http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/26d589e6cc8ecffdfecd7eb5b0436c1a.PDF bf03cdcec6fdf262fc56b92e3554919f PDF Text Text SEATARiE»S * U>G -'5^ • OFFICIAL ORGAN^OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION •^ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • 58 Getting New Benefit: • "fm 'iW Family Aid Mounts ' •< >! Story On Page 3 '• K^mmm f# Good s h 1 p p i ng in NY and ^OSy I/OCS If# throughout SIU-A&G District is typified by Seafarer Chester B. Wilson, AB (right), who registered 8:45 AM July 22 and shipped 9 AM to the Mobilian. Dispatcher A. Michelet gives tjim shipping card. (Story on Page 2.) Crews Assail NMU Forced Vacation Plan Story On Page 5 v.' • Winding up cross-country roficy r OOIWOrK, bicycle tour in San Fran­ cisco, Seafarer DeForest Fry, 60, completed solo trip in less than three months. (Story oh Page 6.) I- -i-L.;"- , I Ceremony on Robin Tuxford folBiOSW Iffff lows last wishes of Seafarer Lee Arnold, 60, as ashes are scattered at sea. P. Gonzales, S. Prutfinaki, aod'R* Mi^voy^ take part._>-- , Senate Group Stalls Funds For 'Roll-Ons' Story On Page 3 : r -• -i �SEAFARERS Face Twe ISCi L0G i.a^ ..; - \ Apcurt 6, 195S RIan All-Out Battle On La. 'Wreck' Law NEW ORLEANS—^Backed by the militant stand of all SIU affiliates in this port, AFL unions in the New Orleans Cen­ tral Trades and Labor Council have marshalled forces for a new, all-out battle for repeal of state legislation outlawing work at the task of registering union men and their families to the union shop. vote, and getting out the vote on The result has been the forma­ election day. tion of a strong Labor's League The principal objective of the for Political Education under the LLPE, as set forth in its recentlyauspices of the Central Trades and adopted constitution, is to encour­ Seafarers Phil Reyes (left) and Bob Elliott, steward on the City of Alma (Waterman), discuss Labor Council. The key role of age AFL members, their families use of electric, household-size percolators instead of the customary restaurant-size coffee the SIU in the organization is in­ and friends to register and vote urns under the new SIU feeding program in the Waterman fleet. At right, Floyd Peavy, MM, dicated in the naming of Lindsey and "to inform them of the atti­ serves Jack Bowman, AB, according to the new procedure. Vegetables are served in side J. Williams, SIU port agent here, tudes, records, opinions and vari­ dishes according to the individual order. Reyes is handling the program in Waterman fleet. as chairman of the executive board. ous other actions of candidates for Composed of many AFL shore- public office which are of vital side unions and all SIU affiliates concern to the economic and social represented in the port, the LLPE welfare of all working men and includes the SIU-Atlantic & Gulf women. District, Sailors Union of the Pa­ Members of the executive board cific, Marine Firemen and the Ma­ of the LLPE and their affiliated rine Allied Workers. crafts are Willfams, Del Aleman, B. Raynal Ariatti, business rep­ Barbers: Ernest Colbert, Laborers; NEW ORLEANS—The SIU's new shipboard feeding program, now being extended in the resentative of the AFL Glaziers R. L. Grevemberg, Radio and T-V and Glass Workers, was elected Technicians; Curtis Luttrell, Ship Waterman fleet, is making a big hit with crew members, judging from comments of Seafar­ president of the organization. Carpenters; Raymond Lapino, ers aboard Waterman ships that have hit this phrt. Other officers include A. P. Stod­ Teamsters; Sidney LeBlanc, Sheet Seafarer Phil Reyes, a vet--* dard, secretary-treasurer of the Metal Workers; E. L. Bauve, Photo eran steward with years of "Our experience so far has order by messmen, who are re­ Louisiana Allied Printing Trades Engravers; Nick Lapara, Electri­ experience in the Waterman demonstrated to the company that Council, secretary-treasurer, and cians; Natale Masi, Butcher Work­ fleet, is surveying the company's through the SIU system we are quired to wear white jackets while E. H. Burand, Carpenters Union, ers; Philip Piro, Sign Painters; ships under the direction of the able to provide the men aboard the serving. All steaks and chops are grilled to individual order, which vice president. Louis Sahuque, Printing Press­ SIU's Steward Department Com­ ships with better quality food and means they come to the table fresh men; Francis Tardy, Painters; mittee and is riding the vessels at the same time eliminate waste from the stove without drying out. Aid Labor's Friends John W. Whalen Jr., Machinists, from port to port to put the new in food preparation and serving," Roasts are sliced to order and "The primary purpose of the and Anthony Pohlmah, Carpenters. system into operation. Reyes said. ^ served from the galley instead of LLPE will be to aid in the election The program has resulted in ob­ being sliced in advance and left of legislators who understand and taining many new food items for on the steam table until the meal support trade union principles the ships, including such desirable hour. This permits the use of left­ and who will assist us in our ef­ foods as fresh frozen vegetables. over portions in preparation of forts to achieve repeal of the soAnother popular change in feeding night lunches, the quality of which called 'right-to-work' law which methods has been the installation has been greatly improved by th« was passed by the last regular ses­ of home-size percolators aboard the new method. sion of the Louisiana Legislature," vessels with the result that Sea­ Side Dishes Williams said. NEW YORK—The absence of major beefs serves to farers have fresh coffee at all times "A majority of the legislators The new Waterman steward de­ from New .Orleans and vicinity are brighten the shipping picture for the headquarters port even without the waste resulting from partment rules require that not the traditional use of large-size friendly to labor and voted against more, as activity continues at a record level. more than one vegetable be served urns. this vicious legislation which out­ on the same plate with meat or Regular meetings are being held Jobs remain on the board ^— laws union security clauses in la­ other entree. Other vegetables bor-management contracts in this with no takers for hours at a deal, the Union will go to bat for between Waterman stewards and are served in side dishes. state. A few, however, voted for time and, in some cases men to him and do everything possible SIU assistant secretary-treasurer Bread, butter and milk are Eddie Mooney, chainhan of the placed on the table not more than the bill and we are aiming at a 100 fill the vacancies can't be routed for him," Simmons stated. "But when a man deliberately union committee, to assist Reyes five minutes before the serving of percent friendly delegation in the out from anywhere. Indicative of the good shipping puts his head out and asks them in briefing the stewards on the food. These items now are placed next session." to-chop it off, we can do nothing new feeding procedure. only on tables where needed. ' The New Orleans AFL political and the well-fed state of the mem­ for him. We urge all of our mem­ The program has been drafted in bership is when a bosun's job for Night lunches now include Organization is preparing for the bers to refrain from doing anything ivritten form apd is being dis­ State primaries in January, 1956, Isthmian stays on the board for that will cause their names to be tributed to the Waterman stewards (Continued on page 15) three hours before someone will by setting up a parish-wide pre­ as was done in the case of Alcoa entered in the logbookIn such cinct organization with labor rep­ take it. Engine and deck depart­ instances where they lose their and Bull Line ships where the new resentatives in each precinct to ment ratings can ship out of here chance to go to sea, they will have procedure already is in operation. most any time of day they choose. Under the new procedure, all As Assistant Secretary-Treasurer nothing to blame except their own food is served from the galley to Claude Simmons puts it, "although misconduct," he added. the dispatchers are going nuts try­ Aug. 5. 1955 Vol. XVII, No. 16 ing to shanghai men to fill these PAUL HALL, Secretary-Treasurer jobs, we would rather have a hard HERBERT BRAND, Editor; RAY DENISON, time getting men to fill the jobs Managing Editor; BERNARD SEAMAN, Art Editor; HERMAN ARTHVR, IRWIN SPIVACK, than have a bunch of hungry sailors Staff Writers; BILL MOODY, Gulf Area on the beach and no jobs for Representative. A slx-nian SIU of NA delega­ them. Personally, I would rather tion will attend a special meeting contend with a nutty dispatcher." Burly Page 13 of AFL international union officers The only sour note in the head­ Editorial Cartoon Page 10 in Chicago next week, as part of Editorials ..Page 11 quarters picture is the sudden crop the preparation for the AFL-CIO Final Dispatch Page 15 of performing reported on some ships. Simmons warned, however, merger convention in- New York Inquiring Seafarer Page 11 City later this year. Labor Roundup Page 10 men who get drunk ashore and Selected to attend by SIU of NA Letters Page 15 then return to disrupt operations president Harry Lundeberg, in ad­ Meet The Seafarer ......Page 10 on the ship are putting their own dition to himself, were: John Hawk, Personals . Page 15 necks on the chopping block. SIU of NA secretary-treasurer; In these cases, he pointed, out, Recent Arrivals Page 15 not only will the crewmerabers Paul Hall, A&G District secretarySeafarers In Action Page 10 treasurer; Morris Weisberger, SUP Shipping Figures Page 4 take action, but in most cases the New York port agent; Hal Banks, Your Dollar's Worth ... Page 6 facts have been entered in the ship's logbook and eventually bring Canadian District; and Captain Published biweeRly kr the headquarters the Coast Guard down as well. A John Fox, Inland Boatmen's Union. ot the Seafarers International Union, At­ The selections by Lundeberg lantic & Gulf District, AFL, 675 Fourth recent instance on a Robin Line Avenue. Brooklyn 32, NY. Tel. tfYacintli ship cost the crewmem^r his sea­ were made in accordance with the 9-6600. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office In Brooklyn, NY, under men's papers—and his livelihood decision of the last SIU of NA con­ the Act of Aug. 24, 1912. Going up before headquarters membership for election to with it, through his own miscon­ vention which authorized him to quarterly .financial committee are (left to right); Edward duct. appoint committee members fof "Where a man is being hardHansen, Joseph Malone, Ralph Ewing, Charles Oppenheimer, any meetings oq the merger questimed or hot being given a square Andy Anderson. tioq. i SIU Food Plan Popular With Waterman Crews NY Ship Beefs Dwindle; Job Boom Continues SEAFARERS LOG m [Wr-- w- SlUNA Will Attend AFL Merger Meet #.1 �Aacnst I, 1»5B SEAFARERS LOG r«c«; Tare* •S,, SlU Family Benefit Shows Big Increase In Second Month . • t'*"-^ '• In operation for two brief months, the SIU's new dependents' hospital and surgi­ cal benefits plan has shown a sharp increase in benefit payments to Seafarers and their families. The second month's operation saw 24 claims paid to Seafarers in ports throughout the dis­ The dependents' benefit covers coverage to stepchildren of Sea­ trict for expenses incurred wives of Seafarers and unmarried farers living in his home and to all in behalf of their wives and children under the age of 19. The children of Seafarefs who are sup­ children, with another 29 pay- Plan has been interpreted to give meiita now being processed by the Seafarers Welfare Plan. In the first' month of • the Plan, which went into operation on June 1, it handled five payments. All imiles, Seafarer George Meshover (right) picki up two The largest single benefits pay­ checks totalling $456 in SlU welfare benefits from SlU wel­ ment made thus far was for $456 which went to Seafarer George fare services rep. Milton Flynn at Union headquarters. The Meshover of New York, whose wife payments covered a .large part of the cost of medical hospi­ spent 29 days in the hospital with tal care for his wife, Rosalie, under the new SlU dependents' glandular fever. benefits. Seafarers in New Orleans re­ ceived the greatest number of July payments with eight benefits paid. New York was next with five ben­ efits while Mobile and Boston had three apiece. Other benefits were paid in San Francisco, Houston, Lake Charles, Philadelphia and Puerto Rico. , Hundreds Yearly Back home in New Orleans WASHINGTON—^Although foreign aid funds were chopped The very sharp increase in pay­ after an appendectomy, it down by half a billion, a Senate-House agreement on $2.7 bil­ ments made and in claims pending Carol Ann Bellaflore, 15, lion appropriations for the 1955-56 year assures cargoes for supports the Union's belief that daughter of Seafarer Frank hundreds of ships. The vote-*' the hospital and surgical benefits Marshall, Jr. A major por­ continues undiminished the and shifting around of agencies, will assist many hundreds of Sea­ tion of the expense of her Government's post-World War the foreign aid program has con­ farers each year in meeting the operation was paid for by II policy of assisting foreign na­ tinued without let-up since World heavy emergency expenses of care SlU Welfare Plan. and treatment for their families. tions with military and economic War II. • US Shipping Boosted By Foreign Aid Vote aid. All told, the US has spent $51 billion for this purpose since the war's end. iiiiiiiiilB'' At virtually the last minute Congress made some deep cuts in the'$3.2 tnilion requested by the Administration. Both Houses had authorized this figure with slight modifications. When it came to voting the actual money, however, Congress learned that the Defense Department, on the eve of the new fiscal year, suddenly authorized the spending of $400 millions left over from last year's $4 billion appro­ priation. Itcvolt In House This led to a revolt in the House Appropriations Committee which felt that money should not be ap­ propriated up to the full amount if the previous year's appropriation Artist's conception of the Maritime Administration's proposed "Turnpike" class "roll on-roll ^ had not been spent. ofF" trailership, which would be capable of both side and end loading. The twin screw, In actual fact then, the Govern­ 4,400-deadweight-ton vessel is intended mostly for use in the intercoastal and coastwise ment will have over $3 billion for service. It would have a speed of 20 knots. this purpose this year, the money just voted and the amount left from the previous year. Foreign aid shipments will be in addition to hundreds of millions in agri­ cultural surplus disposal, also cov­ WASHINGTON—^A delay of several months is likely in plans for the construction of seven ered by the "50r50" law. roll-on ships for the SlU-contracted Pan Atlantic Steamship Company. The Pan Atlantic New Agency plans ran into a Congressional roadblock ivhen the Senate Appropriations Committee refused The current foreign aid program to consider a $60 million s.up< will be administered by the new plemental appropriation re­ ted funds from a previous appro­ plans for the new ships had not International Cooperation Admin­ quest to build these and other priation to take care of the project. been developed in time for the istration which replaces the For­ vessels. Committee members said that the regular appropriation bill. By the eign Operations Administration. Pan A11 a n t i e had asked ap­ Maritime Administration should time the agency was ready to go to Despite the juggling of names proval to trade in its seven C-2s renev^its request in 1956 if It still Congress with the plans it' was needed the funds. Officials of the nearly the end of the current ses­ to the Government as a down pay­ agency denied that funds were sion and the money request had to ment on the construction of the available for the "roll-ohs." be put in the form of a supplemen­ new vessels which would be used The other ships affected by the tal bill to catch an appropriations in the company's coastwise service. Senate committee's action were bill that had already passed the The seven ships might also be the five new cargo ships for Lykes House. Regular membership meet­ predecessors of additional ships of Brothers aiid five for United Washington observers agree that ings in SIU headquarters and the same type on an intercoastal States Lines. These ten would have the refusal of Congress to act on at all branches are held every run. Each of them could handle been built with construction sub­ the supplementary funds is a set­ second Wednesday night at 285 loaded truck trailers.' back to the merchant marine's sidies. 