 81st Trans. Co. most places overseas.) In either Long Beach, and other California (BOAT), APO 217 c/o PM, NY, case, collectors who want a first- showings are now planned, Antrot­ Wiper Bill Stevenson got this shot from the stern of the Val Chem NY. Mail is always appreciated. day postmark can send "a reason- ter says. (Valentine Tankers) when the Val Chem recently came to the aid Placed In Libraries of this little Panamanian ship whose diesel engine had failed, What's more, copies of the play leaving her adrift off Miami. At the request of the Coast Guard, have been placed in the American the Val Chem towed the drifter for about three h6urs until she Merchant Marine Library and in could be taken under tow by a CG cutter and brought into Miami. both the passenger and crew li­ The photo shows the Panamanian crew getting ready to make fast braries of the Lurline, a Matson the Val Chem's towline. Line ship on which Antrotter once sailed. Antrotter, who belongs to the Radio Officers' Union, AFL,'made his last trip aboard the SlU-contractcd Keystone I^ariner before she went into lay-up. (1) John James Audubon pictured in words and in paintings: (a) the The play, a comedy-satire, is Panama Canal, (b) the birds of America, (c) the Reign of Terror in based on a novel which Antrotter France, (d) great English gentlemen? wrote about a voyage from New (2) How large would a drawing be of a field 14 by 24 yards, if the Orleans to Venice, Italy. For this scale were one-quarter inch to the foot? novel the author was awarded an honorary membership in the Inter­ (3) In French money, how many centimes are there in a franc? national Mark Twain Society. (4) Which is lighter: oxygen or hydrogen? (5) Who is sometimes called "The South American Washington?" (6) Who was elected at the first national election in the US in which women participated: (a) T. Roosevelt, (b) F. D. Roosevelt, (c) Harding, Every SlU-manned ship is (d) Wilson? entitled to a 50-volume library (7) Who made the first solo flight around the world; (a) Charles assortment every three months Lindbergh, (b) Wiley Post, (c) Eddie Rickenbacker, (d) Amelia Earhart? from the SEAFARERS LOG, (8) Where do^ we have three small bones called the hammer, the The libraries are placed aboard anvil and the stirrup; (a) elbow, (b) knee, (c) nose, (d) ear? the ships by SIU Sea Chest representatives. If you haven't (9) A man spent the equivalent of one-fourth, one-fifth, one-sixth received your regular assort­ and one-fifteenth of his pay for rent, food, clothes and miscellaneous, Snapped aboard Jhe Cecil N. Bean (Drytrans) during a run to ment, contact the Sea Chest 'essentials and still had $28.50 left. How much did he start out with?' Formosa are (1-r) William A. De Lapp, bosun; L. W. Pepper, stew­ representative in the nearest (10) What is an ounce of prevention worth? ard, and J. Kissel, night cook and baker. Steward department got SIU hall. (Quiz Answers on Page 17) crew's thanks for topnotch meals served during run. m 1,® |5i |i.W' m f Salty Play Hit On WC Val Chem Tows Drifter liiiiilBliillliliiiililliiliiiiiMWii® Good Food Makes For Big Smiles Each Quarter iKi |i-- ...1- ^ J- • • ;• '• . �' - • •/ SEAFARERS JannuT t]« 1*59 Pace FIfteea LOG Steel Chemist Crewmen Are 'Reund-The-World Bound Now making 'round-the-world run sxe these Steel Chemist crewmen, snapped soon after ship left 'Frisco. They are (1-r) T. Acedo, F. Keller, C. Uribe, A. Blain, N, Wuchina. M. Escandell (center) is chief cook on Chemist. With him are Bill Jones (left), 2nd cook, and B. Baa, baker. Shipboard meeting night on the Isthmian ves­ sel finds (1-r) R. Schlagler, C. Ombao, N. Wuchina, J. Martinelli, M. Bruno, J. Powers, A. Stankiewicz, L. Ceperiano and F. Kscandell. Bob Beale (above), chief electrician, took these photos. Getting in some- bunk prac­ tice, oiler Stankiewicz (top) and FWT Blain take it easy. By Spike Marlin Ray Robinson, at 84, has proved the ring when the 'Jistering heat he is only human after ali. After of a record-breaking summer's day laying off for 2Vi years he re­ finished him off. Ray started off by toying with turned to the ring, and such is the poverty of the middleweight divi­ punchless Gene Burton in a Cana­ sion that he immediately became dian el&iibition. Burton is good mentioned as a contender for the practice for anybody. He can't hurt you and he'll make you move title. But age has taken its toll even and keep alive in the ring to catch from the likes of a ring marvel him. Then he teed off on Joe such as Robinson. On his third Rindone, who has become a handy outing he was solidly and methodi­ punching bag for middleweight cally beaten by Tiger Jones who contenders. has everything a good middleweight No Buzzsaws Here needs except one fatal lack—speed. You can be sure Robinson isn't Robinson insists that he will walking into any buzzsaws, mainiy keep on trying. It means he has because there aren't many in the fallen into the illusion of so many middleweight division. Olsen, of fighters before him, that he can course, is more than a match for regain the speed and timing he any middleweight now in the ring. once had in such extravagant quan­ When you look past him at the tity. rest of the division there isn't Lots of people are comparing much to see. There's Castellani Robinson's comeback with Joe who is plenty slick but a nonLouis. The parallel isn't exactly aggressor, Holly Mims the mysteri­ the same. Louis was a heavy­ ous Washington middleweight who weight who needed lots of work is supposed to be something spe­ and competition to keep him in cial and Giardello, a vastly-over­ trim. He didn't get it and he had rated fighter. Actually, Robinson's return is a tendency to be hog fat in be­ tween bouts. His reflexes dis­ the sympton of a desperate short­ appeared suddenly during the first age of ring talent. Another symp­ Walcott bout and never came back. tom is talk of matching Olsen with Robinson has been tap-dancing Archie' Moore for the light-heavy in night clubs ever since he quit, title. Neither man can find a which is just like doing roadwork worthy foe in their own divisions. indoors. Besides he had plenty of As for Marciano, the antics of pro­ speed and skill left in him at the moters in attempting to dig up time. He was plastering a much stiffs for him are positively heavier man, Joey Maxim, all over ludicrous. LOG-A-RHYTHM; He'll Get No OT For This Watch Acceptance By Thurston Lewis The scenery may vary, and people may dress differently, but human nature is pretty much the same the world over. And when a fast-talking pitchman meets a certain kind of customer—well, the results are usually the same whether the encounter is on Broadway in Manhattan or in faroff" and who wore an English-style mango on a tree does its neigh­ Cochin, India. tunic, suddenly said to me, in per­ bor. Because of this, and forget­ A good example of this is fect English: 'Will the gentleman ting my other children and my two hungry wives, I related to the LOG by Seafarer Sahib tell me the time, please?' will let you have 'J *l'm afraid not,' I said, T have Harry Kronmel of the Steel Sea­ this watch for no watch,'" Kronmel writes. farer (Isthmian). Just such an In­ only 130 rupees." With that, Kronmel reports, the cident, Kronmel reports, occurred gaunt stranger pulled several ex­ Calculating the asking price at to him in the bazaar in Cochin. pensive-looking watches from his $26 in American "I was standing on a street cor­ pocket and strapped them to his money, Kronmel arm. "You," he said, "are as my ner in the bazaar," Kronmel writes offered 50 rupees the LOG, "when a tall, gaunt man. eldest son, and resemble him as a instead. * , "You are' as Kronmel my own father and mother," the street vender said. "The watch is yours for 120 rupees." Kronmel shook his head. "I will not let profit stand in tHe way of our friendship," the watch seller said. "Take it for 110 rupees." Kronmel started to walk away but the stranger ran after him and grasped his arm. "This leaves me no profit at all," he said, "but the watch is yours for 100 rupee.s," Kronmel finally bought the watch ' for 85 rupees—$17—and then prepared to leave the bazaar. "But as I made my way through the twisted alleyways,'.' he writes the LOG, "I suddenly came upon a sight that made me stop. There, displayed in a jewelry shop, was -the same watch I had bought—and the price was 40 rupees." USPHS Has Last Say On. Huty Slip Under the SIU contract, US Public Health Service doctors have the final say on whether or not a man is fit for duty. If there is .any question about your fitness to sail, check with the nearest USPHS hospital or out-patient clinic for a ruling. Cell walls a two-fold nature have And you hear, men speak about The way they keep some men within While others they keep out. In more than one respect. Men are confined upon the swells Though sober and circumspect. To many a man with years at sea, Lqnely and lost ashore, A friendly smile and hand may be Ships' hulls a two fold nature' Also have, of that there Is no His greatest treasure store. doubt. Their brave crews ' they keep And his acceptance, in a town. within Of a Seafarer who's on land Has proved a policy safe and And raging seas without. sound Yet ships are like the hated cells For any people's stand. The LOG conducts this column as an exchange for stewards, cooks, bakers and others who'd like to share favored recipes, little-known cooking and baking hints, dishes with a national flavor and the like suitable for shipboard and/or home use. Here's Seafarer Bob Ham­ mond's recipe for "angel food cake." One of those typically-American dessert treats that starts the mojuth 'watering almost as soon as the name passes the lips is the delight known as angel food cake. It even rates dictionary mention as "a deli--*cate white cake made without if cake flour Isn't available, you can get results that are almost as shortening." good with regular flour. And since Seafarer Bob Ham­ Here's what you need: cups mond has thoughtfully paid tribute egg whites, V/^ cups sugar, 1 cup to "Galley Gleanings" as "one of flour, VA teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon my favorite features in the LOG," cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon vanilla. we are doubly Sift the sugar, add half of it to happy to return the flour and sift twice. Then beat the favor by the egg whites and salt until passing on his they're foamy. Next, add the recipe for one of cream of tartar and whip until our favorite foods stiff. which, he notes, Add the remaining sugar, fold­ is very simple ing it into the flour mixture by and "sells" very hand; The flavoring should be well. added last. Bake for 30 minutes at 275 degrees, then increase the Sailing as 2nd Hammond heat to 3?15 degrees and bake until cook and baker, Hammond has been a member of the baking has reached the point the SIU since he joined in Savan­ where if you lightly jab the surface nah a week after he passed his with a finger, the finger doesn't 20th birthday in 1947. He's been leave an impression. " Turn the pan upside down and at "it ever since, catering to the hearty appetites of Seafarers. His allow the cake to "sweat" out. For formula, incidentally, calls for more than one cake, multiply the cake flour, but Hammond says that ingredients accordingly.) �iS-V;,.,, . v.- S5B? SEAFARERS lOt Page Sixteen Widow Expresses Thanks To Union January 21, 1955 -tr Ex^Cpp Relates i Crimp Abuses L E To the Editor: My husband, , James Brandon, was a member of the crew of the Southern Districts and I would like to take this way of thanking To the Editor: all those who have been so kind I am writing this to express my during this trying period. sincere appreciation to the staff Most particuiarly I would like and doctors of to thank Bennie Gonzales who, as the Manhattan Tampa representative of the SIU, has done everything in his power Beach USPHS hospital. I espe­ to help me. Bennie recently helped immeas­ cially would like urably in arranging for James to to thank Dr. get off the Government Camp to Whitehead, D r. attend his sister's funeral, and now Haas and Dr. Long who have he has been most kind to me. have personally thanked Bennie helped me back McCann on many occasions, but I think on the road to They everyone should know that he is recovery. a man who can be depended upon have been wonderful both to me and to my wife, whenever she This is the three-masted full rigger Indymion, on which vet­ in time of trial. eran Seafarer Thor Thorsen was shanghaied in May, 1S14. 1 would also like to thank Sonny visits me. And so, both my wife 4 Simmons, who was more than an and I wish to thank them and wish A. DeKovessy. Both gave me ex­ ordinary friend to James in many them all success and happiness in instances, and Chai'lie Kimball of the future. cellent treatment. P. J. McCann Galveston for the same reason. I had been sailing on the Es­ To the Editor: 4) 4" 4" Also, I wish to thank Toby Flynn cambia and when I became ill the My recent stay in the Staten Is­ captain radioed for help. The of Welfare Services for his coop­ land marine hospital gave me MSTS took me off the Escambia eration and kindness, and the en­ plenty, of time to think about and an ambulance was waiting at tire SIU bi'otherhood for the beau­ things, particularly about my old the dock to take me to the hos­ tiful flowers sent to James' sister's To the Editor: I have been in the Navy since sailing days, and there were a good pital, where I was operated on. funeral and to James' memorial service. 1948 but I still receive the LOG many of them. I found the attitude of the en­ I guess what I am really frying at my mother's address, and here At any rate, I have jotted down tire hospital staff toward a seaman to do is to thank James for choos­ in the Canal Zone, where I am a few of my recollections and I to be very courteous and helpful. ing to join the SIU when he chose now stationed, I have just finished hope you will Myron E. Foils sailing as his life's work. I know reading all the issues from last publish them, in of no other organization which August through November. the SEAFARERS 4> 41 4> would do so many things, so often, I have always wanted to write LOG. I am also for a single member, and I know you a letter to see if I couldn't enclosing a few how James felt toward the organi­ contact some of my old shipmates, old photos and I zation. I hope to keep up with its and this is it. hope you will activities through the LOG, if I The men I would most like to also publish To the Editor: may be kept on the mailing list. contact are l^Jorman C. Barnard these. I am writing this to tell you Thanks again to all of you on and Sam