7 PM. The schedule for the The Committee refused to act, A maritime administration vessel replacement plans and to next few meetings Is as follows: claiming that the Maritime Admin­ spokesman said that the difficul­ "roll-on" plans proposed by sev­ Aug. 10, Aug 24, Sept. 7. istration had sufficient uncommit­ ties over money arose because the eral steamship companies. Trailership Plans Stalled Meeting Night Every 2 Weeks ported by them whether or not they live under the same roof with the Seafarer. The Welfare Plan covers hos­ pital room and board at the rate of $10 a day for a maximum of 31 days in the hospital, as well as other hospital expenses up to $100. The Seafarer is responsible for the finst $50 df this coverage under a "$50 deductible" policy, with the Plan paying the rest up to the max­ imum limit. Also covered are surgical costs up to a maximum of $300 accord­ ing to a schedule of operations benefits, and doctor's visits to the hospital in non-surgical cases at the rate of $4 a day up to 31 days. Any' Seafarers who have ques­ tions about the Plan or who expect one of their dependents to be hos­ pitalized are urged to contact the nearest SIU port agent. The port agent will see to it that the claims procedure is started immediately and will give the Seafarer or his family all necessary information on the benefits. MAW Signs Bay Boats In Baltimore BALTIMORE—The SlU-affiliated Marine Allied Work­ ers scored organizational suc­ cesses in this port with excursion vessels and other ships plying Chesapeake Bay. Contracts have been signed with the Wilson Line for the Bay Belle operating from here, and the Mount Vernon, which has Washington, DC, as its home port. Another excursion ship signed was the Tolchester and progress is being made with three other companies, two of them cargo car­ riers between here and Virginia. Shipping in the port has been going along at an even keel, port agent Earl Sheppard reports, with 11 ships paying off, seven signing on and 15 ships stopping in tran­ sit. An additional boost to shipping were jobs which Norfolk was un­ able to fill and called on Baltimore for help. As a result, men weie moving out of this port with a minimum of delay. Very little in the way of beefs were reported from the ships stop­ ping here, and all overtime dis­ putes have been settled to the satisfaction of all concerned. The MAW activity here is a counterpart of similar action in Philadelphia where the MAW also got a contract covering the Wilson Line. Sheppard added that there were still a number of men in the Balti­ more PHS hospital who could use a visitor to pass some of the idle hours. The list of hospitalized Sea­ farers appears on page 12. ;.V;: • 74 • -.s •f&'Ji I 31, •3 - V .v9 '\:i\ • I �r:r Pare Four SEAFARERS New Menu Promises Good Eating LOG Aurust 5. 1955 SHIPPING ROUND-UP AND FORECAST JULY 13 THROUGH JULY 26 Registered Port Deck A Boston ... X New York. Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Miami Tampa Mobile New Orleans Lake Charles Houston Wilmington San Francisco Seattle 11 103 24 50 11 9 3 5 26 28 16 16 11 15 12 Anti-SIU EyeMilked US Files 5 37 5 19 12 5 3 2— 10 11 4 10 2 10 23 Deck A Total Busy at one of the many chores that make up the work of the chief steward, Seafarer J. K. Parnell types out a menu aboard the Alcoa Pioneer, while the ship unloads at the Mobile ter­ minus of the bauxite run. It appears there was lots of good feeding in store for the ship's hard-working SlU crew. Deck B Deck B 340 158 Eng. A Eng. 5 78 15 46 11 8 1 8 17 35 7 7 4 11 Stew. A 4 34 7 21 4 , 11 4 2 4 13 . 9 19 3 10 16 9 Eng. 262 6 59 12 30 3 5 9 4 14 29 3 15 6 20 11 Stew. A 161 226 Stew. B 1 14 3 18 5 4 4 5 5 16 6 11 4 12 12 Total A Total B 22 10 240 85 15 51 126 58 25 21 20 22 13 11 17 . 9 57 19 92 • 40 26 19 S3 41 •I 21 46 32 32 51 Total Reg. 32 325 66 184 46 42 24 26 76 132 45 78 30 78 83 Stew. B Total A Total B Total Reg. 120 828 439 1267 Shipped Port Boston Miami Tampa Deck Deck B A 5 79 11 42 10 15 3 3 26 47 11 10 5 14 15 2 19 9 23 13 7 2 1 25 14 3 4 Deck C 1 7 0 0 8 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 5 2 2 Eng. A 1 66 21 27 7 8 3 5 18 47 7 12 1 11 9 Eng. Eng. B 0 25 8 21 3 8 2 2 26 14 11 6 2 8 6 stew. A 0 2 18 52 4 - 10 14 14 16 3 t) 7 3 0 5 2 4 0 7 2 3 11 5 27 42 3 6 1 11 10 Stew. stew. Total B C A 0 11 8 16 6 6 4 3 8 19 5 0 2 9 8 0 3 1 2 11 6 0 0 0 6 0 0 . 1 1 1 8 197 42 83 20 30 17 13 71 136 21 28 7 36 34 Total B 2 55 25 60 22 21 8 6 59 47 19 10 7 26 27 Total Total Ship. C 1 28 5 16 35 9 3 0 6 12 4 0 13 5 , 6. 11 280 72 159 77 60 28 19 136 195 44 38 27 67 67 Houston Wilmington 3. A "private eye" who bumped heads with the SIU and in­ San Francisco .......... 9 13 ' dividual Seafarers on various occasions has popped up in the Eng. Eng. Deck Deck Deck Eng. Stew. Slew. Stew. Total Total Total Total news again with the indictment of a former US employee for B A C C A B C A B C Ship. 78 296 ll7 33 243 142 204 105 32 743 394 143 1280 peddling confidential informatiop about seamen. Hwace sold by George Wolk, former man­ Shipping for the Atlantic and Gulf District continued to show a very favorable picSchmahl -ivas named as the ager of the Staten Island, New ;ure during the past two weeks as a total of 1,280 men were dispatched to jobs. Overall receiver of confidential Social Se­ York, Social Security office. Wolk shipping still maintained a lead over registration, which was 1,267. curity records on seamen's earn­ is the target of a 64-count Fed­ Although the shipping fig-|* ings allegedly copied from the"files eral Indictment. ure represented" a drop of over In addition the near 2-1 ratio of to come in again and no delay on The information, according to class A over class B held firm, wifh shipping . . . NEW ORLEANS: 100 from the previous period, the indictment, was turned over by Schmahl to his clients, various the dip could be accounted for class A accounting for 58 percent Very good; should stay good. LAKE CHARLES: Holding up steamship and insurance compa­ almost entirely by the Port of New of the total shipping and class B well; getting a bit short in some nies, so that they could attempt to York, which still managed to for 31 percent. Following is the forecast port by engine rates . . . HOUSTON: Still torpedo seamen's claims in per­ dispatch nearly 300 jobs. Furthermore, the shift to a rel­ port: slow . . . WILMINGTON: Still fair; sonal injury cases. BOSTON: Future unpredictable. 8 in-transits due . . . SAN FRAN­ atively high level of activity in This is the same Horace recent weeks for ports like Phila­ Short on ABs, shows little pros­ CISCO: Fair; figures up a little . .. Schmahl who was a prime mover delphia, Norfolk, Savannah and pects for unrated men, cooks and SEATTLE: Always good; several in the infamous anti-labor appar­ Mobile remained undisturbed and stewards . . . NEW YORK: Still payoffs due. Heywood Broun com­ atus which was employed by Cities continued in full swing. New Or­ good; needs manpower ready to ing out of lay-up after 20 months. Service against the SIU during the leans experienced a spurt upwards, ship. Jobs stay on board 3-4 calls. fight to organize that company. and Houston came back somewhat PHILADELPHIA: Very good, then WASHINGON—A bill au­ The apparatus, since disbanded, also. Only Baltimore showed a very quiet in same two-week thorizing construction of a sea fingered hundreds of Seafarers so marked downward trend, since its period. Hard to figure since noth­ level channel from New Or­ that they were fired or black-list­ figures included a number of men ing scheduled . . . BALTIMORE: leans to the Gulf of Mexico was ed by the company. Schmahl also shipped to jobs in Norfolk. Slowed down somewhat. Figures given the green light by two House tried to uncover information to The good shipping was reflected included many shipped for Norfolk. smear SIU officials, and did a lit­ particularly in the fact that 13 Short on FWTs . . . NORFOLK: committees here last week. tle spying on the side on the com­ ports shipped newcomers in class Excellent situation should keep up. The House Public Works Com­ pany's employees. C, although class C shipping de­ SAVANNAH: Getting better; mittee first reported favorably on 'In' With Coast Guard clined somewhat percentagewise, to future looks fair . . . MIAMI: the bill which authorizes expendi­ The record of Schmahl's activity 11 percent of the total. The lack Shipping is due to rise. Registra­ ture of up to $83 million for con­ TAMPA — Seafarers here structing a 70-mile-long seaway was spelled out in the Senate La­ of available class A and B man­ tion, shipping run even... TAMPA: are enthusiastic about the new power in these ports spelled good Fair, up a little . . . MOBILE: bor sub-committee's report on from the Crescent City to the Gulf. The channel would be 500 feet long Labor-Management relations in fortune for the non - seniority Prospects look good. ^ Waterman feeding program going into ^ maritime. The report quoted group. ships that have been away starting effect on Waterman ships. The and 36 feet deep. "new look" for Waterman follows Schmahl as boasting that Coast Companion bills providing for changes instituted in the Bull Line Guard records on seamen were the project were introduced in and Alcoa fleets earlier to revise also an "open book" to him. Congress by Reps. Hale Boggs and steward department procedures and Subsequently in May, 1952, F. Edward Hebert and by Sens. introduce more individual, "on Sehmahl received a great deal of Russell Long and Allen J. Ellender, order" service from the galley. attention iron? the SEAFARERS all of Louisiana. Discussion at the last branch LOG when working on behalf of Later in the week, the House membership meeting was focussed Rules Committee gave right-of-way a steam.ship company, he attempt­ on the subject, as Seafarers and to consideration of the measure be­ ed to wreck the damage claims of port officiais debated the merits of a blinded Seafarer, Phillip Pron. MOBILE—Further improvement in the shipping picture the program, which is calculated to fore adjournment of this session. Schmahl's tactics consisted of here is expected from several new developments. . A new hill reduce waste while assuring SIU The bill still must be considered by the Senate Public Works Com­ posing as a non-existent magazine -passed by the Alabama legislature giving the state control of men continued top feeding at all times. mittee. Action will likely be taken writer who claimed to be writing Noting the discussion, Tom Ban­ when Congress meets again next a feature about Pron's experiences. navigable rivers is expected^ His object was to trap fron's ship­ to encourage local industry ports in recent months. The Water­ ning, SIU port agent, reported s January. mates into unwitting written state­ man ships had been out on the West The project calls for construc­ ments that Pron always had very to ship by *river to Mobile in­ Coast while Alcoa had been using number of Searfarers hitting the deck to spoke on the subject, in­ tion of a lock in the vicinity of bad eyesight. stead of by rail. At present com­ some of its ships on the sugar run cluding W. Brown, E. Hagen and Meraux, St. Bernard Parish, to per­ Oddly enough, at the time the and is now returning them to the L. Lopez. The overall consensus mit ships to enter and leave the LOG was preparing this article, panies shipping by rivers have bauxite trade. faced heavy freight bills to get was that the program was a good man made channel at the Missis­ attorney Benjamin Sterling inter­ their stuff to a seaport outlet. irea. One WatermdVi ship due In here, sippi River. The channel would vened in an attempt to kill the In addition, port agent Cal Tan­ the Mobilian, has been sold, but Shipping, mganwhile, continued traverse a part of Lake Borgne and story. Sterling has since been ner sees a shipping pick-up> because it is being taken over by another at a fair pace during the past two Chandeleur Sound. identified as a key figure in the of large bulk cargoes of grain and SlU-contracted operator, the Mari­ weeks, and the same is forecast for Ships would save many hours International Longshoremens As­ coal scheduled to move out of the time Overseas Corporation. the coming period. What activity and much expense by using such sociation's attempt to win control port. A third factor in the local All told there were ten payoffs there was provided by one lone a channel instead of the present of the SIU by heavy cash subsidies picture is the return of several and sign-ons in the port, the best payoff, the Arizpa (Wat^^an), and Mississippi River route with its to opposition candidates in the last Waterman and Alcoa ships to the activity in some time, with seven a half dozen in-trdnsisU^Beefs ran many twists and tiu-ns. SIU elections. port after running out of other in transit shipa. at a minimum. N' Orleans Ship Canal Bill Okayed Tampa Okays Food System Aboard Ships River Bill, Bulk Cargo Cheers Mobile Outlook m m- b:'• \ �Tata Ftr« SEAFARERS LOG • Annut 8, 1958 NMU Men Assail Forced Vacations Confirming the SIU's appraisal of the NMU's recentlynegotiated supplemental jobless pay plan and compulsory vacation package, rumbles of serious cUscontent have arisen from a number of NMU ships. In addition, several more NMU's membership. Although all ships' crews have gone on rec­ other maritime unions in the past ord condemning the NMU's action have held referendums on the vaca-r in opening up its membership tion issue. Curran made compulso­ books and hiring halls without ry vacations a part of the contract prior approval by the membership. anfl concealed the clause from his The revolt reached a peak on membership until the issue of the the passenger ship United States "Pilot" appearing two weeks after where crewmembers twice rejected the contract was wrapped up. the contract by overwhelming In announcing the compulsory margins. They first turned it down vacation plan in the July 7 "Pilot" by a vote of 456 to one at their Curran declared, "Now with the July 3 ship's meeting. Subsequent­ signing of the new Employment ly, they resisted tremendous pres­ Security Plan (Curran's name ,for Six struck passenger vessels of the Union Steamship Company are hung up at their pier in sure applied by NMU officials, in­ supplemental jobless pay) the Vancouver as SlU Canadian District seamen pulled the pin on the company. Months of stall­ cluding personal intervention by brother who faces hardships taking ing on a new deep sea contra'ct led to the strike call by 350 Canadian seamen. NMU President Joseph Curran at a vacation will be in a position to a meeting of-the ship's committee obtain consideration." The con­ to sell the plan. They reiterated sideration consists of the $4 a their stand by voting down the week additional in unemployment contract at a second crew meeting benefits. VANCOUVER—After months of negotiations had only resulted in repeated failure to win a by 289 to 16. Crewmembers of the United new contract^ some 350 Canadian District members pulled the pin on the tJnion Steamship 'Iron Curtain' States and other ships took a dif­ The seriousness with which the ferent view of the matter. As re­ Company. The Canadian District struck to win demands for a new hourly wage set-up in­ NMU regards the United States ported in the United States minvolving wage increases over (Continued on page 15) ment agencies and the courts to vote is indicated by the iron curtain the existing monthly wage fective from the start with other intervene in an effort to weaken which the NMU "Pilot" dropped Vancouver unions respecting the system now in effect on the SIU picket lines. the union's position. At last report, around the crew's actions. Instead of reporting the United States company's ships. The company has made no efforts all these efforts have been unsuc­ minutes, as it usually does, the (0 run the ships thus far, but has cessful and the strikers are hold­ "Pilot" has launched a vitriolic New Pattern attempted to get Canadian govern­ ing firm. The Canadian District hopes to attack against the crew. extend the hourly wage system to The attack on the US crew was all its contracted companies, so one of several recent instances in which Curran has used the "Pilot" that the outcome of the current strike may set a new wage pattern to club into silence both rank and for the shipping industry in that file members and officials who have been critical of the recent country. At least one Canadian disastrous drift of NMU policy. steamship operator has already New NMU troubles loom as signed on the hourly wage basis NEW ORLEANS — Stimu­ Currdn appears ready to loose the with a very considerable increase lated by a brisk trade in grain A dozen ill Seafarers who had to reenter USPHS hospitals latest in a series of purges of top in monthly take-home pay for the and coal shipments, shipping for further treatment will now receive the full hospital bene­ union officials. Slated for axing, crewmembers involved. in this port is showing signs of a fit because the Union went to bat to assure them the $21 according to the "New York Times " Union Steamship is a West Coast and other sources, are treasurer temporary boom. operator which runs half-a-dozen weekly payments. In addi-+ Besides the usual general cargo small passenger vessels between tion, most of these men will "unfit for duty" ratings, which did M. Hediey Stone and vice-presi­ US and Canadian ports. It also get better than $100 in retro­ not permit them to go back to dent Adrian Duffy, two pro-Curran business, several ships called here to load grain for foreign ports and operates dry cargo carriers in the active benefits to the date they re­ work on ships. Subsequently, the stalwarts of many years past. one, the Ocean Dinny (Overseas Hiring Hall Problems same trade. The Canadian Sea­ entered the hospitals. 