V. Lindsay. The last ad­ Briefly, m y about a shipmate of mine on the behalf of James' family and my­ dress I had for Norman was c/o story is this: I Thorsen self. And thanks again, James, for the SIU hall in Mobile. That was started to sail in Mary Adams (Bloomfield). being an SIU member. I know that we have a lot of the end of 1948 and he was sail­ 1908 on the three-masted bark In(Mrs.)' Mary T. Brandon ing as FOW at that time. verdem, out of Norway, and in good athletes in the SIU but Duke (Ed. note: Yon will continue to Sam was sailing out of Mobile 1913 I shipped on the four-masted Livingston is one of the best ex­ receive the LOG regularly.) as a wiper the last I heard of him. bark Christel Vinnen out of amples I know of clean living— t 4« 4" Shipped With Waterman Bremen, Germany. and that's a must if one is to get As for myself, I got my permit I skipped the (^ristel Vinnen in in Mobile in 1946 when I shipped Newcastle, Australia. Then in May, anywhere in. the world of sports. on the Zebulon Pike, a Waterman 1914, while I was in Port Adelaide, Duke, who hails from Norfolk To the Editor: Liberty. At that time I was a Mari­ South Australia, I was shanghaied but does most of his wrestling I want to take this opportunity to time School graduate (FOW) and onto the three-masted full rigger around New York, toes the Tothanks the crew on the Beatrice just about as green as they come, Indymion, which was a Finnish ledoes at 218 and is as tough as (Bull), especially the bosun, Julio, but the crew took me in hand and ship built in 1875. they come. and the third assistant engineer, I think they did a pretty good job I'm a frustrated boxer myself, When this ship got to Vancou­ for taking, care of me and helping of cutting me in on the scoop. having trained while working in ver, BC, I managed to get off, and I'll close this by thanking you me along when I was repatriated then sailed Canadian ships until the steel mills in aboard the ship a while ago. for your courtesy in printing it. Pittsburgh be­ 1917 when I shipped on' an Ameri­ After I got hurt on the Elizabeth, Robert E. Guess £N1 (SS) can tanker. From that time on I fore I joined the I went into the hospital in San Box 424 Rodman h^ve sailed US ships. SIU during the Juan for 19 days Panama, Canal Zone war. And I've No one has to tell me what a and then came 4- 4' 3^ often thought good deal SIU men have, because back to the New that the Union I can remember back when. York on the Bea­ should sponsor a Thor Thorsen trice as a pas­ stable of boxers senger. I want ft 4 To the Editor: and wrestlers to say I got the Aboard the Alcoa Polaris the under the SIU best care possi­ Livingston bosun and deck maintenance banner. ble on the ship turned to work at 6 AM and I think such a move would en­ coming home and worked until 7:30 AM, then To the Editor: courage the spirit of good sports­ that everybody Colon knocked off a half hour for break­ I am writing this letter because manship and fair play among our was very good to fast and went back to work at me. In fact, at the payoff they 8 AM. Does this give the bosun I would like publicly to thank the members. I also think that our doctors and staff of Tripler Army boys would be inspired to win out collected $55 which they gave me and deck maintenance a penalty General Hospital in Honolulu for of loyalty to the Union. to help out. hour? Please answer this in the excellent care they gave me Tliat was a kindness from a fine meal I myself am past my prime, but the LOG. during the five months I was con­ I am hoping my son learns the art bunch of men which I appreciated Crew of Alcoa Polaris fined there. very much. I hope that I can help of self-defense well enough to note: The bosun and DM some of them out the same way ate(Ed. I would especially like to thank enter big-time competition when breakfast within the time speci­ sometime when they need it. fied in the contract and no penalty the two doctors who attended me he finishes his formal education. Julio Colon meal hour is allowable.) —Col. L. K. Mantell and Major C. Clarence L. Cousins USPHS Doctors Get Mtis Thanks Seaman Recalls ^The Old Days^ Seeking Contact With Shipmates Says SIU Should Sponsor Athletes Thanks iteatrice Crew For Aid Mealtime Query Is Answered Army Doctors Get ills Thanks Burtv •01-:-^ • • •:>•,.:! :r-!>'^m0;0: 'S; *My Aching Feet!* To the Editor: I'm a retired. New York City po­ liceman and a friend of Albert H. Kisch, an oldtime seaman who's now employed as a waterfront patrolman on South Street. I knew A1 as an ace niessman in the past, and I certainly enjoyed reading his letter about the -phony crimp joint on West 28th Street in the December 24 issue of the SEA­ FARERS COG. At any rate, I'm writing this be­ cause A1 didn't mention the days of 1920-37 when "Captain" Horn had an office on Front Street and Coenties Slip and used to hunt up live ones along South and White­ hall streets by buying them a meal and giving them a dollar or two to ship out. As soon as you boarded a ship Donaldson you were put to work holystoning the decks, pol­ ishing the bright work and doing plenty of painting and chipping— with no goggles. And there were always "Captain Bligh" officers who were anxious to find fault and work you extra. Coffee time was unheard of on those ships and we often had to swipe food from the passengers' pantry. When we docked, all the food was stowed away and we had to live and eat ashore. As for towels, we either had our own or used our shirts. 'Captain' Gets His Cut Then, when we were paid off— at $40 a month-—we never saw the money as the purser would take off the "captain's" fee for putting us on boai;d. After the payoffs the men never got their berths back, but ^yere left to shift for themselves, no mat­ ter where the payoff port was. What's more, crewmen were often thrown off the ship in for­ eign ports, and were replaced by foreign seamen who also paid the crimp. I know that it is unions like the SIU that made a seaman's job worth fighting for. John W. Donaldson 4> 4" 4" Wants Rain Gear Left On Ships To the Editor: I have a suggestion I would like to pass along to the other brothers for consideration. This suggestion is for men in the deck department, and I think it would save them weight and room in their baggage. My suggestion is for the crews to take up collections to buy rain gear and then leave it on the ship, so that a man ashore doesn't have to lug it around with him. The ships have washing machines so possibly this suggestion could be extended to other kinds of gear as well. E. R. Cretan Bg Bernard Seatnan �• SEAFARERS JanuaiT tit 1*55 ^'.^fis^J^y:f^^•.