12 men had to go back to the hos­ The discontent stirring on NMU Transportation), sailed for Korea farers hung up the ships on the eve Affected by the Union's action pital for new extended periods of ships and Curran's planned purge with coal. of the July 4 holiday weekend and are Seafarers suffering from tu­ treatment. Seafarers on the beach were ad­ stem directly from the NMU's have maintained round-the-clock berculosis and other chronic ail­ Under the rules of the Welfare vised by Lindsey J. Williams, New picket lines ever since. ments. They had been discharged Plan, Seafarers eligible for the abandonment of the maritime hir­ Orleans port agent, however, that ing hall. As pointed out in Secre­ from various USPHS hospitals in District officials reported that full weekly benefit need one day's the upsurge in shipping could not the strike has been 100 percent ef­ recent montb|, but had been given seatime in the previous 90 days. tary-Treasurer Paul Hall's report be expected to continue for any ex­ on guaranteed annual wage in Consequently, in "going by the tended period. book" these men were eligible only maritime (SEAFARERS LOG, July "Shipping is good, but it hasn't 8) the NMU came up with the for the partial benefit paid to Sea­ reached the point where we can supplemental unemployment bene­ farers who do not fully qualify. fit gimmick, plus compulsory vaca­ expect to lay in the gap for a When notified of the problem, tions, as a way oiit of the difficulty bosun's job on a Waterman C-2 for SIU headquarters felt that appli­ created by its abandonment of the Hamburg," Williams said in his re­ port to the regular bi-weekly cation of the rule to these men hiring hall. membership meeting. "We must would be an. in justice Inconsistent When the NMU opened its hiring LAKE CHARLES—^Urging the support of labor for the pro­ with the spirit of the Seafarers halls and membership books to all protect our jobs by throwing in for posal, the City Council here has recommended a one-cent city Welfare Plan. The Union pressed comers, men on the ships froze to them when they come up on the sales tax on gross sales and is putting it on the ballot this fall. an appeal to the Welfare Plan their jobs. The only way to shake board. For example, we had jobs trustees on behalf of the men, them loose was by compulsory left on the board tonight for to­ • The votes of union men and-f morrow's morning calls. That is the women licked a similar pro­ improvements which the city real­ pointing out that since they were vacations. To wran this distasteful first time this condition has existed "unfit for duty" they could not idea in an attractive package, in this port in months. The best posal a few years ago, SIU ly needs. Clarke pointed out, how­ port agent Leroy Clarke recalls, ever, that It is going to be rough possibly ship and gain the neces­ Curran came up with supplemental insurance we have for protecting jobless pay. In other words, when our jobs and what we have won because the council refused to to sell the voters on the issue, par­ sary seatime. commit the money for specific ticularly after the last fiasco. The trustees agreed with the men are compelled to sign off for through our united efforts is for Items that were needed in the city. He also reported shipping hold­ Union viewpoint, and under the compulsory vacations they" will get the membership to ship now dur­ This time, however, the ballot ing at a very firm level, and noted flexible set-up of the plan were $4 additional weekly in unemploy­ ing this spurt in business and while Is supposed to state plainly that the beginnings of a shortage in able to take favorable action for ment insurance until they can get the jobs are open." the funds Would be used for civic some engine department ratings. these men. The action will not ap­ another ship. During the last two weeks, 10 Although there are wipers on the ply to men who get a "fit for duty" Neither the opening of books ships paid off here. Eight signed port's registrationjlst, wipers' jobs on leaving the hospital and then and halls or the compulsory vaca­ on and 21 called in transit. One have been going begging. As a re­ reenter at a later date. tion plan was voted on by the hundred and 95 men shipped, in­ sult, openings are 'being filled by cluding 23 Class C men, as com­ newcomers making their first trip pared with 132 registered. out. Tanker traffic seems "to be Men were dispatched from the continuing at a fast pace, despite hall here to the following ships Payment of cash benefits to Seafarers under the SIU's hospital the season. . which loaded grain for foreign and surgical benefit plan for Seafarers' families will be speeded The labor front provides one de­ ports: the Seanan (Stratford Steam­ up considerably if the Welfare Plan has copies of Seafarers' mar­ velopment of its own in the sign­ ship Co.), bound for Holland; the riage certificates and birth certificates {or their children. ' ing between the AFL Metal Trades National Liberty (American Water­ The marriage certificates and children's birth certificates are Council and the Firestone Tire and ways), sailed for Holland; City of needed tp_ establish proof of eligibility under the Plan. If Sea­ Rubber Company, after many Alma (Waterman, on charter to farers have photostats of these documents made and turn them in weeks of negotiations. The con­ States Marine), bound for the Far to the nearest Union office, it will eliminate delays in payment tract includes a wage increase ret­ East. of benefits. roactive to April 4 plus several The outlook for the future is "fringe" benefits. All hands are good in New Orieans with eight All " documents will go into Ihe Seafarer's personal file at the well pleased with the result, from payoffs scheduled in the next two office of the Welfare Plan and are strictly confidential. • all indications. weeks. Canada Strikes For Hourly Pay SIU Action Wins Fuil Benefits For Sick Men Lake Charles Bids. For Sales Tax Okay PNOTOS ^70fZtes> ^oerizY BlC. Certificates Speed Welfare f $ Grain, Coal Create NO Ship Beem I a • '.at .1 i 4 • . ''S J �• C»^V/ .r-.-:'^'j: •• "W Pare Sis Speed Service To Indonesia T^Rmsm Seafarers aboard the Steel Archi­ tect are launching a new Improved Isthmian service to the Republic of Indonesia this week, following the vessel's departure from New York. The new run provides direct westbound service' to Indonesia except. for one call at Manila in the Philippines. The itinerary calls for sailings from East Coast ports the first and third week of every month. Other Services Isthmian's other westbound serv­ ice will continue to load at East and West Coast ports for Manila, Hong Kong, Saigon, Bangkok, Sing­ apore, Port Swettenham, Penang and Belawan Deli. Its regular eastbound 'round-the-world service will also continue, with the first In­ donesia port of call at Belawan Deli. SEAFARERS :Auffiut S. 1955 V loa WC Cooks Have-Own Hiring Hails MCS-AFL New York agent Louis Foyt (back to camera) calls a job for the P&T Voyager out of the MCS New York hall. Central registration offices which west coast, cooks had to use have been abolished as pact talks continue. Seafarer Bicycles Across Country After pumping and pushing a bicycle 2,500 miles up and down hill from New York to San Francisco, veteran Seafarer DeForest Fry is back on New York seeking a different form of transportation. Fry, a veteran SIU member, is now looking for a ship after a three month cross-country haul which rates-*'' Fry admitted that there were as an extraordinary way for a tion en route, which is understand­ seaman to spend his spare able, and was interviewed by local moments of discouragement when newspapers in Davenport, Iowa; it would have been easy "to grab a time. The 60-year-oid Seafarer, who North Platte, Nebraska, and Au­ train for San Francisco and pack sails as cook on SIU vessels, has burn, California, among other the wheel aboard." His previous trips, while lengthy made other long distance bicycle places. Desert Crossings enough, don't hold a candle to his trips before, but none as ambitious The real tough part of the grind latest exploit. Two yeprs ago on or taxing as the cross country tour. Equipped with an English bike was in the deserts and mountains his vacation he went from New with nine speed gears. Fry headed of the West. Crossing Utah in the York to the Thousand Isles on the for the wild west on May 1 after vicinity of the Great Salt Lake he St. Lawrence, then to Montreal and had to hoof it 40 miles because of back, approximately 1,800 miles, in paying off the Ocean Betty. "I started out to go to Auburn, a stiff west wind. Donner Pass In 40 days. Veteran Seaman NY, my home town," he said, "but California also was tough, a tor­ Fry, whose seafaring career in­ then I got out on Route 17 which tuous three mile upgrade which he runs clear across New York State. made, pushing his bike along, in an cludes a picketline stretch in the I figured that I would go as far as hour and '^25 minutes. "When I got 1921 strike, carried an old ISU 1 could on 17. Before long I was to the top, though," he said, "it book for years before joining the SIU back in its earliest days. He headed for Chicago. By the time I was really something to see." got to Chicago I told myself that While most of the trip went never was a professional bicycle If I could go this far I could go all smoothly it was not without mis­ racer or anything close to one, but the way." haps. He went into a ditch one has been riding bikes for recrea­ So Fry continued west with his time and beiit a wheel and In tion as long as he can remember, tool kit, sleeping bag, two water Omaha his light English bike broke "I'll probably continue doing bags and other gear totaling about down under the load and had to these trips for a while," he con­ 50 pounds strapped to the bike. be replaced by a heavier American- cluded, "but I don't think I'U try He attracted quite a bit of atten­ made model. to cross the country again." I LA Crimp Rig ^ Ready To Fold The ILA's phony "seaman's imion" has virtually breathed it» last gasp. iCut off from all sources of revenue because of SIU and ITF action, the disguised crimp rig is on the verge of closing- down its offices. To add to its troubles, the outfit ternational Seamen's Union, Local has split right down the mid­ 1824," had grandiose schemes for dle with the former front man raiding SIU' and other Americantaking off with the charter and flag unions with the support of opening his own Independent oper­ ILA President William Bradley. ation uptown. The most it ever did in its palmiest The result is that the "inde­ days was to shake down seamen on pendent" is sporting the ILA char­ foreign flag ships with false prom­ ter, and the ILA sea "union" is ises of representing Them. In this it ran afoul of the Inter­ left without any kind of status. The crimp outfit is in such des­ national Transportworkers Federa­ perate financial shape that a city tion, which has opened a drive marshal called on it to serve a among seamen on runaway-flag summons for payments on its of­ ships. The ITF took steps to pro­ fice furniture. Neither Keith Alsop, tect foreign seamen' from the ILA defeated SIU Galveston agent, or with the result that this source of William Higgs, expelled SIU mem­ revenue dried up. All Schemes Fail ber, the ILA-appointed "officers" Subsequent schemes to pick up a of the outfit, were on hand to re­ ceive the summons. Apparently buck here and there also failed to both of them have pulled out in pan out and the top leadership of the ILA quickly took a hands-off search for greener pastures. Further evidence of the immi­ attitude when it carne apparent nent passing of the outfit is the that the crimp outfit would have fact that all signs have been re­ very tough sledding trying to moved from the doors and win­ harass the SIU. Alsop and Higgs were part of the dows of Its office. The charter issued to it by ILA President Brad­ combine, along with former Tampa ley is now in the possession of port agent Ray White, v/hich served Louis Le Doulx, long-time shipping as an agency for ILA efforts to master for runaway flag ships who unseat SIU Secretary-Treasurer was serving as a front for Higgs Paul Hall in the last SIU elections^^ and Alsop until they came out into It was reported the ILA put $40,000 or more into this effort. the open. Subsequently White was indicted Originally, the ILA "United Infor conspiracy to assassinate HalL James Cobb, who confessed being hired for thd killing and has been found guilty, implicated White, his brother Steely White, still a fugi­ Seafarers*mailing in checks tive, and others. Bergen County authorities were or money orders to the Union to cover dues payments are reportedly told by Cobb that he was to have been paid for the job urged to be siiJe to make all of them payable to the SIU-A&G by attorney Benjamin Sterling. It has been reported that the latter District. Some Seafarers have sent in told a grand jury investigating the murder attempt that he handled checks and money orders in the names of Individual headquar­ sums which Bradley gave White ters officials. This makes for a and his associates. Sterling has problem in bookkeeping which been indirectly identified with the can be avoided if checks are phony seaman's union and an ILA made out to the Union directly. ship maintenance local sharing the same office. Make Checks To'SIU-A&G' YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH Writ;lien fop SEAFARERS GUIDE TO SETTER BUYING leadlng eipert on Points About Funefai Costs there is a tendency to "trade-up" a family, even if only by the subtle persuasion of exhibiting costlier caskets to a On that inevitable day when a family must arrange for family that wants to do honor to its dead and is sensitive a funeral for one of its members, it generally is poorly to the question of pride and how the casket will appear prepared emotionally or financially for the disturbingly to others. high burial expense with which it is suddenly confronted. Because of the high markup of the burial industry, and At best, even among reputable funeral establishments, burying the dead is a high mark-up business. At worst, the abuses practiced by the unscrupulous fringe, unions there is an unscrupulous fringe of funeral directors who and cooperatives many times have tried to set up their own seriously exploit moderate-income families dazed by their burial arrangements. Miners have their own funeral homes, tragedy and inexperienced in such arrangements. The as in Gillespie and West Frankfort, 111., some 'Of which Seafarers Welfare Service has found the most noticeable were organized after mine disasters when some unscrupu­ abuse is the practice among some undertakers of attempt­ lous undertakers charged unconscionably high prices. The burial industry fights hard against such arrange­ ing to find out how much insurance the Seafarer's family ments by unions. The struggling St. Louis union-organized has, so they can grab the full value of the insurance policy. Too, you have to beware of bait advertising Ih the funer­ co-op has found strong opposition among private directors. al business just as when you buy a sewing machine, vac­ In fact, when I interviewed representatives of the National uum cleaner or storm windows from a high-pressure sales Funeral Directors Association recently^ I found—signifi­ cantly—that they knew just how many burials were per­ outfit. formed last year through the St. Louis co-op. Prices Skyrocket Unions in the casket industry themselves have criticized The funeral industry has a peculiar pricing system based on the price of the casket. According to Rollin the high mark-ups in the industry, and have charged that Everett, one of,a group of St. Louis trade unionists who some of the more unscrupulous, high-price funeral estab­ organized a coopergtive burial plan there several yeai-s lishments buy their caskets from non-union factories that ago, St. Louis unions found that the family that chose the use sweat-shop labor. Currently these unions are cam­ lowest-cost casket at about $73 got a funeral for $490; if paigning to get funeral establishments to^use only union' " , it chose a $134 casket, the funeral cost would be about made caskets. Co-Ops Much More Reasonable $780; with a $462 bronze casket, the funeral bill would be $1678. These figures are approximately correct, this writer Cooperative burial groups seem able to offer services at has learned from his own investigation. But the peculiar noticeably less cost than private establishments. The finan­ thing is that the other services vary little. The funeral cial statement of the Range Cooperative Federal of Vir­ director simply makes a progressively high profit on the ginia, Minn., shows that its average biudal expense per family that chooses a more expensive casi%t. Naturally. case for 1954 was $379. This compares with the approx­ imately $600 average cost in a private establishment, as reported by the industry itself (there are some claims that average costs charged by private establishments are higher. When your own family has a death, ho.w should you approach this problem? Rollin Everett feels that wageearners are increasingly vulnerable to the pressure for ex­ pensive burials because of the increased insurance benefits they now have through their unions. He recommended that families be educated against "needlessly ornate funerals, especially if they are buying in the open market where costs will pyramid with the price of the casket." He sug­ gests that a good wooden casket or the lower-priced metal ones look very