\';:r-,^ r^-'j •• • •. LOG Pag* Berenteea SlU Crewmembm Save P/sfr/cfs' Safety Rules Gale-Battered Steelore Bypassed With CG Okay she'd never make the Sparrows possibly not even to Cape Look­ out, so 19 men were taken off im­ mediately. The sea apparently quieted, however, and the tow con­ tinued into the harbor here. . The full crew is back aboard now, waiting for the company to decide what to do with the ship. It is expected she'll be closely ex­ amined by divers before being moved again. Seafarers aboard the vessel, ac­ cording to the company's crew list, were: Deck department—Harry T. Col­ lier, bosun; John A. Morris, Gerald W. Calendine, Henry Shepeta, AB quartermasters; Harold T. Spicer, Hipolifo Ramos, Claude Fowler, ABs; Lawrence Johnson, John S. Simpson, Thomas C. Moose, ordi­ nary seamen; William Mitchell, Geoffrey Mills, Edward C. Atkin­ son, DMs. Engine department — Eduardo Delapena, machinist; William L. Mason, deck engineer-utility; Livious A. Underwood, Charles Dorona, Juan P. Riviera, oilers; James P. Eller, Paul E. Saltz, Frank G. Ortiz, firemen; Norman R. Wright, Joseph F. Laughlin, Earl L. Brittain, wipers. Steward department—Edward J. Debardelaben, steward; Joseph" J. Padelsky, chief cook; Samuel Jisharoom, cook and baker; Ed­ ward A. Guerrero, William B. Matthews, Jacob B. Malenke, MMs; Wm. John Donald Joseph Williams, utilityman; Eu­ Your wallet containing dis­ gene C. Brown, 3rd cook. charges and other papers is being held for you at the SEAFARERS LOG office, SIU headquarters. (Continued from page 3) Marore, several tankers and the Furness liner Queen ot Bermuda raced to the scene. It was the sec­ ond mercy mission in as many trips for the Queen of Bermu&a, which earlier this month rescued ten fishermen off a sinking New­ foundland fishing boat. Tlie Cubore arrived before noon with the crisis apparently over for the moment. She stayed with the Steelore until one of the CG ships, the Cherokee,, and the Curb ar­ rived to join the rescue planes fol­ lowing things overhead. Eventually, only the Curb remained until an­ other ship, the Baltore, later joined the slow procession northward, standing by the tow. After taking her tow the ship moved steadily at a plodding four knots, in the direction of Cape Lookout near here, where it would be decided whether the Steelore could make the remainder of the trip north to Sparrows Point, Md., her actual destination. Heavy with water, although her pumps were constantly working, the disabled ship proceeded this way until Monday, when the tug reported her in danger again be­ cause of the low freeboard. Indi­ cations at this point were that NOTICES $ s* t Roy Pierce You are asked to contact Leonard J. McLaughlin, secretary-treasurer, Canadian District, SIU, at 634 St, James St. W., Montreal 3, Quebec, Canada. ^ Manuel Garza Ray Morey F. L. Richardson The Boston office of the NLRB wishes to get in touch with you regarding back pay due from the Excelio Corp. as a result of the' SIU's successful action involving unfair labor charges against this company. PERSONALS Paige Mitchell Tony (Champ) Matosky Very important you contact Pedro Villabol by mail at*SIU headquarters. j) $ Friends of Russell Hinkel Cpl. Hinkel wishes his friends and shipmates to write him at 201 Fort Drive, Aiexandria,.Va. 3) 4^ James- W. Baldrldge Anyone knowing the where­ abouts of this man is asked to con­ tact his sister, Mrs. B. B. Davis, at Box 312, Vinton, La. Quiz Answers 3> (1)'(b) the birds of America. (2) lOV^ inches by 18 inches. •(3) 100. (4) Hydrogen. (5) Simon Bolivar. (6) (c) Harding (1920). The "Women's Suffrage" amendment to the Constitvition was first rati­ fied that year. , (7) (b) Wiley Post, in July, 1933. (8) (d) ear. (9) $90. 10) It's worth a pound of cure, according to a much-quoted proverb. Edward F. Woods Your mother is very worried about you. Let her know your whereabouts. Fritz. Puzzle Answer ass [SESBB adOB QBCa QBSS. Baas ^BSSIBBQDS SBSQ aso SaBSBBB BBBBSB BDO aisa IZISSESS SBSB aQB BSBS SQQDQ aSQ BSB ans nsBBBB BSBSIZISS SSB QBESS ssan!z;]E;sas aasB mm 3) 3) 3) L. S. Park John R. Ward The Isthmian SS Co. in Long Beach, Caiif., is holding your gear off the Las Vegas Victory. i 4. 3) Wesley T. Christianson - Urgent you get in touch with your wife as soon^ as possible. 3)i 3) 3) Friends of Wm. E. Hammond Pvt. Hammond (US 51265501) wishes his cx-shipmates to write him c/o 315th Engr. Co. (Port Constv.), Fort Baker, Sausalito, Caiif. 4. 3> '3) Harry (Hank) Keane Please write me at 345 Thacher St., Milton 86," Mass. This is im­ portant but not urgent. Eddie Cal­ lahan. 3) 3) 3) Carl E. Gibbs . Brother Gibbs asks his creditors to contact him at the SIU hall, 1216 East Baltimore St., Baltimore. (Continued from page 3) rebuilding of that portion of the ship. Consequently, the company, for a year, has been patching and darning the bottom of the ship by welding dqubier plates over the old ones. There has been much testimony during the hearing about repeated fractures and leaks in this area, as well as evidence offered that some .plates were worn thinner than minimum Coast Guard safety requirements. Further, Raiisback admitted that the company did not try to radio the Southern Districts until December 9, the day after it was supposed to hear from the ship. It continued unsuccessful efforts to contact the vessel for days, until it finally notified the Coast Guard the afternoon of the 11th that the vessel was overdue. Ironically enough, the Savannah station had tried to contact the ship December 6, without success. "The company was unaware of the attempted contact. Three other highly significant developments were revealed by other, testimony offered at the hearings: • There were "definite indica­ tions" that the Southern Districts was overloaded when she left Port Sulphur, La., December 2, enroute to Bucksport, Me., with a cargo of sulphur ore. • One of the lost crewmembers in a letter to his grandmother sub­ stantiated testimony by a Seafarer that the engine room was not up to Coast Guard safety require­ ments. • Another merchant vessel re­ ported seeing the Southera Dis­ tricts speeding head on into a se­ vere storm area on December 5. Hearings had been resumed Jan­ uary 17 after a six-day recess to permit Raiisback to appear and testify. Apart from the admissions about the company's "understand­ ing" with the Coast Guard, Railsback further conceded the exist­ ence of patchwork, jury-rig re­ pairs in the engine room and ad­ mitted the company undertook only "necessary" repairs in New Orleans as the ship was slated for annual inspection in Norfolk after one more trip. He stoutly insisted nevertheless, that the ship was seaworthy when she left on her fatal voyage. The Overloading question was raised by James B. Robertson Jr., Coast Guard naval architect. In­ formation available, he said, point­ ed to the fact that the ship's marks may have been submerged. Rob­ ertson is the same architect who testified that the Southern Isles was overloaded before she was lost three years ago. Earlier, Captain Kensr Jensen, representing the National Cargo Bureau, testified that he measured the Southern Disti'ict's feeboard when loaded at nine feet, eight inches. With the allowance for loading in fresh water, this figure would have put the ship at the borderline. However, doubt was cast on the accuracy of Jensen's measurements in a lengthy crossexamination. Israel G. Seeger, rep­ resenting the office of SIU General Counsel Seymour W. Miller, and others present questioned Jensen closely on this score. It was brought out that tlie ship's star­ board list, estimated at three degrees, could., have affected the accuracy of measurements by as much as* nine inches. The ship had been measured from the port, or higher, side only. Relaxed Changes Robertson had also testified that after the loss of the Southern I?les the Coast Guard called for struc­ tural changes in LST's and im­ posed additional limits on cargd" and the draft of the vessels. How­ ever, these were later relaxed, particularly those dealing with cargo