presentable. The National Funeral Directors Association which tries to maintain reputable standards and good public relations for the Industry, itself warns families to beware of the fimeral director who asks how much insurance the de­ ceased had. This is the mark of the fringe or unscrupulous operator. When the time actually comes, reputable directors them­ selves recommend that you bring a friend with you, some­ one who is not as emotionally Involved as you are, to help you select the casket and make the arrangements, as a restraint on your own emotions. Ask the funeral director to explain his prices and what they represent. Don't be reluctant to tell him that thero are limiting financial circumstances, and that the complete cost must be within certain limits. After-you have deter­ mined what the cost will be^ see that the funeral director gives you a complete list of the items which he will pro­ vide for the funeral and hav-? Blin si|pi.the list: - » • �SEAFARERS LOG Awnit %, 19S5 BENT'S FORT (CItiM Service), April 10 •^-Chairmen, 0. Slnketi SecretaiVr. L. Melenton. Difouulon on whether' to ac­ cept traveler's checlte or German marks, as captain wont Issue both. Honey for telephone calls to the Union hall was deducted from the ship's fund. There is a balance in the fund now of S16.6e. As today was Easter Sunday eggs were col­ ored to give each and every member the Easter spirit. LAWRENCE VICTORY (MIttlStlppI), March 20—Chairman, T. Heggarty; Secre­ tary, M. Lssperance. Lock should be in­ stalled on the library cabinet. Discussion about laundry room. Sanitary men and whoever else is around should help to empty garbage can in same. . SEAMAR (Calmar), Ahrll IS—Chairman, J. Samsel; Secretary, F. Miller. W. Haw­ thorne reported that the ship's fund has $20. A motion was made by E. Sheel that members accept and concur with head­ quarters report. Voted 100 percent to back new SIU hiring hall seniority sys­ tem and support AFL in CAMU dispute. Motion 'made by W. Hawthorne that a telegram be sent to Harry Lundeberg so that he will know that this crew is with him all the way. Carried. LEWIS EMERY JR. (Victory Carriers), January 15—Chairman, C. Lawson; Secre­ tary, H. Forbes. Delegates report every­ thing going smoothly. Steward will issue linen piece for piece. Recreation room fill be kept clean by the deck and engine departments. The galley and ness halls should be painted out. The steward de­ partment given a vote of thanks. April 19—Chairman, C. Lawson; Secre­ tary, H. Mesford. Steward and baker complained about the stove and both eay that it is impossible to bake bread properly. Patrolman made the company put on 430 loaves of bread. Motion made by F. Otvas that headquarters investi­ gate' delivery of LOGS and mail in Far East area. Headquarters should investi­ gate launch service in Korean ports, safety conditions, regularity, etc. A mo­ tion was made by B. Biiger and carried that a telegram be sent to Harry Lunde­ berg endorsing his stand in withdrawing from CAMU. The AFL unions' stand on CAMU dispute and seniority system in SIU supported unanimously. Bosun goes on record to compliment whole crew for eonducting themselves In typical SIU fashion during voyage. DEL RIO (Mississippi), April 19— Chairman, J. Ward; Secretary, J. Scheldel. Motion made and carried that this crew go on record to support Lundeberg In withdrawal from CAMU. Crewmembers in favor of new SIU seniority system. officials be contacted abodt this matter. All fans should be checked at the present time so as to be in condition for the summer. The matter of air conditioning the messhall has been put off many times by the company. VAL CHEM (Valentine), February 27— Chairman, J. Karl; Secretary, L. <'.Hagmann. Treasurer reported $126.75 in the ship's fund. The ship's delegate is sub­ mitting^ to the patrolman a report on the needs of awnings, cots, new fans and the repairs of fans already aboard. Crew­ members were asked to remove clothes from washing machine when finished with same. At the present rate of supply by the company,' it wiU be over a year before ail the crew will enjoy innerspring mattresses. 8BATRAIN NEW JERSEY (Seatrain), .February 27—Chairman, T. Beatty; Sec­ retary, N. A,. Kirk. Chief cook inquired why he caii't get more supplies, particu­ larly bettor grades of meal, and sug­ gested that the patrolman and compat^r s MOBILE—Ignoring the competent health examination systems employied by many ship operators, the US Coast Guard continues to hammer away in efforts ta 'obtain sanction for its proposed "profiling" system for merchant seamen. The latest issue of the Coast Guard merchant marine bulletin^ again raises the profiling subject. _ The Coast Guard's proposal for LA SALLE (Waterman), February 27— Chairman, G. Bales; Secretary, F. Votto. testing physical, mental and moral All repair lists should be turned in to standards of working seamen has the department delegates. No beefs or been denounced by the SIU as complaints aboard. risking the jobs of seamen at the JEAN (Bull), February 27—Chairman whim of bureaucratic controls in a E. Starns;. Secretary, J. Buccl. Repairs w not yet taken care of will be brought to Government agency. The Union the attention of the patrolman. Discus­ has charged that the proposed pro­ sion on moving the washing machine forward. Steward was asked to leave filing standards rest on extremely .out more night lunch, and coffee. dubious pseudo-scientific grounds. In terms of practical operations, the CITRUS PACKER (Waterman), May 2— Chairman, C. Scott; Secretary, C. Grlg- system would arm the Coast Guard gers, Jr. Communications and headquar­ with authority to blacklist seamen ters report read and accepted by entire ^' ' • crew. Everything going along smoothly because of personal attitudes, past with no beefs. family history, religious beliefs and ALCOA PURITAN (Alcoa), May 1— other unrelated items. Chairman, C. Parker; Secretary, H. KllThorough Co. Exams mon. The ship's delegate reported that Many SlU-contracted companies the icebox door has been repaired. The minutes of the last meeting were sent in fact, make use of a thorough­ to headquarters and communications going system of shipboard and were posted on the bulletin board. Main­ tenance for being in drydock will be in­ shoreside physical examinations, Medical history is taken of all applicants for Alcoa^ l°^f* cluded on the payroll and does not have which accomplishes what the Coast .to be on the overtime sheets. The sup­ Here Odis B. Davenport, oiler, is questioned by physician's per hour can be moved up to 4:30 on Guard professes to aim for. An ex­ weekends and holidays in port if prop­ ample of such a system is that of assistant, Mrs. June Ewton, at Alcoa Pioneer sign-on. Quizerly posted ahead of time. ing covers surgery, epilepsy, heart trouble, ulcers, aiid others. the Alcoa Steamship Company in SANTORE (Ore), April 27—Chairman, Mobile as partially illustrated by E. Gharman; Secretary, N. Abernathy. Wiper missed ship in Baltimore. New the phothgraphs on this page of the seamen, x-ray examinations, ular electro-cardiograph ^examina­ officers elected. Discussion on the stew­ the LOG. blood tests, and other aspects of a tions for some or all of their per­ ard delegate's report where a question The Alcoa system includes a re­ thorough-going physical examina­ sonnel. Particular emphasis is was brought up as to why the full- eight hours overtime cannot be paid on this view of previous medical history of tion. Other companies include reg- placed on new men who have not payroll when arrival is in the morning sailed with the company before. of an overtime day. This matter will A big difference between a com­ be referred to the boarding patrolman. Water coolers need fixing as they seldom pany-operated medical program are in working order. and the Coast Guard system as far IRENESTAR (Triteif), April 25—Chair­ as seamen are concerned, is tliat man, T. McRanay; Secretary, S. Roth­ as long as the program is industryschild. Washing machine was not re-s paired last voyage, and a suggestion was administered, there are avenues to made to get in touch with the chief en­ protect individual seamen against gineer to .have same repaired at sea. Motion made to have' steward depart­ arbitrary and unjust treatment. ment clean mess and recreation room For example, the SIU contract every week and one ordinary seaman clean washing machine and laundry specifies that in the event there is space. A motion was made to have extra disagreement on the man's fitness fans placed aboard ship as per agree­ ment. After being at sea for one month to sail, the Public Health Service we are ail looking forward to a little has the final say. recreation in port. Medical authorities agree that AMEROCEAN (Blackchester), February what is needed in the industry is 18—Chairman, H. Jaynes; Secretary, J. more standardization of the medi­ Weiss. Question of mailing addresses for Korea raised. At the present time the cal exam procedure, standardiza­ captain doesn't know and hasn't been in­ tion which can he accomplished formed of any by the owners or agetiLs. A list will be made up between deck, through Union-management "nego­ engine and steward departments for the tiation. cleaning of the laundry and recreation DEL VIENTO (Mississippi), April 15— Chairman, D. Chamblis; Secretary, H. Boron. Communications read and a mo­ tion was iTiaile to aeeept and concur. Carried unanimously. Crew goes on rec­ ord to support AFL unions on CAMU Issue.. Union's newly-established seniority system was adopted. Motion made end rooms. March 27—Chairman, J. Tobin; Secre­ carried that we send a telegram to Brother Lundeberg approving his action tary, J. Weiss. Motion made by Jack Tobin that we install a family group in­ on CAMU dispute. surance plan to be paid for by dues or DEL NORTE (Mississippi), April 14— welfare. Crew wants to go on record Chairman, L. Wessels; Secretary, J. Zlm- to accept and install the above motion mer. The new SIU seniority syrtem and and to bring same up at the next head­ the position the AFL unions took on quarters meeting. Crew was warned that CAMU dispute approved unanimously. the Coast Guard is getting rough on Motion made and carried that a wire be performers. sent to Harry Lundeberg backing hira IBERVILLE (Waterman), April 10— •11 the way down the line. Chairman, W. Burke; Secretary, T. Beeker. Money was taken out of the YORKMAR (Calmar), April 21—Chair­ man, E. Hogge; Secretary, O. Galbeoies. ship's fund for Coca Cola and there is • Motion made by E. Hogge and carried to balance in the fund of $23. New hiring accept communications as read. Crew set-up and AFL stand on CAMU dis­ voted to approve the new SIU hiring pute were approved 100 percent by the system and support the AFL unions-'on crew. Steward thanked the entire crew for their cooperation. Repair lists com­ CAMU issue. mented upon and no action has been TEXMAR (Calmar), April 21—Chairman, taken on previous lists. E. Dore; Secretary, T. Greaney. Motion STEEL RECORDER (Isthmian), April 24 made by E. Dore to accept and support the new seniority system in the SIU. —Chairman, T. Martlneau; Secretary, W. Carried. J. Cruz made a motion that AFL NIchter. Will contact the master to see stand on CAMU dispute be adopted. Car­ if more cigarettes can be obtained on board. This crew would like two LOGS ried unanimously. sent to each department instead of one. JEAN (Bull), April 20—Chairman, E. Crewmembers were asked to return lib­ Stines; Secretary, W. Wheeler. Delegates rary books when they are through with reported everything running smoothly. same. Suggestion made that any reso­ Motion made and carried to send Harry lutions sent should have enough informa­ Lundeberg a telegram agreeing with the tion about the subject so everyone wiU action he took in Washington. Crew voted know what they are Voting on; There to approve new seniority system and were complaints that the LOG didn't cover the resolution on the hiring hall senior­ AFL position on CAMU. ity system enough. CLAIBORNE (Waterman), April 18— ARCHERS HOPE (Cities Service), April Chairman, C. Gait; Secretary, H. Copper­ smith. Suggestion that repair lists from 29—Chairman, D. Downey; Secretary, M. Lonney. Members were asked to turn off each department be submitted to ship's delegate and turned over to patrolman. the washing machine after using same. Crewmembers were in 100 percent favor Motion made by J. Cox and passed that of adopting newly-established seniority crew support AFL unions on CAMU is­ system in SIU and supporting AFL action sue and approve SID on new hiring set-up. on CAMU issue.. CUBA (P & O), February 3—Chairman, E. Mooney; Secretary, A. Capote. Ship's delegate saw the port steward regarding the new equipment for the galley and •Iso fans for crew quarters. Suggestion made that the crew give a vote of thanks to 'tbe stewardess for her gopj work and ber excellent consideration toward the crew. All delegates were asked to make out repair lists before arrival in Tampa. Crewmembers suggested that a set of rules be made to govern the use of the •hip's fund, and that a limit of $200 be plajced on same. CG 'Profile' Pitch Ignores Stiff Co. Health Exams j Chest X-ray for new men Is a key item in Alcoa's program. Seafarer Ellis Johnson is lined up for X-ray photo by Miss Frances Thompson, X-ray technician. i I •- '^1 MOBILIAN (Waterman), April 23— Chairman, J. Qurns; Secretary, Juan Oguendo, Jr. Cups should be put in sink with soapy water. Crewmembers were asked to keep hands off coffee for the watches. .Read literature concerning new system on shipboard meetings and hea(lquarters report. . - MARIE HAMILL (Bloemfleld), May 3— Chairman, D. Jones; Secretary, B. Cayton. The ship's delegate explained that this meeting was called so that crew co^d discuss the newly adopted SIU seniority system and Tonsina beef. There is $8 In the treasury, and a suggestion was made that crew donate a little something to same at payoff. ' Motion made to send Harry Lundeberg a telegram assuring him o? this crew's- full support in CAMU beef. Carried. '<1 Dr.- Arthur A. Amendola, Alcoa examining physician, applies stiethescopa to Seafarer George W. Dean, OS, (right) isnd iheeb bloioij pressur® of C. Robersen, MM, �iiE/tFARERIIf tod l^iisre Elgiil V AiiKiuit S.:1»5» -r* •rJlif ill A F SiSSsia W iiii At the end of a six-weeic pineapple run to Hawaii, Seafarers on the Hurricane line up for their money. m All Beefs Set A&eft • ' , • •. SsiMffiSSS;: ; . :'>:-:V;::V:A:^'.':;':'V':: '! - . y' % ' • j£;.l Crewmember on Ranger signs off articles while paymaster checks his discharge. v::;-:-: AX x,^' AA tmm. 1 iiiliiiiiiiiP'** Miii mm !KK_^ I II^A' fe-'' ||i||i:i||p J •. J ELs^' " ^*11 iiiisj iiii my: Wy • •& i,'.. / HQ patrolmen (seated right) check membership books of Seafarers orLkanger and answer any requests for information they might have about Union developments such as the new family benefits under the Welfare Plan. mm NO INU patrolman Troxclair Iroxclair U.) (I.) sit sifts Hurricane beef with Co. reps, delegates. �Au^sl 19S5 SEAFARERS LOG . Pave Nise i - Alcoa Ranger's bosun Vernon Greef explains deck dep't beef to patrtilman (not shown) while shipmates listen. Catching up on latest Union news, Hurricane Seafarers John S. "Red" Burke, Leroy Gulley and S.J. Degree read the SEAFARERS LOG in the crew messhalL Men were awaiting momentary arrival of shipping commissioner and company paymaster. 3i •0 .'S r 1 w -'"cii 1 J •'gl Hurricane sailors (l-r) xare J. Kennedy, B. Young, D. J. Nelson, R. E. Ward, G. Dean. Payoff time runs smoothly on the Alcoa Ranger. Crewmember signs off articles in view of company paymaster while one of ship's officers has payroll vouchers on table ready to be picked up. �i f -«•*. SEAFARERS Pare Ten '»•-. ,_ ' Aornst 5, IdKS tOG 'Drop That Club' FRED LaPLANT, FWT (Ed. note; Material for the fol­ lowing was compiled by ship's re­ porter Sten T. Zetterman on the Cecil N. Bean.) Seafarer Fred "Blackie" La Plant, on the Cecil N. Bean, tipped off the attitude of the professional seaman while sweating out the ter­ rible heat of Bombay. Fred was caustic in his opinions of the port, but on considering his future, de­ clared, "As long as I'm able, I'll keep on sailing. Who knows, I might even go back to India." In other, words, whether he hits good ports or bad, LaPlant feels the genuine seaman is only satis­ fied if he's on a ship. The veteran Seafarer was not al­ ways a deep sea man. In the early twenties he sailed deckhand on Mississippi River boats. In 1928 LaPlant was in Houston when someone asked him if he was an AB. Told that AB meant ablebodied, he LaPlant agreed, and found himself at sea on the Mangore. Fred was bitten by the deep-sea bug and sailed regularly out of Mobile for many years. He got an ISU book there in 1935, trans­ ferring over to the SIU when it began in 1938. He is rightfully proud of his SIU book which car­ ries the old book number notation "G (for Gulf) 83." Many of the oldtimers of that day, he recalls, have passed away and others lost their lives in World War II, but a number are still pack­ ing SIU books. Blackie's been sailing about as steadily as a man possibly can. His longest lay-up was in 1953 when he had an operation in Durban, but he went right back to work as soon as he could. Given the opportunity, LaPlant prefers intercoastal runs. Occa­ sionally he grabs an offshore ship "to keep up with the rest of the world." Thinking about thd SIU's achievements LaPlant found it hard to single out any one item. "We've made such terrific prog­ ress," he said. "But I'd say that the various welfare benefits includ­ ing the hospital-surgery plan for our wives and kids is certainly something outstanding." m I t'ri •• Another step toward US labor merger was completed' with selec­ tion of a new name for the merged organizations. After much discus­ sion the joint negotiating commit­ tee decided to give recognition to both AFL and CIO in the new name by calling the merged labor organization AFL-CIO. The next step will be the joint convention in New York on December 5. 4« 3i» A major test of union rights to express opinion through their own publications and broadcasts is now in progress. The United Auto Work­ ers, CIO, has been indicted for spending money on its union-spon­ sored radio program for political purposes. The program", which is a year-round weekly broadcast had carried the union's opinions, on the 1954 Congressional campaign. t it 4" AFL Teamsterg.in New England PABLO LOPEZ, cook Seafarer Pablo Lopez has been sailing with the SIU for a little under'four years now, but already he has the distinction of helping another maritime union get started, the "SIU of Indonesia." The fact that the Indonesian "SIU" is a going concern derives from a casual conversation two years^ ago between Lopez and the man who now heads Indonesia's newest union. Founded on Octo­ ber 24, 1954, the Serikat Palaut International, as reported in a recent issue of the SEAFARERS LOG, adopted the name, motto, emblem and con­ Lopez stitution of the A&G District, in the hope of du­ plicating some of the SIU's .^successes. The Indonesian union had its beginnings when its present top officer, J. B. Malakas, visited the Steel Maker in Djakarta in the hope of getting some information and help. Malakas struck up a conversation with Lopez, who is 3rd cook on the same ship right now, and received what must have been an extremely convincing des­ cription of the SIU and its opera­ tions. As Lopez describes it, "I told him about the SIU constitution, the rights of the members, how SIU contracts worked, the system of handling beefs and wages and con­ ditions on the ships. He listened very carefully and was much im­ pressed." Malakas left the ship loaded down with copies of the constitu­ tion, contracts and other literature. The next thing Lopez knew, the new union was in business. Lopez keeps in toucb now with the new union and is hopeful it will help Indonesian seamen the same way the SIU aided men on US ships. A native of the now-historic Bataan peninsula in the Philip­ pines, Lopez now has his home and family in Brooklyn. He first started going to sea in 1947 on MSTS ships. After four years with MSTS he began sailing with the SIU in September, 1951. For a while he v/as a crewmember of the passen­ ger ship Puerto Rico, but now sticks closely to Isthmian Line vessels on the Far East run. The man who fixes the ship's washing machine is sure to receive the grateful praise o{ his shiiimates. On board the Lewis Emery Jr. (Victory Carriers) it was deck engineer Andrew J. Howard who put the suds-shaker back into working order, while the man of the hour on the Del Mundo (Mis­ sissippi) was Seafarer Sam Bailey. Their services centainly saved a lot of washboard blues. Howard comes from Georgia originally but now lives In Georgians, Ala­ bama. He's 57 and got his Union book in Mobile back on June 10, Bailey 1944. Bailey is a Mississippi native from the town of Mendenhall. He also joined the Union in 1944 in the Port of New broke the back of an employer Orleans. He recently celebrated lockout in the area when they his 37th birthday. signed with severai major com­ panies for a 59 cent hourly in­ 4 4 4 crease over a three-year period. Also coming in for citation by The number of hours worked will his shipmates on the Emery was be reduced from 48 to 40 in the night cook and baker Joseph E. same period. The Teamsters had Caron. They noted that he had to struck .seven firms and employers struggle with a bad bake stove but retaliated by locfeing out men turned out the work nonetheless. working for over 300 companies. Caron is one of the oldest men still Sciiling actively with the SIU, 4 4 4 since he passed his 77th birthday Another Ieng:thy strike in prog­ last January. He caught his first ress is the walkout of 1,500 sugar SIU ship out of Norfolk f8ur years refiners, members of the CIO ago. United Packinghouse Workers, at 4 4 4 two Louisiana sugar refineries. The refineries are in Reserve and GraAn interesting suggestion comes mercy, Louisiana, about 40 miles from Arthur F. Smith of the Wild south of New Orleans. The struck Ranger (Waterman) to deal with companies are paying 41 cents an the problem of ship's stores when hour less than refineries on- the the ship is out longer than ex­ East Coast and have resorted to pected. In the Wild Ranger's case, court injunctions in attempts to the ship was chartered to MSTS hamstring the strike. and had been stored for one trip, but Instead, MSTS kept it out on the Mediterranean shuttle. The result was that the steward had difficulties getting certain types of stores and equipment. Purchase From Army To deal with this Smith proposes setting up some kind of arrange­ ment with MSTS whereby the skipper would be allowed to pur­ chase stores and utensils through Army commissaries abroad. It sounds plausible; only purchasing stores this way would undoubtedly involve a few thousand yards of red tape. Smith, who sails in the engine department, comes from Australia originally. He's been an SIU meitfber since April 6, 1944, joining in the Port of New York. delegates being George L. Hayes, deck; C. W. Stokely, engine and John Niemiera, steward. 4 4 4 Ship's delegate E. E. Hunt on the Margarett £rown (Bloomfield) has been a busy man recently. In addi, tion to his job as 8 h i p's delegate Hunt pinch-hit as " ship's treasurer until a new one Hiint was elected and raised a few dollars for the ship's fund/ He also took care of the ship's library when not busy with his other duties. An Oklahoman by birth. Hunt sails in the engine department on 4 4 4. Chairmen of the SIU port mem­ SIU ships. He became a member bership meetings of July 13 were of the Union in New York on May L. Clark in Houston, R. F. Lyle in 2, 1952. Lake Charles, M. M. Cross in Wil­ mington, M. Machel in San Fran­ cisco, H. Dukes in Mobile and Under the xxnioa constitu­ A. H. Smith in tion every member attending Savannah. All a Union meeting is entitled to these rank and nominate himself for the file Seafarers elected posts to be filled at were elected by the meeting—chairman, read­ Stokely the membership ing clerk and recording secre­ to the top meetings posts along tary. Your Union urges you with other Seafarers chosen as to take an active part in meet­ meeting officers. ings by taking these posts of service. " 4 4 4 And, of course, all members The crew of the Portmar (Calmar) have the right to take the floof rallied around shoreside union and express their opinions on brothers when they voted to go on any officer's report or issue record not to patronize any Horn under discussion. Seafarers and Hardgrt Restaurants on the are urged to hit the deck at East Coast because of their con­ these meetings and let their sistent opposition to the AFL Res­ shipmates know what's on taurant wiionj their minds.. ' ' Frank J. Albore is the delegate on this ship, with departmental Speah Out At ^iU Meetings �Angrntt^im ' SEAFARERS Labor lloited The marshalling of AFL forces in New Orleans on'behalf of repeal of the Louisiana "right-to-work" law as well as the political education of union members in the area is a healthy sign. This united front, which includes the SIU Atlantic and Gulf District and its affiliates in the forefront, bodes no good for lawmakers who helped put over this badlymisnamed piece of legislation. For, in Louisiana, at least, working men and women are not taking this lying down. Certainly any so-called "right-to-work" measure which does not take into account the rights of union members to protect hard-won gains by'means of a union shop is bad to the core. Once labor's case is brought out in the open, chances of repeal are that much brighter, i, a. i. Promises Aren't Enough The unwillingness of the Senate Appropriations Com­ mittee to clear the way for funds which would speed the construction of prototype "roll on-roll off" tcailerships again leaves the question of the future of the US mer­ chant marine up in the air. Pious declarations of the need for bold new schemes to revise US shipping accomplish nothing when on the first-occasion that someone comes along with a workable idea for reviving the industry he finds the door slammed in his face. The lack of action by the Senate group came at the very end of this year's session. It postpones the building of the projected trailerships at least until mid-1956. At a time when outmoded US ships badly need modern replacements in order to compete favorably, the commit­ tee stand is particularly unfortunate. The industry has long passed the point where it can nourish on promises, 4. i Tsge Eleves LOG AB Back To School Via SIU Award With more than 12 ^ears of seafaring hehind him, Seafarer Pickett Lusk, 32, of Hous­ ton, Texas, is now looking forward to four' years of uninterrupted study at the University of Houston, following a long lapSe in his formal school­ ing. Lusk, one of three Seafarers to win one of the 1955 SIU scholarship awards, officially made the win­ ner's circle this year after a near-miss in 1954, when he was chosen as an alternate. As an alternate, he would have had the opportunity to fill in for one of the regular four winners last year if any of them defaulted or dropped out. The chance never present­ ed itself, however, and now he's won the SIU award on his own. As a matter of fact, he already has his nose to the grindstone, and has been attending summer school at the University to get the feel of things once again. It hasn't been easy, but he's had the constant en­ couragement of his wife, who teaches school and has been urging him to finish his education. "I was de­ termined to do this," he points out, "and the SIU scholarship will make it all possible. Needless to say, we're both overjoyed over the award." The lanky 6' 7" Seafarer got in one year at the University of Alabama back in 1941, after he grad­ uated from high School, but soon aftpr World War II broke out, he began shipping out, and has been at it ever since. lete, though, distinguishing myself Was School Athlete more through size than ability." His other after-class interests in­ Transplanted from San Francisco at the age of nine, he had most of cluded the school newspaper, on his schooling in the South and, which he wound up as feature edi­ helped along by his size, took part tor. From early childhood he was in most high school sports. He also interested in saddle horses, played both end and tackle on the and raised and trained several football team, was a natural center "promising" colts. He never pur­ on the basketball squad and high sued this hobby further, however. In 1942, Lusk first shipped out jumped and ran hurdles on the track and field team. He modestly as a purser on a Waterman ship, belittles these accomplishments, but after a couple of trips as notin^that "I was a mediocre ath­ "floating bookkeeper," he decided Rx For Seamen Fa€e-Uft Boston Hall BOSTON—The SIU hall in this port has just had itself a new paint job, and the transformation has everyone happy. Painters did the place over in line style, making everything look bright and fresh all over+ again. of the three-year period. Some The only question now, ac­ 12,000 drivers were affected. cording to James Sheehan, SIU In other developments, the port port agent, "is that we hope will was recently the scene of a visit be able to keep the hall looking from top Washington officials rep­ this spic and span in the future. resenting Government departments We're sure we'll have the coopera­ that handle the movement of Gov­ tion of the membership in this mat­ ernment freight overseas, who ter, however." came into the area to inspect har­ He noted also that the long­ bor facilities. After an extensive standing strike of AFL teamsters tour of key Boston installations in Boston and all^f Southern New both on land and by boat, the England had just been settled, party was reported to be highly with the drivers winning hourly pleased with what it saw, and its Increases ranging from 37 to 50 availability for the movement of cents. Boston teamsters came Government cargoes through this sway with the 37-cent figure be­ port. It is now hoped that an increase cause its wages had always been in US cargo movements from here higher. will result, thereby boosting ship­ Covers 3-Year Period Drivers in the rest of the area ping for the'' port which, as netted the 50-cent boost Which, Sheehan assesses it, is "unpre­ like the lower figure, is calculated dictable." Activity for the past to be spread over a three-year two weeks was only fair, as the period. The increases will pro- relatively heavy business for the Vide all the drivers with a stand­ previous period dropped off com­ ard hourly wage of $2;17 at the end pletely. i 'M This is the third in a series featuring the 1955 winners of the SIU scholarship awards. ai Although its proposals have long been at a standstill, the dangers of the Coast Guard's plans for renewed con­ trols over merchant seamen through a set of brain-body tests have never subsided. Thus, the convincing demonstration by steamship companies like Alcoa that its medical examination pro­ gram for seamen is and has been doing the job of pro­ tecting ships, cargoes and crews all along is important. In the absence of such safeguards, the Coast Guard would likely be quick to act. Proposals for controls over seamen seem to be a pop­ ular diversion these days. The best way to block them is to show that industry and the unions can handle the problem on their own, Scholarship, w I n n • r Pickett Lusk shows prowess with fishing rod. Sailfish was caught in Acapuico, Mexico, last surtimer.' Lusk was on threemonth vacation with wife. Question: A Texas newspoper editor has said that unions are no longer necessary. What do you think would happen in the maritime industry if unions bowed out? Clarence A. Collins, steward: Louis CIrignano, wiper: The shipowners would have a picnic. Since we got all the conditions we have today They would run through the everything their Union, not from own way, which the shipowners, would mean the we could expect end of conditions all these things we have today. to go right out of Anyone who the window. sailed before 1938 There would be can tell you what lower wages, It would be like. poorer conditions, AU the old bar­ riers against seamen would go up no vacations, no welfare plan, none of the benefits we have right now. again. t 4" " * 4^ Genero Gonzales, OS: The unions John Lucas, steward: That editor doesn't know what he's talking are needed all the time because tiiey are the only about if he thinks thing stopping the unions can the shipping com­ leave and things panies from cut­ will remain the ting down our same. One thing's conditions. If the sure, if a war unions were kept came, there out of the indus­ wouldn't be an try, It would be American seaman the end of the left on our ships. first square deal Cheap foreign labor would be manning all the the seaman has ever had. ' jobs. » » 4^ 4> $ Shelley Lynn, wiper: I Imagine everything would go back to the way they were in the 1920's. No­ body would pay any attention to beefs and the shipowners ^uld be able to step all over us. The worse thing that could happen would be for the uniohs^ to closie up shop. Leon Ryzop, cook: There wouldn't be any jobs for us, because the companies would give the jobs to whoever they wanted. We need IK union in the shipping busi­ ness. I remember what conditions were when I sailed back in \ 1932. Nobody could tell the shipowner where to draw the line. he was better suited for outdoor work, "Luckily, I was on an SIU ship, and the brothers took me to the hall in New Orleans, where I joined the SIU in July, 1943," he recalls. Eventually he sailed to all theaters during the war, shipping in all rat­ ings in the deck department, most­ ly out of the Gulf. He prefers to sail unlicensed, although he holds a third mate's ticket also. One of Lusk's friends and fishing companions, who is a professor at the University and lives near his home, was really astounded when he told him the size of the scholar­ ship. "He" said that the leniency in course requirements and the gen­ eral stipulations make it the finest undergraduate scholarship he's ever heard of, and I can certainly agree with that wholeheartedly." This fall, Lusk expects to return to school to major either in Eng­ lish or sociology "and if my grades hold up, I plan to go to graduate school afterwards. That's prema­ ture planning, of course. Mean­ while, thanks again to the SIU for this wonderful opportunity and to the many brothers with whom I have sailed through the years who helped make it all possible." /Sti Seattle Still Boosts Best Of Shipping SEATTLE—This Northwest port still remains the fairhaired boy as far as shipping is concerned. The fine shipping that has been enjoyed here for