density, on a petition of the ship operators "and a showing of loading controls of cargo weight on the tank tops." Robertson added that the No. 3 tank top had been replaced 'just before the vessel left Sulphur because it was rusted out. T' other tank tops were in bimilar shape, he said, they would have been -in "serious danger" of giving way. Testimony by Lt. Walton D. Alley, Coast Guard inspector, was also revealing. Alley had ordered the tank top replaced after he found it to be badly deteriorated. He said he went into No. 1 hold and had the sheathing removed fron^ the tank top and inspected its entire length because "holes in the bottom . . . indicated this was a logical place to start" his investi­ gation. He hammer-tested adjoin­ ing tanks but did not investigate them further because they "sounded good." Alley conceded he made no "in­ ternal examination" of the No. 2 hold, nor had he inspected the engine room. "I questioned the chief engineer," he said, "over a cup of coffee with him . . . and he said the engine room was in good shape." He admitted he could not positively say the engines and steering mechanism were sea­ worthy on the basis* of the chief's statement, but claimed that the hull was seaworthy. A far different picture of condi­ tions in the engine room was painted by Seafarer William L. Cooper, one of those lost on the ship, in a letter written to his grandmother, Mrs. L." F. Cleary, in Savannah, while the ship was in drydock. • "The chief is in a sweat," he wrote, "because the inspector will be in the engine room and will find all the salt water and bilge lines full of patches, which is not going to go over big with the Coast Guard ... all of those lines will more than likely have to be I'eplaced and they will find lots of other things that will not come up to the requirements ..." This description of conditions in the engine room was in line with earlier testimony • given by John Flanagan, oiler, who quit the ship in New Orleans, "because the en­ gines were in too bad condition to make the trip." Other SIU mem­ bers had testified to the presence of hull patches below the waterline with such devices as washers, bolts and wooden plugs, testimony borne out by Alley and Arthur B. Griant, independent marine surveyor. Both of these inspectors said they saw a "fish boit" and wooden plugs in the hull. Other inspectors testified they had not seen these. These wit­ nesses claimed that plates in, this condition were repaired in New Orleans. Judging from weather informa­ tion introduced during the hearing, the seaworthiness of the LST's hull and engines was put to a severe test on her last trip. At about 1:30 PM on December 5, the Southern Districts was sighted abeam of Jupiter Light on the Florida coast by John Wesley Rivers; chief mate of the Gulf Key, a tanker bound from Mobile to New York. "Four or five men were working on deck and the ship seemed to be proceeding at full speed," Rivers related. The Gulf Key passed the LST and proceeded northward into in­ creasingly strong winds and heavy seas. By the morning of December 6, -the going became so rough the Gulf Key had to reduce speed and leave the sea lane in search of quieter waters. "We had to siow down or pound everything to pieces," Rivers recalled. Wind in the area had reached a velocity of 65 knots an hour at midnight of the 6th and climbed to a peak of 75 knots (hurricane velocity winds) at 3 AM on Decem­ ber 7, bringing about "mountain'ous seas." The last radio message from the Southern Districts was received at Wilmington on December 5^ A Savannah station attempted to con­ tact the ship by radio beginning ajt 5:58 PM on December 6, but never was able to.Veceive any response. A similar fruitless effort was made by the station at Tuckerton, NJ, on December 7. The time element involved in these, reports added credence to the theory that the ship was lost after encountering the heavy weather reported by the Gulf Key and other vessels on December 6. Omit Minutes This Issue Because of the importance of the Coast Guard hearings on the Southern Districts to the future safety of shipboard crqws, it has been necessary to leave out the ship's minutes which normally appear on this page in order to carry a full report On the hearings. To make up for the omis­ sion, the next issue of the SEAFARERS LOG will carry two full pages of minutes in­ stead of the usual single page. All minutes mailed in to the LOG will, of course, continue to be printed in the LOG. Editor, SEAFARERS LOG. 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn 32, NY , I would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG—please put my name on your mailing list. (Print Information) NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY ZONE STATE Signed ... TO AVOID DUPLICATION: If you are an old lubscrlber and hava a ehtnga of addrats, piaata giva your former addre» below: ADDRESS CITY ....... >aaaaaeeeaaaaaee**«aM xeaeaeeaeaa • aeeaaeaeaaaei .ZONE aMeeaeaaaaea** STATE �>are Eifhtera 1 I iWOS ' ft 'W SEAF ARERS JnittUT tt, 19S5 LOG Why Delay? nie Early For Benefits A Seafarer came into the New York Welfare Services office recently to inquire about collecting the -$200 maternity benefit. He had become a father 20 months ago but had neglected to apply for the money. He was informed, regretfully, that he was no longer eligible for the benefit and the-* $25 defense bond that goes The limit is one year after the desirable from the beneficiary's - * event in the case Of maternity and point of view. with it. 5 6 The hospitalized Seafarer has The regulations of the Seafarers death benefits, and .14 days,after another interest besides collecting discharge from a hospital, for the Welfare Plan limit the time in SEAFARERS WELFARE,. VA CATIOF( PLANS which benefits can be applied for. hospital benefit. The Seafarers' his benefit within a 14-day period. Vacation Plan also puts a one-year The shipping rules provide a man REPORT ON BENEFITS P AID limit on collection of vacation pay. must register within 48 hours of dis­ In addition, there are important charge from the hospital if he is To.JrJ.-.Y-s-jr regulations on shipping rules cov­ to get the 30-day shipping card. ering men in. the hospitals, which The card gives him a handicap of No. -Saafarara Raaaiyir.s Benefits this Psriedi /o It every hospitalized Seafarer must one day for every day spent In the 1 Average Benefits Paid Each Seafarer |' «/4 follow in order to get the benefit hospital up to a maximum of 30 1 Total Benefits Paid this Period i ' 1 » days so that he does not lose out of the 30-day shipping card. on time spent while hospitalized. Several Reasons WELFARE, VACATION BENEFITS.PAID THIS PERIOD However, if he waits .onger than There are several good reasons 48 hours to register he loses out The wife and children of a Sea­ for imposing time limits on wel­ SSto oo farer who were faced with dis­ fare benefits. For one thing, the on this provision. roooo oo Death Benefits Fit For Duty possess action by a landlord are longer the peidod of delay, the Some Seafarers believe that Dissbilicv Benefits ioSa a a still in their apartment, thanks to more difficult it becomes for the they cannot register if they are y3,AOO oo the intervention of the SIU Wel­ Plan to check on proof of eligibili­ not fit for duty, which is one re^ason ay. ALs Vacation Benefits fare Services office in New York ty. Each year old records are filed why so many men fail to take ad­ a/ 1 Tots! ii \ II Vf away in storage to make room for The Seafarer had an under­ vantage of the . 