weeks is due to continue with an­ other vessel coming out of layup. The Heywood Broun, a Liberty which has been inactive for 21 months will take a full crew out of here and load grain. Port agent Jeff Gillette has. four other pay­ offs on tap for the next two-week period. Just to add the whip cream top­ ping to it all, Gillette reports beefs have been kept at a miminum, "Everyone seems to be doing a bang-up job," he commented. Three payoffs, two sign-ons and ten.in-transits made up the good shipping picture. Seattle has always claimed its shipping was "best in the north­ west" and present activity seems to back It up. •;A �P»ge I'weire SEAFAREKS LOG Hamill Humming On First Tour Of Orient All appeared to be well on th Marie Hamill at the last count, as the ship headed out from Yokohama for points further east. Relieved from the Northern European run iafter a long stint traveling that lane, the | names to pin on the rest of the vessel now seems due to make of boys, and just gave out ^t that the Orient its home base for point. quite a while. Many Seafarers count among Helping to keep things humming their varied talents the knack of aboard is the "smiling bosun," pinning the right label on the Mike Rossi, who already yearns right man in all communications to the LOG. Wilkerson wasn't a for the night life of New York, but "quitter," he just got exhausted. is learning to live without it for a Through it all, however, he re­ spell. ports a good crew on board, and Other nicknamed and misnamed weather and food working "passengers" are Jimmy in the same cate­ "Mobile Ice Cream" Hicks, "Sham­ gory. Books and rock" Dugan. "Coffee Beans" rea'ding matter Jones, John "Pizza Pie" Grassi, that were put "Hot Cakes" Supinski, "Packing aboard by the House" Hamm, Chuck "Egg Foo" SIU Sea Chest in Young, "El Toro" Castro, "Radio" New Orleans Gonzales, "Silent" Wright, "Boat "were and are Drill" Rydon, "Potato Bug" Reyes, very much appre­ "Big Hoss" Groseclose, "Robert ciated and are Rossi being read by all. "Cowboy" Davis, "Mr. Outside" Blanchard, Nick "Tequilla" Santos, It is really swell to get some mod­ "Banjo" Pentullo, "Blackie" Man- ernistic reading on merchant ships, cino, and "many others to numer­ and not so much of that old long­ ous to mention," reports V. Wil- hair literature," he adds. "Each and everyone of us sends our re­ kerson, ship's delegate. Actually what probably hap­ gards to our officials and brothers pened is that Wilkerson ran out I in the SIU." USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS, LA. T. P. Barbour Leo H. Lang Julian B. Barrett Tinerman J. Le» Carol J. Bauman Nils Lornsen Jlerton Baxter C. R. Nicholson Charles Bradley Alfonso Olaguibei Charles E. Brady George li. Olive J. L. Buckelew Acne V. Olsen John L. Caldwell R. A. Ratclill Lloyd T. Callaway Lcroy M. Roberson Byron Chapman James J. Russell Calvin DeSilva Thomas A. Scanlon Peter Devries Benjamin C. Seal Leo Fontcnot Joseph Sintes Louis r.iiarino William E. Smith Vernon Hall Woodrow A. Snead Earl T. Hardeman Lonnie R. Tickle E. G. Knapp Dirk Visser Buska Korolia James E. Ward Norman L. Krumm David A. Wright USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MD. Manuel Antonana Norman T. Jackson Curt Borman A. E. Johansson Carl E. Chandler Earley Joyner Charles Coburn Pablo LaTorre Baldo Coccla Robert McCorkel Antonio R. Colon D. McCorkindale Victor B. Cooper Earl McKendree A. L. Galdikas Robert G. McKnew James J. Girolami Mather Mullis Gorman T. Glaze Nick Mutin Jack Howard Fred Pittman Daniel A. Hutto C. N. Summerell USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON, MASS. Peter King Arnfin A. Oyhui George E. Murphy Fish Story USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEXAS James E. Hodges Harold D. Napier Ernest L. Magers John E. Tillman John E. Markopolo USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK, VA. E. A. Ainsworth Isaac P. Hancock H. L. Hadley John H. Richardson Frank Hall R. E; Waterfield USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. Marcelo B. Belen Raymond W. Frye Max Byers K. E. Hansen Roy W. Corns WUliam P. Hunt E. Donougher Nicholas Korsak USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASH. Emery D. CroweU Roy O. Noack Dominick DiMaio John Ratcliff Sverre Johannessen Ernest T. Squire V. K. Ming W. W. Wells USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH, GA. L. U. Albritton Jimmie Littleton Ronald Canady John L. Sikes David Evans Jr. Ernest H. Webb C. E. Foster USPHS HOSPITAL DETROIT, MICH. Tim Burke USPHS HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TENN. Charles Burton TRIPLER ARMY HOSP. HONOLULU, HAWAII Frank T. Campbell USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH, TEXAS B. F. Deibler Jose Santiago Albert Kozina Rosendo Serrano Seafarer Bill Nuckols and his wife Mickey show off some of the 40 fish they caught during his last trip home to Ansted, W. Va., Mrs. Nuckols figures she's "a jinx" though, because the week before Bill and his brother caught 130! Either way, it's an awful lot of fish. SAILORS SNUG HARBOR STATEN ISLAND, NY Joseph Koslusky USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND. NY Thomas R. Bach D. Kaim Dargan Coker Manuel Landron Thomas D. Dailey Joseph J. Martus Julio Figueroa George A. Pease Gerald Fitzjames Perry Roberts John F. French G. H. Robinson David Furman Jose Rodriguez William Glesen Matti Ruusukalllo Estell Godfrey Kassim Samat Emllio Isaac Dominick Trevisano G. W. Johnson K. G. Wetterhorn USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATTAN BEACH BROOKLYN, NY Edmund Abualy Kaarel Leetmaa Fortunato Bacomo James R. Lewis Frank W. Bemrick Arthur Lomas Claude F. Blanks Francis F. Lynch Robert L. Booker Joseph D. McGraw Joseph G. Carr A. McGuigan Gabriel Coloni H. F. MacDonald. Mariano Cortez Michael Machusky Walter W. Denley Vic Mllazzo John J. DriscoU Eugene T. Nelson Bart E. Guranit^ Joseph Neubauer Taib Hasseh James OUare Joseph Ifsits D. F. Ruggiano Thomas Isaksen G. E. Shumaker John W. Keenan Henry E. Smith J. R. Klemowicz Harry S. Tuttle Ludwig Kristiansen Virgil E. Wilmoth Frederick Landry ,Cbe\ K. Zai James J. Lawlor ^ • ' ' ' Trip Stretches, Grits Run Out own program but all your prob­ lems that he will try to help you with. I'm stubborn myself, but my To the Editor: Just a few lines to say that.^ hat is off to a man that is doing a good job. He sort of made me everything is going smooth on the Wild Ranger. We left Mo­ feel like I have one more good bile on the 13th of February friend that I can always ask for with a load of ammo for Ger­ help in any emergency. many. We were supposed to Notified Passengers pay off in New York on April I thdught so much of Cliff that 1, but you know MSTS ships. I put out a bulletin to the pas­ We have made three shuttles sengers on board here introduc­ in the Mediterranean and fiing him and telling how he and his Union are attempting to im­ prove standards of shipboard cooking and feeding for the men and the passengers. Headquarters can give us more of this upgrading stuff. - We're all for it. Harry L. Franklin (Ed. note: Brother Wilson has been making the rounds of the Alcoa ships as part of the EWs nally have received our orders program to improve^ standards to go home. of shipboard feeding and the We only had six weeks' stores work of the steward departwhen we left, and even though ments). we bought stores in Italy, Spain 4 4 4 and Greece a lot of things have run out. The thing we miss most of all is grits. But all in all everyone has had a fine trip. We think we have the finest To the Editor: skipper of the Waterman fleet Greetings from-a former SIU aboard here. He is Captain brother" now transplanted to the Emanuel (Pete) Palronas, so all of you fellows can be sure he is sunny South. I have been in fair and just. He came ,up various Government hospitals through the foc'sle and was a since 1947 when I left the Seagood SIU man during that time. train Texas. Before that I was So we say "hats off" to Captain aboard several Waterman ships, and during the latter part of Pete of the Wild Ranger. World War II I sailed with Earl P. McCaskey Alcoa. Ship's delegate I'd sure like to get a copy 4" 4" of the LOG and see how the boys I used to know are doing. I can honestly say that I never had it so good as when I was To the Editor: a fortunate member of the SIU, Human nature being what it and I'm sure proud to have been is, everything that was ever a brother to the whitecapped invented was derided when it men when we backed up our was introduced. The crowds that Union demands—and got them, came down to the riverbank to too—through the fair dealing see "Fulton's Folly" came in of our officials. derision, not acceptance. Our I hope to hear that old "Ropeown Congress turned down the yard" Charlie is stacked up with first armored battleship during plenty of tobacco at Snug Har­ the Civil War. bor. I made my last trip with The Alcoa Ranger had a him sometime in 1945 or 1946 somewhat like experience when on a Waterman scow. Brother Clifton C. Wilson came Also hope Carl Wayne, the aboard for a trip with us. The oiler, is doing okay and riding smart ones were prone to hawhaw at the idea of introducing fair weather. I'd like to hear improvements in the steward from him or any of my old ship­ department at no extra cost, but mates. It sure is a far cry from the Cliff won us all over to his side. He proved to us that efficiency time I passed coal on the old SS began at home by showing us America for $60 per month and no overtime in 1919. Evans was how to do it. chief engineer then, not Paddy Pays Dividends Brennan, Let me tell some of my fel­ Anyhow, I'll appreciate a copy low chief stewards that if you are lucky enough to have "Cliff" of the LOG, as there are many make a trip with you don't feel men here who doubt my stories for one minute that he will of the many benefits of the SIU, make it a hard trip or that he and I'd like to back them up and will try to dominate your man­ also, read the very interesting agement of your department. news of far places our old gang You'll enjoy his company, and gets around to. Arthur "Pop" Wyler as he has been a dam good steward in his own right, ah (Ed. note: Your name has SIU steward to boot, if you been added to the LOG mailing open up and accept him you'll list so that you can receive the receive a bigger dividend than paper regularly.) you expect. 4 4 4 You will differ with him on some things. He's not inviolate, he's human. But just take him as another friend, tell him where he's right and where you To the Editor: think he's wrong, at the proper I am enclosing my enrollment time, proper place and when you're alone. He'll take both card for the Welfare Plan. My sides with a slide rule and before wife is the only dependent I have. It is really a great feel­ you are through, you've both ing to a fellow to know that his learned something. better half is taken care of in Don't worry about his office report. He's there to help you, case anything should happen. It is fortunate that we belong that's the nature of the, guy. He will make you feel that he's to an organization that has the doing a job he dreamed of to interest of its membership so at better living conditions of sea- " heart. men. It just doesn't mean his Adrian J. Guns Letters to the Editor Oldtimer Misses ' SIU Shipmates Feeding Plan RealBy Works Pleaised By Plan For Dependents " Ammsl B, 1955 Finds Gripers Not Real Seamen To the Editor: Since its incejjttion in the good year of Our Lord, 1938, the Sea­ farers International Union has been and always will be a pro­ gressive organization. The Union's officials and memb'ers haVe always advocated better conditions for the work­ ing seaman. There are among us, those who complain that conditions should be much better. If you should ever bother to inquire, you will undoubtedly find out that these complainers are the "Johnnie Come-Latelys" in the industry. About 95 percent of these characters have po inten­ tion of making the sea their livelihood. I Their favorite pastime is to complain about anything and everything and never do any­ thing to improve their lot. One of their favorite "sing-songs" is; How come, so and so has a full membership? If you had a mind to ask them, did you ever help organ­ ize Isthmian, Cities Service or any steamship company? Walk any picket lines? The invariable answer is always "no." They say they were busy visiting grandma, or going to Uncle Joe's funeral, or they didn't know about it — all poor excuses at best. Sightseers You will also find these men are the sightseers who are on a cruise as if they were just killing time until they get the $50 mil­ lion or the big job that is going to open up for them ashore. Or else they go back to school in the Fall and engage in some fabulous career that is going to put them far above such lowly creatures as seamen. These are your chronic complainers. Without a doubt, upon enter­ ing some SIU hall within a year, I will run into one of these great men of the future, broke, hungyy and looking for another SIU ship to get on and complain about. Press Valuable These poor saps do not seem to understand the value of SIU protection. Let them check with a reliable insurance company and inquire about a policy that will give them: A $3,500 death benefit, $200 (plus bond for baby) maternity benefit, $35 a week for life in case' of per­ manent injury or bad health, a guarantee of a job paying at least $84 a week plus room and board, hospitalization and sur­ gical care for members of the family and a representative to see that you get all that's com­ ing to you on payday. In addition, there's an office in each port equipped with showers, lockers, recreation rooms, libraries, cafeterias and a welfare department, all this and much more for $80 per year. I couldn't even begin to imagine the cost of such a policy but can safely say it's far more than 80 clams a year. I am not trying to preach to anybody or tell tftem to go to sea all their lives. But while they are among us lowly crea­ tures who roam the world for livelihood, they shouldn't con­ demn us, but leave us with an open heart. We wish them "God speed" and the very best of good luck ' in all their glorious undertak­ ings. If necessary, we will even give a hel^iing hand along the way. .' John y. (Saki Jack) Dolan �XWnst 5. 1055 SEAFARERS Smiles Tell The Sad (Or Glad) Tale Pace Thlrfiei^ lOG Antinous Finds Old World New The 88 Antinous of Pan Atlantic, which has been hugging the East Coast of the U8 for as long as man can remember, wandered far off her course on the last trip. Whether by acci­ dent or design, the ship wound up in Yokohama and other Far East ports giving her homelovin' crew a taste of the other is a veteran of the Far East. For with "three of the best daymen a side of the world. myself, I put on my dancing shoes bosun could ever find in Jimmy All went fairly well on this and spotted a dance floor that I Fuller, Glenn Petersen and Sam "t guess the smiles show who is winning," captions Seafarer Oscar Payne, secretary-reporter on the Barbara Frietchie, who sent in this photo of one of the major recreational activi­ ties for the ship, on the Far East run. Pictured iT-r) are Al Verdon, Bert Winborne, John Allmon, Tony Lipari, Jess Winfield, Charles Frey. adventure, according to Brother Maurice "Duke" Duet, except that some of the boys lost their watches to the thieving fingers of Korean sharpers and one brother was se­ riously injured by Pusaii street urchins. Of Japan, now, that was another story. But who among us can be properly eloquent about Japan? "The one port the crew was "most eloquent about," he writes, "was Osaka. Osaka had ewrything the boys were looking for. Sam (Davy Crockett) McNiel led most of the deck gang around since he Sandcaptain Beef, Beer In Boil A few weeks back the crew of the Steel Seafarer, sweltering in the Persian Gulf, was ready to do battle with a few sides of beef for "lebensraum" in the ship's reefer boxes. Now the beef on the Sandcaptain (steer beef, that is) has to contend with beer bottles for space. Venezuela may not be the real cool one by putting their-beer delegate Pete Cemashko or the rest Persian Gulf when it comes to in the ship's meat box. of the crew. heat, but it can put on an im­ This practice is strongly ob­ Just what the cook's objections pressive show of Its own on that score. It appears that a few crewmembers, to beat the heat, have been setting themselves up for a jected to by the chief cook who requests that the meat box no longer be used for that purpose. There was no official reaction en­ tered into the minutes from ship's Directory Of SlU Branches 450 Harrison St. Douglas 2-8363 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. BALTIMORE 1216 E. BaUimore St. Main 0290 Earl Sheppard, Agent EAstern 7-4900 WILMINGTON 605 Marine Ave. BOSTON . 276 State St. Terminal 4-3131 James Sheetian, Agent Richmond 2-0140 NEW YORK .... 675 4tb Ave., Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 HOUSTON . • .4202 Canal St. C. Tannehill, Acting Agent Capital 7-8538 Canadian District LAKE CHARLES. La 1419 Ryan St. Leroy Clarke, Agent HEiiilock 0-3744 HALIFAX, N,8.. .12814 HoUis St. MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Phone; 3-8911 Cal Tanner, Agent HEmlock 2-1754 MONTREAL 634 St James St. West NEW ORLEANS 523 BienviUe St. PLateau 816] Lindsey Williams. Agent WILLIAM ... 