30-day provision. standing with the landlord that he new ones, and under certain cir­ But the rules provide that men WELFARE. VACATION BENEFITS PAID PREVIOUSLY would take care of some overdue cumstances the hunt for necessai-y register as long as they are* not rent as soon as he shipped out. information would be an expensive in-patients. Then when the Sea­ i Hosoital Benefits Paid Since lulv 1, 1950* | However, when he did ship the and time-consuming job. -F9 farer is fit for duty, his card is old Secondly, carrying over pending enough for him to ship out in landlord started putting pressure Death Benefits Paid Since lulv 1. 1950 * lit /Jo 9 i7 tfr on his wife for the money due, al­ benefits from one year to the next hurry. oo Diaabilitv Benefits Paid Since Mav 1. 1952 • T li though the understanding was that would make for a bookkeeping Outpatients should register ac­ Matctnitv Benefits Paid Since April 1. 1952 • J •?» •/<>• oo everything would be taken care of headache of huge proportions. If cordingly, They ai-e subject to all oaf when the Seafarer completed the a large number of such benefits the rules of registration like any !|L 9/v 3g were pending, the trustees of the other Seafarer which means they voyage. * Date Senefita Beaan II Welfare Services was contacted Plan would have no way to judge are required to attend member­ by the anxious wife who feared the financial health of the fund, ship meetings while on the list. WELFARE. VACATION PLAN ASSETS that the family and all its posses­ and no way to tell whether or not Seafarers who have benefits sions would be put out in the it could support additional bene­ coming to them or who are in Vacation Lfli la-r A? street. The landlord was contacted fits. doubt about any of the above Cash on Hand JtA. and after some heated discussion, . The operation of the Welfare provisions should make sure to Vacation tiL 9'>f<| AO was persuaded to hold off action Plan has been geared to pay bene­ contact Welfare Services. In any Escifflated Accounts Receivable nt'iLo CO i for 18 days until the Seafarer fits as speedily as possible. This case, it's the smart thing not to US Government Bonds (Welfare) Lt 1 could be contacted. is also business-like, since it means delay. The sooner the procedure Real Estate (Welfare) (3n •/«/« 5i/| It's expected that he will then a smaller administrative expense is taken care of, the faster will the Other Assets - Training Ship (Welfare) tnios d-oll be able to straighten matters out and consequently, more money Seafarer receive the benefits from TOTAL ASSETS and take care of any payments due available for the benefits them­ the Welfare Plan and the benefit the landlord. CfM^ENTSl selves. Speedy collection is also of the shipping rules. Union Blocks Eviction Bid By Landlord All of the followmg SIU families and Mrs. Anthony Phillips, Mo­ will collect the $200 maternity bile, Alabama. benefit plus a $25 bond from the 4> 4' 4* Union in the baby's name: Gilbert Lawrence Maldonado, Belinda Elise Long, born De­ born December 9, 1954. Parents, cember 2, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. Estaven Maldonado, Mrs. Charles Long, Mobile, Ala­ Alvin, Texas. bama. 4i 4i 4' John Andrew and Jean Marie t 4. Anthony Marko Phillips, born Rodowsky, born November 2, 1954. December 12, 1954. Parents, Mr. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ro- Victim Of Southern Districts dowsky, Baltimore, Maryland, . 4> t David Benton Pretlow, born May 18, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Pi'etlow, Snohomish, Washington. 4> 4" 4" 4" 4" a* 4« a* a* a* 4* 4" Barry James Guthrie, born De­ cember 9, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Guthrie, Tampa, Florida. Robert Anthony Garrod, born December 13, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Garrod, Atlantic City, New Jersey. n as much as many of the beneficiary cards now on file at the office of the Welfare Plan are not properly completed, new beneficiary cards have been issued to all ports and offices. When a new card is received by an eligible of the Plan, he should read it carefully, before completing samca After a card is completed, it should be cheeked for possible errors or omissionsa beneficiary card which is not properly completed may deprive your beneficiary of Welfare Benefits that they would ordinarily be entitled tooa Submitted A1 Ketr, Assistant Administrator TO PROT^ YOUR CLAM fOR MAmBNA/^Ce At>tD CUR£. •. Ton! Elaine Daries, born De­ cember 22, 1954. Parents, Mi", and Mrs. Emile Davies, Covington, La. Elaine Pacheco, born October 23, 1954. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hermino Pacheco, New York, New York. He, I's \/eiy 'wpoyhyij-hdamnt:^ and cune-ihsf'ioa losisf-d sHipboand rejf>cjd' he made of iour acridenf'didihr ^oaane leauim-Hieohi^farrpdical r'eaec^. a Money Exchange Rates Eisted The following is the latest available listing of official ex­ change rates for foreign cur­ rencies. Listings are as of Janu­ ary 18, 1955, and are subject to change without notice. England, New Zealand, Sauth Af­ rica: $2.80 per paund sterling. Australia: $2.24 per pound sterling. Belgium: 50 francs ta the dollar. Denmark: 14.45 cents per krone. France: 350 francs to the dollar. Germany; 4.2 marks ta the dollar. Holland: 3.7-3.S guilders to the dollar. Italy: G24.9 lire to the dollar. . Norway: 14 cents per krone. Portugal: 28.75 escudos to the dollar. Sweden: 19.33 cents per krana. India: 21 cents per rupee. Pakistan: 30.22 cents per rupee. Argentina: 14.2 pesos ta the dollar. Brazil: 5.4 cents per cruzeiro. Uruguay: 52.63 cents per peso. Venezuela; 29.85 cents per boUvar. Til SID WELFJIBE SEITICES • iipinuff copY. >A(5Cmedical slip -fv&jTi -//le caplBm. If You ha^ anYoue&Viors, conrncd-Hie eiu WelfaveSerUice^,. �SEAFARERS Jmaary 21. 1058 (•THE SEAFARERS LOG Pare Nlneteea Seafarer Collects 3rd Baby $$ With WALTER SIEKMANN Among the new admissions to the Staten Island hospital recently was Brother Clarence Lord, who was messman on the Excello. Clarence has been having some ear trouble,.tout when he wanted to go to the hospital he found he didn't have his discharges handy. Welfare -Serv­ ices was able to supply proof of the fact that he had been sailing the required number of and got him in for treatment. Seafarers should know that the hospitals have tightened up on their admission procedure recently, and they want to see those discharges before they let a man come in. Sometimes this can cause quite a problem. The Public Health Service hospitals are a lot stricter than they used to be years back about proof of admission because they have to watch their budget pretty closely. It's the wisest thing to have the necessary documents handy when you have to go for treatment so that there's no delay or unnecessary difficulties on this score. " ; iCt Friends of Brother William Gardner will be pleased to know that he is on the mend now and Mrs. Jean Rogers is shown at home with family of four, three of whom have collected SIU mater­ doing very well. He was in bad shape for a while nity benefit. Left to right are: Jerry, Jean Marie, Catherine Mary, Patrick Jr. Dad