118V4 Syndicate Ave. MagnoUa 6112-6113 FORT Ontario Phone: 3-3221 NEW YORK. .. 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn PORT COLBORNB .103 Durham St. HYacinth 9-6600 Ontario Phone: 5591 NORFOLK 127 129 Bank St. TORONTO, Ontario 272 King St. E. Ben Rees, Agent MAdison 2-9834 EMpire 4-5719 PHILADELFHIA 337 Market St. VICTORIA, EC 617Vi Cormorant St. S. CarduUo. Agent Market 7-1635 Empire 4531 SAN FRANCISCO ... 450 Harrison St VANCOUVER, EC 298 Main St. Leon Johnson, Agent Douglas 2-5475 Pacific 7824 Marty BreithoR. We.sl Coast Representative SYDNEY, NS 304 Charlotte St. PUERTA de TIERRA PR Pelayo 51—La f Phone 6348 Sal Colls, Agent Phone 2-5996 20 Elgin St. SAVANNAH . 3 Abercorn St BAGOTVILLE, Quebec Phone: 545 E. B. McAuIey, Acting Agent Phone 3-1728 52 St. Davids St. SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. THOROLD, Ontario CAnal 7-3202 Jeff Gillette, Agent EUiott 4334 TAMPA . . 1809-1811 N. Franklin St QUEBEC 113 Cote^De La Montague Tom Banning, Agent Phone 2-1323 Quebec Phone: 2-7078 WILMINGTON, Calif.... 505 Marine Ave. SAINT JOHN 177 Prince WiUiam St. Ernest Tilley, Agent Terminal 4-2874 NB Phone: 2-5232 HEADQUARTERS 675 4th Ave., Bklyn. SECRETARY-TREASURER Great Lakes District Paul Hall ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS ALPENA 133 W. netcher J. Algina, Deck C. Simmons, Joint Phone: 1238W J. Volpian, Eng, W. Hall. Joint BUFFALO, NY 180 Main St. E. Mooney, Std. R. Matthews, Joint^ Phone: Main 1-0147 CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave., NE SUP Phone: Cleveland 7391 DETTROIT 1038 3rd St. HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Headquarters Phone: Woodward 1-6857 Phone 5-8777 531 W. Michigan St. PORTLAND 622 N. W. Everett St. DULUTH... Phone; Melrose 2-4110 Beacon 4336 3261 E. 82nd St RICHMOND, CALIF '. 257 5th St. SOUTH CHICAGO Phone: Esses 5-2410 Phone 2599 SlU, A&G District SAN FRANCISCO were are not specified, but it can be presumed that cooling beer in the meat box involved too many openings and closings of the doors, with consequent bad effect on the meat. Or maybe the cook didn't care for the idea of tripping over beer cans and bottles. Come to think of it, it might not be a bad idea for a can of beer or two to be accidentally spilled on the meat. Meat cooked in beer can be on the' tasty side, it's claimed. OIK objection to this practice could come from the beer drinkers themselves. The temperature in the have never seen the equal in sumptubusness and elegance in my life. Yes, Osaka was THE port." Korea was another side of the coin, "Duke" mournfully reports, he says, "is where the Antinous met its Waterloo. You could smell the town (Pusan) offshore. Going ashore no one got out of line but you had to watch yourself at all times." Watches Missing "I met some boys on the Beaure­ gard and they too lost a few watches. I also met a few SIU boys in the Army who had dinner aboard with us. . .Brother Herman Webber, now first-class private in the Army, was the Antinous beach­ comber. He was the wheel in Pu­ san—chief mate on ai) Army tug. Webber says he is ready to see the hall again and thanks all the SIU brothers for everything they have done for him." "Duke" has a few compliments of import to hand out. The ship's captain. Dean K. Bruch, he reports, "has done everything in his power to make this trip a happy one. Every one on the Antinous can't find words enough to express how they respect him.'' The deck de­ partment he says, is a fine bunch McNiel." The only sad note in this ac­ count is that Duet is going from bosun to Pvt. He was due for in­ duction into the Army upon ar­ rival. 'Visits Royalty' r Recalling the visit of Bri­ tain's Princess Margaret to the West Indies last winter. Seafarer A. Danne of the Alcoa Pennant submits this photo of a shipmate, Allen, AB, standing at the gang­ plank of the royal yacht at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. LOG-A-RHYTHM: Truth And The Young Man By Thurston Lewis With clean limb the proud youth Supple as a sapling young and straight Emerges new in an aged world, and Truth Will gather her decorous folds and wait. His eyes brown springs of Autumn water View the world with wonder and with hope. While empires rise and kingdoms totter Truth flees this cheerful scope. Bronze glints his close-cropped hair in the sun His lips unopened rosebuds in Spring; The warmth of his nature is one With the warmth the early seasons bring. Aboard Sandcaptain, Sea­ farer Andy Messana shows off tonsorial handiwork on . Pete Rivero, who's both cooler and minus all hair tonic problems now. meat box is a wee bit too cool for beer which can freeze up into a syrupy consistency. Did you ever drink beer that's been frozen? Ugh! — The McCoy Burly rgisiswuAT , I CALis- MILKl - I His good sense and inherent learning rare In a world of older more hardened men Often lays, their follies bare; Enhances his greater worth within. When man's estate boasts his full-fledged growth And Truth esteems his shoulders strong. She'll place her burden there and loath He'll follow the inevitable Yoad along To lead men where the stream of Time will flow Toward fields which assume, like hope, a brighter glow. By Bernard Seaman 1 .•'M I �Pare Fourteen SEAFARERS Seastar's Crew Rates Stewards Tops In Biz LOG ALCOA PIONEE t (Alcoa), June S— Chairman, C. Anthony; Secretary, J. TIflay. It looks lilce a good trip. To ask patrolman abcut the necessity ol removing parthole scoops from gang­ way while in port. CHOCTAW (Waterman), Kay 10— Ciialrman, J. Coude; Secretary, O. Johnson. Deck delegate saw ma.e about sougeeing and painting foc'sles. Motion made and carried 100 percent to back up Harry LunUeberg on CAMU. List has been posted showing rotation of departments cleaning laundry. WESTERN TRADER (Western Nav Igatlon), June 5—Chalrmrn, E. Burton; Secretary, E. Conrad. Crew to hold on to customs slips so that things may be taken ashore without paying extra duty. Repair list posted. For- Digest o£ shiiis' Meetings mosa bonus wiU be discussed with patrolman at payoff. The much-lauded members of the Seastar's steward depart­ ment (front, l-r) include G. Reese, pantryman; D. Crlsfolas, saloon MM; D. Hill, crew MM; D. Gaskins, BR; rear, C. McDavies, night cook and baker; Ray Austria, chief cook; C. West, 3rd cook. Steward Young was not present at the time. Returning from a long trip to Korea, the SIU crew of the Seastar have taken to prose and song to shout the praises of steward Wesley Young and his department. Judging from the tributes"^ was also extended to Ray rendered, Young and com­ thanks (Syngman Rhee) Austria, chief pany kept the Seafarers cook; Ralph (Alibi) McDavies, night aboard in fine spirits through­ cook and baker; C. (South Atlantic) out the Far East voyage. Just as an army moves on its stomach, a letter on behalf of the crew noted, "so the merchant marine also sails better on a full stomach." Need­ less to say, those on the Seastar were both full and content at all times. In addition to Young, the vote of ifr- Barber's Dream Displaying the underbrush he's been growing since November, Seafarer Vin­ cent Walrath relaxes in Los Angeles after paying off eight-month trip on the Sweetwater. Barbers won't touch it without extra overtime. West, 3rd cook; D. (Fatman) Hill, crew messman; G. Reese, pantry­ man; D. (Loverboy) Cristolas, saloon messman, and D. (Taxicab) Gaskins, BR. As nicknames went on the Seastar, Young was known to his aficionados as "Louis the Greek." The special praise for the stew­ ard also extended to chief cook Austria who "was always planning for something new, with the able assistance of 3rd cook West. We -also always had plenty oi as­ sorted parries for coffeetime and night lunch Young put out by Mc­ Davies, the night cook and baker, such as donuts, pie and such spe­ cialties as eggrolls and pizza pie. "Our messmen were always on the ball, always polite and oblig­ ing. The good food and service to match kept grumbling of all kinds to a minimum. If there., was any special dish that a crewmember liked especially well, all he had to do was ask for it and if it were possible, it would be on the menu soon enough. "The gulls did not make out well at all this trip," the testi­ monial concluded. 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 Z^NE STATE Signed TO AVOID DUPLICATION: If you are an old subscribar and have a ehtnga •f address, please give your former address below: ADDRESS CITY ...-leaeaeeMaaei ...ZONE STATE tilCH POINT VICTORY (Bull), Juna 10—Chairman, R. Millar; Secrelaty, A. Carter. Motion made and carried to concur in headquarters communica­ tions. Everything running smooth. ALCOA PIL6RIM (Alcoa), Juna U— Chairman, B. Locke; Secretary, E. Williams. San Juan agent said man must go to-USPHS for final word on unfit for duty. Communications from headquarters read and accepted unan­ imously. EnroUment cards were al­ ready . mailed in. ALCOA POINTER (Alcoa), Juna 5— Chairman, J, Hannay; Sacratary, C. Welch. The coffee urn aboard this ship is much too large therefore a new one will be instaUed this trip. Ail depirtments are runnln" smooth, crew likes the "New Look," except, that tables seem to be too small. Mo­ tion made and carried to accept and concur with communications from headquarters. Vote of thanks given to steward and his department. ALCOA ROAMER (Alcoa), Juna 23— Chairman, V. Smith; Secretary, E. Marsh. Motion made and carried to accept and concur unanimously with headquarters communication. DEL AIRES (Mlssissippif, Juna *— Chairman, A. Thompson; SecretaA, H. Cuenther. Headquarters communica­ tions accepted and concurred. KATHRYN (Bull), June 23—Chair­ man, Martin; Secretary, Jones. Mo­ tion made and carried that headquar­ ters communication be read, accepted, and concurred unanimously. ROBIN GRAY (Seas Shipping), June 23—Chairman, Kline; Secretary, MacDonald. Motion made and carried that communication from headquarters he accepted and concurred unanimously. STEEL TRAVELER (isthmian), June 12—Chairman, W. Mitchell; Secretary, E. Auer. Vote of thanks to ship's delegate. Recent communications from headquarters accepted and concurred unenimously. Motion made and car­ ried that air-conditioning he put on ships on tropical runs. Vote of thank^ to steward department. Brother Mitchell, Chief Electrician, was given a vote of thanks for good care of the washing machine during the voyage. ALCOA RANGER (Alcoa), May 14— Chairman, R. Clymer; Secretary, P. Robertson. A small beef in the black gang was squared away by the ship's delegate. May 12—Chairman, T. Nawrockl; Secretary, R. Stahl. Discussion on Welfare Plan. Repair lists turned over to patrolman. Steward delegate reported that he Is having trouble getting the chairs In the messhall painted. COUER d'ALENE VICTORY (Victory Carriers), May 3—Chairman, W. Zaiaski; Secretary, C. Taylor. Key for the pantry and passageWUy will he galley in daytime, and gangway WiU have the key at night. delegate talked to the captain the draw for Yokohama. in the watch Ship's about ALCOA PLANTER (Alcoa), June 22 —Chairman, C. Stambul; Secretary, L. Cunlls. Recent communication from headquarters read and accepted unan­ imously. Everything running smooth aboard this ship. ARLYN (Bull), May 31—Chairman, L. Cillls; Secretary, K. Hatglmlslos. Ship's delegate elected. The messroom is to' be kept locked in Puerto Rico and more cooperation is to be given from crew to keep it clean. June 19—Chairman, L. Gillls; Sec­ retary, K. Hatglmisios. Motion made and carried to have all beefs straight­ ened out by the patrolman at payoff. Crewmemhers to refrain from asso­ ciating with officers except in the line of duty. First Aid kit to be put in engine , room and remain there all the time. DEL SUD (Delta Line), Juna 10— Chairman, J. Lae; Secretary, C. Mat­ ting. Various ways were suggested to raise funds for the Annual Del Sud picnic. Ship'* fund $209.46, an­ nual picnic fund $008.60. Motion made and carried to get new movie screen, speaker, and reel in New Or­ leans; and to continue with annual picnic and make It more private for SIU brothers and their families. Librarian asked all brothers to return all books and magazines. PRANCES (Bull), Juna 22—Chair­ man, V. Fausonn; Secratary, G. Wharrlty. Motion made and carried to ac­ cept and concur in headquarters communications unanimously. Ihrerything running smooth. WARRIOR TPan-Atlantlc), May 30— Chairman, D. Dees; Secretary, M. Elliott. Recent communications from headquarters accepted and concurred unanimously. Motion made and car­ ried to give SIU Welfare Negotiating Committee a vote of thanks. Mem­ bers ere urged to take good care of washing machine and tables and chairs in crews messhaU need re­ placement. .'unc 18—Chairman, C. Owens; Secre;ary, M. Elliott. Motion made to read, accept and concur unanimously with headquarters communication. Enrollment cards to he completed. Siopchest is still insufficient. Ship's delegate to see captain about same. SEATRAIN GEORGIA (Seatrain), June 19—Chairman, W. Ncwberg; Secretary, A. Lamber. No beefs. Ship's fund consists of $30.50. Wring­ er for washing machine is broken, to be • put on repair list. June 23—Chairman, W. Morris; Sec­ retary, J. DaPonte. This is a real smooth trip—n& beefs of any kind. Motion made and carried to accept headquarters report unanimously. DEL SANTOS (Mississippi), Juna IX —Chairman, Waliberg; .Secretary, D. Marine. Fifty-two dollars spent for crew party and $29 left in ship's' fund. One man mis.sed the ship and one man became ill aboard it. Crews passageways and showers to he painted. ROBIN LOCKSLEY (Seat Shipping), Juna 22—Chairman, F. Brodrik; Sec­ retary, L. Karalemas. /Motion made and carried that headquarters com­ munications be accepted and con­ curred. Everything running smooth. SEATRAIN NEW YORK (Saitraln), June 20—Chairman, E. DeBautte; Sec­ retary, E. DeBautte. New aerial for TV set bought. Ship's fund contains $47.80. Steward asked to get variety of fruit. Washing machine to be kept cleaii. ROBIN COODFELLOW (Robin Line), Mhy 12—Chairman, M. Brlghtwell; Sscretary, W. Rackiey. No beefs. Headquarters communications accept­ ed and concurred. Ship's delegate elected. Discussion held on why the roils are never hot, and the second cook will see that they are In the future. Steward requested crew to take all cots off deck while vessel la in port. June 19—Chairman, J. LIppincotI; Secretary, W. Rackiey. Communica­ tion from headquarter." read and ac­ cepted unanimously. Repair list to be turned in as soon as possibly. Steward requested that crew turn ih all linen and cots before arriving in the United States. SOUTHSTAR (South Atlantic), July 12. Chalrmsii, C. Rice; Secretary, J. Lapointe. No baefs. Motion made and carried to accept and concur in communications from headquarters. Ship's delegate elected. It was pointed out that something is to be done about the sun shacks which are erected by the winch drivers. It was suggested that it be brought to the attention of the ship's officers. STEEL APPRENTICE (Isthmian), July —Chairman, A. Jones; Seeretary,*J. Vega. Ship is in good shape. Motion made and carried to accept and concur headquarters communica­ tions. There was a talk on the addi­ tional welfare benefits and crew was instructed to complete and mail en­ rollment cards. SWEETWATER (Petrol), July 19— Chairman, C. HIM; Secretary, N. Sargent. Ship is in fair shape. Ship's fund—$12. A few hours disputed overtime. Motion made and carried to accept and concur with recent ' communications from headquarters. DEL MAR (Mississippi), July 14— Chairman, E. Bates; Secretary, T. McLees. Motion made and carried to accept and concur all communications from headquarters unanimously. July 17—Chairman, R. E. Stough; Secretary, H. R. Ellis. Two men on charges. Men are to he aboard at least one hour before .sailing time. Each department to take one week to keep crew laundry clean. EnroU­ ment cards to he mailed in. Ship's fund—$292.25. Rotating ship's delegate from each department, for each trip. DEL RIO (Mississippi), May Chairman, G. Pefausky; Secratary, A. Rudnlckl. Motion made and carried to accept communication from head­ quarters. Speaker in crew mess to he repaired. July 3—Chairman, D. Ramsay; See-. retary, A. Rudnleki. Welfare enroll­ ment cards to be completed and mailed. A collection in the amount of $35 was made for a headstone for third mate who died this trip. Vote of thanks to steward department. Washing machine needs repair and crew needs a motor for ice cream machine. July 12—Chairman, J. Celssler; Sec­ retary, A. Rudnicki. Ttiis meeting was held to act on communications from headquarters. This was done and aU communications were ac­ cepted as read and carried' unani­ mously. HURRICANE (Waterman), May 25— Chairman, J. Longfellow; Secretary, J. Burke. Repair lists' are ready. This is a good trip. A vote of thanks to steward department. JEAN LAFITTR (Waterman), July 19—Chairman, A, BrancenI; Secratary, T. Ralney. It was pointed out to crew that linen would be distributed piece' by piece. MoUon made and carried to accept headquarters communication. NEVA WEST (Bloomfleid), Juna 12 —Chairman, W. Jones; Secratary, J. Rially. Ship's delegate spoke to porC ciaptain about draws and was told that they would he put out according to agreement. Motion made and car­ ried to accept and concur headquar­ ters communication. SANTORE (Ore Navigation), July I —Chairman, E. McNab," Secretary, H. Leiby. Ship's treasurer elected. Ship's fund $6.82. Motion made and carried to accept headquarters communica­ tions unanimously. More eggs be used In french toast, menus to im­ prove. SEANAN (Stratford), June 11 — Chairman, L. Barnes; Secretary, J, Carey. All repairs taken care of. Captain requested meeting with ship's committee every Saturday to thrash out differences. It has been agreed that steward departinent is to take care of recreation room and the engine and deck departments to take care of laundry. .luly 10—Chalrinan, D. Butts; Secre'ary, E. Pappas. One man missed ^ ship in Emden and caught it in Hamburg. Some disputed overtime. Mo­ tion made ; nd carried to accept and concur headquarters communications. ALCOA CLIPPER (Alcoa), May 29 —Chairman, H. Patterson; Secretary, G. Annls. Anyone who wishes to bring pets aboard ship must inform the captain first. Balance in ship's fund $91.68. Motion made and carried to accept and concur headquarters com­ munications unanimously. .lune 19—Chairman, Roberti; Sec­ retary, Patterson. Food beefs to he taken up with patrolman. Total of •hip's treasury $163.18. Motion made and carried to accept and concur with communications. Air-condition­ ing beef to he taken up with patrol­ man. It was suggested that brothers accept various offices to familiarize themselves and others with Union work. •luly 10—Chairman, R. Roberts; Sec­ retary, L. Harqeshelmer. Beef con­ cerning air-conditionkig is being taken care of. Sliin's fund amounts to' $171.18. Recent communication from headquarters accepted unanimously. Motion made and carried thst patrol­ man ifispect gangway, and speak to captain to find out who is informing him of beefs that do not concern him. ALCOA PILGRIM (Alcoa), July 10— Chairman, B. Locke; Secretary, W. Scott. Recent headquarters commu­ nication accepted and concurred. ALCOA PLANTER (Alcoa), July 9 -Chairman, J. DePrancisce; Secre­ tary, J. Kearns. $1 donated to ship's fund. Motion made and carried to accept headquarters communications. DEL CAMPO (Mississippi), June 20 .