was out at sea and the doctors really had to work on him to pull when picture was taken. him through. His last ship was the Lawrence Vic­ Mohamed tory. J. R. St. Laurent, who was an oiler on the Another Seafarer's family has collected SIU maternity benefits for the third time. SeaExcello, went into the hospital on January 6. The doctors are giving ^rer Pat Rogers was the second to qualify for three baby benefits when his daughter, hinij a check-up on his ticker. Catherine, was born last October 20. All told, Rogers has collected $600 and three $25 Varicose veins have been troubling Antonio Coion. defense bonds in the form oft who was steward utility on the Seatrain Savannah, SIU maternity benefits. lingim of Chickasaw, Alabama, Dolan Fillingim on September 6, so he is getting them taken care of. Robert Purvis whose third SIU maternity benefit 1954. At that though, Pat is one Rogers was nosed out for is in the hospital with an unusual complaint—he the top spot by Tommy Ray Fil- came from the birth of Terry up on the Fillingim family be­ has water on the elbow. Purvis was oiler on the cause his oldest child, Patrick Jr., Edith and went in for treatment on January 5th. was born before the SIU started A case of pneumonia put Lonnie Hall on his the maternity benefit in April, back. He was OS on the Lawrence Victory before 1952. he went in on January 7. Abdul Mohamed is re­ Not figuring in this tabulation cuperating from injuries he got aboard the Alcoa because of unfair advantage are Runner. He came in the same day. Colon Seafarers Bob Long of New Or­ Other new admissions are Carl Carlson, who was leans and Louis E. Hudson of Mo­ chief cook on the Lone Jack, and J. J. Vanos, AB on the Cantigny on bile. Long astounded the Crescent his last trip. Hardly had the SEAFARERS LOG printed a warning City when his wife gave birth to about the practices of unscrupulous undertakers as disclosed triplets in December, 1953, while by the New York State attorney general, than the wife of Hudson collected three benefits via the birth of a set of twins in USPHS HOSPITAL USPHS HOSPITAL a deceased Seafarer came to-*-^ NEW ORLEANS, LA. MANHATTAN BEACH. NV 1953 and another child this year. latter had no next of kin in the William E. Aplin Leo Lang • SIU Welfare Services with a Fortunato Bacomo James J. Lawlor Julian B. Barrett August Michel Rogers' other children besides James R. Lewis Frank Bemrick tale of woe. She showed bills United States. August Brosig Vincent Michel Arthur Lomas Claude Blanks the two men­ It is obvious that the attorney Thomas Blackledge George R. Nichols for her husband's funeral amount­ Francis Lynch Joseph Carr Olaguibel Archibald McGuigan George W. Books Alfonso stood to rake in a handsome fee tioned are Ger­ Ho Yee Choe ing close to $1,100. ' Russell N. Boyett Thomas Peacock Vic Milazzo Jar Chong for his services—which in this in­ ard, born on May Fred D. Peterson Charles Brady Nor was that all. Since her hus­ Melvin Moore John J. DriscoU Randolph Ratciiff John Carolan stance were totally unnecessary. 11, 1952 and Eugene Nelson Bart Guranick band had died in Puerto Rico, the Joseph Richard S. C. Carregal Daniel Ruggiano Taib Hasseii Darrell Riley The simple and easy procedures es­ Jean, June 17, wife faces additional charges for George E. Shumaker Herman A. Carson Ernest Rogriguez Thomas Isaksen Clarence W. Cobb tablished under the Welfare Plan 1953. Renato Villata John Keenan preparation and shipping the de­ Mitchell Rodriguez Warren Currier When the LOG Ludwig Kristlansen VirgU WUmoth Tage Roslund make it possible for beneficiaries George S. Cutrer ceased back to New York—charges Frederick Landry Lembit Saar photographer ar­ Robert Dewey to collect the death benefit with­ which will total approximately USPHS HOSPITAL Benjamin Seal Fred Fagan DETROIT, MICH. out paying a cent to any outside rived at the Rog­ Luther Seidle Leo Fontcnot $300 or more. Tim Burke Earl G. Garberson Wade Sexton ers home, just a party. Antonio Solis Enoch Gaylor The shipping charges of course, USPHS HOSPITAL If anything, one of the functions hoot and a hol­ Joseph T. Gchringer Henry Sosa Rogers MEMPHIS. TENN. are unavoidable because of the cir­ of the Welfare Services office is to ler from the SIU Richard Gralicki Walter Soubry Charles Burton William Grimes Bob Spears cumstances. The funeral charges assist beneficiaries in collecting headquarters hall, he found that USPHS HOSPITAL ' Kristian Gunderson Alexander Stevenson FORT WORTH. TEXAS the widow paid at home were such benefits speedily. dad was out at sea picking up the E. T. Hardeman Albert Stout Benjamin F. Deibler J. Santiago Edgar Harman Nicholas Tala something else again. Welfare Virgil L. Harding Edward J. Toolan This isn't the first instance in pork chops for Mrs. Rogers and Herman Holmes Lonnie Tickle Services has found as a general Woodrow Meyers George W. Huber Vernon Williamson which lawyers have gotten them­ the four children at home. Henry Jeffrey A. C. Witherington rule of the thumb that- $600 is selves an "in" on the collection of VA HOSPITAL Present plans of the Rogers fam­ Konstant Kain Edward L. Woods OTEEN. N. CAROLINA ample to provide for as elaborate E. G. Knapp Jacob Zimmer Leonard J. Frank death benefits. Seafarers should ily, according to Mrs. Rogers, do a funeral ceremony as any family be reminded that neither they nor not call for any further additions USPHS HOSPITAL USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON. MASS. STATEN ISLAND. NY would want to give the deceased. any member of their family needs to the family, but only time will Donald McShane Hussen Ahmed Frank Alasavich Alfred A. Hancock Too Late Joseph Malone Robert Booker Joseph Fawcett George A. WeddcU to pay lawyers for that purpose. tell. Ferfecto Mangual Carl Borealino USPHS HOSPITAL In this case, it was too late to A. 1. Muller Carl A. Carlson SAVANNAH. GA. Matti Ruusukalllo George Coleman Fred Buckner Angelo J. Martins do anything. But had Welfare Jose Salgado Antonio Colon J. D. Cannady James T. Moore Services been consulted before­ Olav Seim John J. Doherty George S. Chance John H. Morris Victor Shavroff Adolf Eliasson Frank F. Nelson Rufus L. Fields hand and asked to assist or at Morris Slegel George W. Flood Jack Nelson, Jr. James F. Lee least check on the arrangements, Prank Strelitz William Gardner Ernest H. Webb Albert W. Lima Sidney D. Turner Estell Godfrey Robert R. White Jimmie Littleton a considerable amount of the Un­ Samuel Vandal Frederick Harvey USPHS HOSPITAL The deaths of the following Sea­ department. He is survived by his ion's $2,500 death benefit could James Waldron Frederick Hauser BALTIMORE. MD. Francis WaU WUllam R. Home have been saved for its original farers haiw been reported to the wife, Mary Lee Walker of Mobile, Thomas L. Ankerson John R. Keemowlcz Thomas J. Ward Vincent Jones purpose, the care of the family of Seafarers Welfare Plan and the Alabama. Timothy Less Ernest Atkins CUfford Womack David Kaim George B. Little Roy W. BeU K. W. KeUy $2,500 death benefits are being the deceased. t 4> 4 Robert G. McKnew B. O. Buzbee SAILORS SNUG HARBOR paid to their beneficiaries: Harry N. Byrd Joseph G. McKretb James Fenswick, 62: Sailing in The incident took place just STATEN ISLAND. NY W. W. Moore Jessie A. Clarke the deck department on SIU ships Joseph Kosiusky shortly after the state's attorney Louis Firlie Thomas Mungo Albert P. Smith, 56: On Novem­ since 1939, when he joined in New PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL Colon Rose Joseph Gill general announced he was investi­ SAN JUAN. PUERTO RICO John R. Schultz Gorman T. Glaze gating the practices of unscrupu­ ber 20, 1954, Brother Smith died York, Brother Penswick died on Jose Rivera Raymond Smith D. L. Guerriero James Stathis Richard M. Harp lous undertakers. The attorney in Bermuda of pneumonia. His August 29, 1954, in Boston, Massa­ USPHS HOSPITAL Russell R. Henry Otis Townsend place of burial is not known. Broth­ chusetts, of a heai't ailment. Place NORFOLK, VA. Michael Jablonski Vlfiliiam D. Warmack general had said he had many Colon BoutweU William Mason er Smith joined the Union in 1944 of burial was Cedar Grove ceme­ complaints that undertakers were Isaac Duncan Irvln Taylor Thurston Lewis Norman Wroton taking advantage of death benefits in New York and had been sailing tery, Boston, Mass. Surviving is his USPHS HOSPITAL paid by union welfare plans to in­ in the steward department. He is wife, Helen Penswick of Boston, SEATTLE, WASH. Frank Airey Sverre Johannessen crease their charges considerably. survived by his sister. Miss Ada Massachusetts. Thomas Connell Mike Mlchelik In another instance involving an L. Smith of Harrisburg, Pennsyl­ 4 4 4 Franklin D. Oilman M. H. Whitehead Bjorn A. Granberg SIU death benefit. Welfare Serv­ vania. Joseph La Plante, 39: Brother Seafarers overseas who want 3^ 4" 4" USPHS HOSPITAL ices received a call from an attor­ La Plante was struck by a motor to get in touch with headquar­ GALVESTON. TEXAS car and died in Addington Hospital ney purporting to represent the Claude Walker, 41: Brother Wat­ ters in a hurry can do so by Benjamin Grico William Trice in Durban, South Africa, on Octo­ beneficiary of a deceased Seafarer. er died of a head injury on De­ A. W. Keane John Watt cabling the Union at its cable Murray Plylcr Charles B. Young The call came hard on the heels cember 14, 1954, at the Hospital ber 31, 1954. Place of burial is not address. SEAFARERS NEW USPHS HOSPITAL of the hospital death report. of the Capital in San Juan, Puerto known. He joined the Union in YORK. SAN FRANCISCO. CALIF. Naturally, the attorney was Rico. Place of burial is not New York in 1942 and had been Use of this address will as­ Charles Brown Oliver Klein Max Byers John Meletios keenly interested in how to col­ known. He was one of the first sailing as chief electrician. Brother sure speedy transmission on Wayne Center Charles Neumaier lect the death benefit, which in members of the SIU, joining in La Plante is survived by his wife, all messages and faster serv­ Henry J. ChUds Joseph Perreira Olav Gustavsen GUbert Promutico this instance was payaible to a November, 1938, in Mobile and Lucienne La Plante, of Baltimore, ice for the men involved. Francis Halgney W. S. Singleton friend of the deceased, since the had been sailing in the steward Maryland. Paul Hugging P. S. Yuzon Lawyers, Morticians Are Sill Benefit Scavengers Seafarers In llospitals ~ Union Has Cable Address �-; ;;i;r V'^ •-•:^:v!'.r-.>v'yr:'.,'-v '• • •- Z»'-' 1.4^'""-- SEAFARERS • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF f; THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • On y. LOG ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • oh.. i;- •i^ Qffy? In yGur union-..; V>G4I? p2i:3fed:ed/ SIU CONSTITUTION. Protects your right to participate by majority vote in the forma­ tion of all Union policies and decisions. Assures you a voice and full control of your job rights and the right to vote on all agree­ ments and rules affecting your livelihood. Insures your right and every member's to vote and participate in all Union elections and to take part and exercise your votes at all Union meetings. Guar­ antees control of your Union finances through regular rank-andfile audits. SlU CONTRACT Gives you the highest take-home pay in the industry in ail ratings. Assures the best working and living conditions aboard ship, many modeled after your recommendations and those of your shipmates who are periodically polled on contract issues. Provides for your job security and protection on the job by an experienced full-time Union staff of patrolmen and representatives in all major US ports as well as a system of crew-elected delegates aboard ship who represent you at sea. SIU WELFARE PLAN IP?'- 1 SIU VACATION PLAN . . SIU STRENGTH. KL-^: •- Full time protection for you and your family through a series of benefits providing broader and more extensive coverage than any other union in the industry. Operates at low cost on a selfinsured basis to assure the highest possible hospital, disability, maternity, death, scholarship and other benefits—and at no cost. Provides speedy payments with no red tape, and the aid of a specially-created Welfare Services Department to service you at all times. Protects you with the highest paid vacations in the industry on the basis of days worked each year. Assures you a paid vacation whether you work for one company or a dozen through a central system of accounting maintained at Union headquarters for which the shipowners pay all costs. Provides you and all SIU Seafarers for the first time with an opportunity to enjoy leisure tii^ie ashore with your families and friends through vacation pay which can be collected as often as four times annually. Guarantees you the backing of a trade union tailored to your needs and devoted exclusively to the security of you and your family, both on the jo® and off it. Offers you the best job oppor­ tunities in the industry and security in those jobs at all times. Operating on a solid financial footing, your Union provides a net­ work of halls and facilities in all major ports and special services for all your needs and problems on ship and ashore. Seafarers Int'l Union • A & C District • AFL � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1950-1959 Description An account of the resource Volumes XII-XXI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource January 21, 1955 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. XVII, No. 2 Description An account of the resource Headlines: THE TWO HEADED MONSTER PORT O' CALL OPENED IN BALTO; SIU ON TV LOG ARTIST 'MURALIZES' BALTO NY LAWYER HANDLED ILA $ TO FIGHT HALL 3-DEPT VOTE HITS SNAG SIU CREWMEN WIN 5-DAY BATTLE TO SAVE SS STEELORE 'DISTRICTS' RULED LOST; SHIP SAFETY CODE EVADED WITH CG OKAY, CO ADMITS SIU-CREWED SS CUBA TO BEGIN RUN SEA CHEST 17 PERCENT CHEAPER ON SLOPS SHIP SUITS PLAGUE SIU 'ALIEN CO'S' SPECIAL AID RESPONSE SHOWS WELFARE FUND ADAPTABILITY SIU VOTE TOPS RECORD; TALLY BEGINS JAN. 27 MOBILE PLANS DORM, SNACK BAR 90C PAY BASE FACES FIGHT SIU SEEKS IMPROVED MAIL SERVICE $241 MILLION ASKED FOR MARITIME IN '55 'YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH' TO BE ISSUED AS BOOK DISASTER INSURANCE INSPECTION QUESTIONS WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN SEAFARER-GI RAISES HIS VOICE - FOR PRIZE-WINNING ARMY QUINTET SALTY PLAY HIT ON WC WHY DELAY? FILE EARLY FOR BENEFITS UNION BLOCKS EVICTION BID BY LANDLORD SEAFARER COLLECTS 3RD BABY $$ LAWYERS, MORTICIANS ARE SIU BENEFIT SCAVENGERS Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1/21/1955 1955 Periodicals Seafarers Log