—Chairman, C. Gautreau; Secretary, L. Martlndale. Ship's delegate sug­ gested that ail the delegates make up a repair ii.st so that it can he worked on h.v the iiiiilc and chief en­ gineer. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for good services rendered to the crew. Mo­ tion made and carried that all bul­ letins be posted so that entire crew can read same. SEA CLOUD (Seatraders), June 11 —Chairman, E. Crotsky; Secretary, C. Hartmen. Performing on hoard ship at Panama and Honolulu must he slopped. Crewmemhers were asked to he a little more quiet in the morning. / PORT HOSKIN5 (Cities Service), June 26—Chairman, Charles Martin; Secretary, B. Webb. Treasurer re­ ported $15 in the ship's fund. Ship's delegate will check the siopchest be­ fore ship sails foreign. Old mattresses have been replaced. DEL CAMPO (Mississippi), April 24 -Chairman, P. Taurast; Secretary, L. Martlndale. Ship's delegate reported that everything is running in regular SIU style. LONG VIEW VICTORY (Victory Carriers), May 30 — Chairman, B, Toner; Secretary, M. Pappadskls. Keys for tlie cook's and messmen's quarters will he checked and extras will he made for those who haven't any. BIENVILLE (Waterman), June 2«— Chairman. Al Piontek; Secretary, M. Machel. One crewmember died in the Port of Yokohama and a special report was made up for New York. Vote of thanks given to the steward department. MARYMAR (Caimar), June 30 — Chairman, Snow; Secratary, Ressko. There is a balance of $26.28 in the ship's fund. All cunimunicatioiis and reports will be posted on the bulletin board so all crewmemhers can read same. EMILIA (Bull), June 19—Chairman, W. Cressman; Secratary, A. Campbell. The. ship's delegate asked all hands to fill in their welfare cards as soon as possible and turn them in. Treas­ urer reported $38 in the ship's fund. Communications have been posted on the bulletin hoard for the benefit, of aU. BALTORE (Ore), June 10—Chair­ man, J. Mehaleu; Secretary, L. Geraghty. A suggestion was made that a new radio he purchased for the recreation room from the Sea Chest and, if possible, secure a ti-ade-in on present one. One man liable for a fine for leaving ship after signing, articles. �•, - ^«>-%,vus SEAFARERS AnKOst 5. 1955 ALCOA CLIPPER" <Aleoa), April 17— Chairman. R. Robarti; Saeratary, O. Annit. There was a talk on the movie fund, for and against same. The ship's delegate will inquire about family insurance and report the results at the next meeting. Balance in the ship's fund S39.21. Reso­ lution on the newiyinaugurated hiring system read and a motion was made and passed to concur with same. Suggested that those members of the crew who do not understand fully the meaning to read the current LOG. Support of Lundeberg on CAMU issue approved. Motion made and passed to have treasurer post list of donations to movie fund. mation regarding restriction to ship, monetary exchange in Korea and shoreside labor performing riegular seamen's duties on deck and in engine room. ROBIN SHERWOOD (Seat Shipping), March 26—Chairman, W. KIrby; Secre­ tary, B. Johnson. There is. $14.38 in the ship's fund. Motion made that each de­ partment delegate pick up a repair list and turn same in to ship's delegate be­ fore arrival in Boston. Carried. Men getting off ship were asked to clean quarters and turn keys in to department delegates. Vote of . thanks given to the steward department and Charles Cantwell, the baker. Suggestion made that BRADFORD ISLAND (Uties Service), each crewmember donate something to April 25—Chairman, G. Fargo; Secretary, the ship's fund. V. Ratcllff. The washing machine wringer will be sent ashore for repairs. There STONY CREEK (Tankship), March 22— is U balance in the ship's fund of S42.53. Chairman, GIbbs; Secretary, Pavlot VourThe steward department was thanked for derls. Crew agreed to go along with the the fine food they put out on voyage. company until ship gets to New York, Crewmembers will wear shirts in mess- i about mattresses, springs, doors, etc. A hail during meal hours. new wringer is needed for black gang washer. April 10—Chairman, G. Brannan; Sec­ retary, C. Gibbs. Motion made and car­ ried that J. T. French be turned over to the patrolman. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for a very good Easter dinner and previous service. The crew extended their appre­ ciation to the officers on board for their cooperation. Discussion on keeping the washing machine clean. Digest of shlps^ Meetings STEEL WORKER (Isthmian), March 27 —Chairman, W. KatarzynshI; Secretary, G. Reyes. One man left behind in Djibouti for hospitalization. The deck department ALCOA PEGASUS (Alcoa), April 24— foc'sles need sougeeing. Both engine and Chairman, O. Flnkiea; Secretary, W. Yar- I steward department personnel would like borough. Ship's treasurer reported that I to have their foc'sles painted. there is S1S.40 in the ship's fund. Screens should be put in crew messroom. Crew ALCOA PARTNER (Alcoa), March 21— to find some place to store extra wash­ I Chairman, A. Aaron; Secretary, V. Quinn. ing machine as it has to be moved from ! Motion made and carried to see a patrol dry storeroom. ! man about repairs. The lockers in the messman's foc'sle should be replaced. MARIE NAMILL (Bloomfield), April 23 Suggestion made to honor the union rule —Chairman, D. Jones; Secretary, H. Hunt. that no man is to enter messhall or pan­ Ship's delegate reported on men being try in .shorts. logged and what to do about those called April 16—Chairman, V. QuInn; Secre­ before the Coast Guard in Antwerp. He tary, A. Aaron, Suggestion made to asked crew's help in getting a repair list change brands of syrup in New York. ready. There is a total of $8 in the I Water fountain should be kept clean. A ship's fund. The steward department ' few minor disputes reported. was given a vote of thanks for a job well done. OCEAN LOTTE (Maritime Overseas), March 20—Chairman, T. Connell; SecreROBIN DONCASTER (Seas Shipping), [ tary, Kaznowsky. Ship's delegate will see March 20—Chairman, A. Arnold; Secre­ I the first assistant engineer in order to tary, K. Neumann. Repair lists turned keep the engine department sailing on in and taken care of. Launch service for smooth level. Walking conditions from entire trip has been inadequate. Top­ house to bow above deck cargo is unsafe side has been notified to stay out of crew and ship's delegate will see the chief quarters. Crewmembers made a resolu­ mate or captain about same. April 8—Chairman, B. Fanovich; Section that the Robin Doncaster does not rotary, Kaznowsky. Repair lists will be aaU until all beefs are settled. April 10—Chairman, S. Yodrls; Secre­ made out. The ship's delegate will see tary, J. Byrne. A motion was made and a patrolman to get a better understand carried to have medicine cabinets in­ ing regarding the new Article 2. General stalled in crew's foc'sles with mirrors at­ Rules. tached. Motion made to have company MARORE (Ore), April 25—Chairman, J. supply launch service as per agreement, otherwise reimburse crewmembers for McLaughlin; Secretary, W. Dawley. Ship's the sum of $2 per day. It was suggested delegate reported everything in good that officers get thete own washing ma­ shape. Crewmembers were advised to chine and a place to do their own laun­ return cots at the end of trip otherwise dry instead fo using crew's facilities.' they would be charged for same. A mo­ The steward was questioned on running tion was made and passed that a tele­ short of fresh fndt and ice cream and gram be sent to Harry Lundeberg. Crew he stated that the company sends the approved new SIU seniority system and stores down at the last day and he does AFL action in CAMU dispute 100 percent. not have time to check same. The bosun LAWRENCE VICTORY (Mississippi), stated that the messroom and PO. mess have not been painted for over a year. April 24—Chairman, C. Kaust; Secretary, S. Rivera. Headquarters report was read May 5—Chairman, F. BressI; SecFetary, M. Whale. Patrolman reported all re­ and posted. Discussion on various matters pairs squared away. Discussion and ex­ for the welfare of all on board. Delegates planation on new SIU welfare plan addi­ elected. tions. Crew was in favor of same 200 percent. MAIDEN CREEK (Waterman), April 20 —Chairman, R. RIed; Secretary, L. Wing. Crew was told that the captain would give out the draw in American money. There was some diPcussion on the ex­ change rate on foreign currency in Korea. A motion was made and carried that crew of the SS Maiden Creek go on record to endorse resolutions on newlyestablished hiring hall set-up, and to sup­ port the position taken by the AFL FRANCES (Bull), May 1—Chairman, H. unions withdrawing from CAMU. The Singleton; Secretary, E. O'Rourke. Crew steward department was given a vote-of requested a new ice box. Suggestion thanks for a job well done. made that garbage be dumped aft. Messroom will be sprayed more often. The ANN MARIE (Bull), April 20—Chair­ ship's delegate reported on the new form man, Blondo; Secretary, Kllllgren. The for ship's meetings. Contributions will ship's delegate reported that the laundry be collected for the ship's fund. Is not being cleaned properly. The chief mate will provide a Ijose for washing DEL SUD (Mississippi), April 29— laundry room. Crewmembers were Chairman, T. Jamas; Secretary, G. Mat­ thanked by the ship's delegates for their ting. Motion made and carried that this cooperation on 'ship's business. A tele­ crew send a telegram to Brother Lunde­ gram was sent to Harry Lundeberg sup­ berg letting him know that we are behind porting him in the action he took con­ cerning CAMU. A vote of thanks was him in the CAMU beef. given to the ship's delegate for a job HASTINGS (Waterman), April 10— well done. CUBORi (Ore), May 1—Chairman, A. Nickle; Secretary, R. Colyer. Wringer on washing machine needs fixing. The ship's delegate will .see the chief engineer about this in addition to steampipes in washtubs. No beefs on board and everything running smoothly. Chairman, S. Carlisle; Secretary, J. Wells. Chewmembers were asked to take care of the new washing machine: the old one will be used for work clothes. A new Iron is needed for the crew. A vote of thanks was given to the steward depart­ ment for the tasty salads put out. All hands vvere asked to bring coffeb,. cups back , to the pantry and not leave them around deck. SEASTAR— (Triton), April 17—Chair­ man, W. Young; Secretary, W. Strlcklln. There will be plenty of money for draws In Korea. Logs will not be lifted. Crew­ members will sign for keys and pay for the ones lost. All repair lists wiU be turned over to the ship's delegate. A vote of thanks given to the steward de­ partment for a job well done. MICHAEL (J. Carrat), April 17—Chair­ man, F. Israel; Secretary, O. Nagy. Ship's delegate reported to crew about wire' sent to Union asking that a representa­ tive, meet • ship in Miami as wo are going to sign foreign articles. Wiper injured on way south was sent to the hospital in Cuba, Washing machine needs repairing. There is now a toUl of $14.85 in the ship's fund. NATIONAL LIBERTY (National Trade), no date—Chairman, R. Godwin; Secre­ tary, none. Beefs will be referred to patrolman. Motion made and carried to hold steward responsible for shortages in stores if he does not report such short­ ages to ship's delegate before ship sails. Suggestion made that delegates send a letter to headquarters requesting infor- LOG Fage Fi/teea Ship's Reporter Speeds News On the morning of June 24 the SlU-manned Steel Admiral rescued 186 Philippine passen­ gers from the stricken steamer Neptuno which had been beached in a storm. A few days later, the SEAFARERS LOG office in New York received a full account of the incident with photographs and newspaper • clippings so that the crew's farer Francisco Alcain. Besselievre a ship's reporter who does not hold experience could be fully re­ was elected to the secretary-re­ any other ship committee job, so ported in the LOG. porter's post by his shipmates that he can handle his assignment The LOG had this information under the new shipboard commit­ in style. thanks to ship's secretary-reporter tee system. Bill Besselievre who mailed In the Of course, not every ship has story and pictures taken by Sea- as dramatic an incident to report as the Admiral did in this in­ stance, but the Neptuno story is just one of sev­ (Continued from page 5) eral news and utes one crew spokesman said, picture items "The Pilot said 'Victory' but we sent to the LOG have won nothing . . . We are now of the following SIV families by the secretaryforced to take vacations . . . Some will collect the $200 maternity reporters on the time in. 1956 if we are not working benefit plus a $25 bond from the various SIU Besselievre we may ... be given $4 a week if Union in the baby's name: ships. many other 'ifs' are settled. As the name of the job implies, David Braxton Brag?, bom June "Instead of negotiating with the 27, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. the secretary-reporter keeps a rec­ shipowners to force us to take ouc ord of newsworthy occurrences John S. Bragg, Thunderbolt, Ga. during the voyage and forwards vacations . . . the time would have l" 4" any information of interest to the been more wisely spent increasing the length of the vacations" (i.e., Lisa Skulstad, bora June 24, LOG at headquarters. more vacation money, which is ex­ 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto The purpose of having a secre­ actly the position taken by the Skulstad, New Milford, N. J. tary-reporter on the ships is ob­ SIU). H t vious. He helps keep the Union in­ The current difficulties between ^Richard Joseph May, born June 22, formed on what is going on on the Curran and Stone, the latter Cur1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rich­ ships and through the medium of ran's right hand man and closest ard May, Brooklyn, N. Y. the LOG informs other crews and associate, obviously stem from Seafarers on the beach about what Stone's critical attitude on the hir­ t> if iff ing hall issue. Michael Gerald Kelly, born July is happening on the ships. All SIU ships are urged to elect When Curran proposed that the 3, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. doors be opened instead of fighting John Kelly, Jr., Mobile, Ala. the NLRB on the hiring issue. 4> Stone declared: Theresa Ann Butts, bora July (You are saying) "to the hun­ 14, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Anderson dreds of thousands that have sea­ Hurmen Burnell Butts, Mobile, The above-named man or anyone men's papers that we have 23,000 Ala. knowing his whereabouts are urged jobs here, come in boys, stand in to contact his mother, Mrs. W. A. line . .. these officials (Curran and 4> 4> j* Frank Edward Oetgen, Jr., born Londenberg, 5 Old Burnsville Hill Company) say, look, you are going to die anyway, so commit sui­ June 15, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Road, Asheville, NC. cide ..." Mrs. Frank E. Oetgen, Savannah, 4 4" 4" Stone's prediction was fulfilled, Ga. Rudolph Cefaratti when the NMU was swamped with t 4> l" Please contact S. C. Berenholtz, Julie Anne Thrasher, bora June 1209 Court Square Building, Balti­ thousands upon thousands of regis­ trants for jobs, leading in turn to 29, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. more 2, Md. the compulsory vacations and sup­ Julius Thrasher, Alexandria, La. 4 4 4 plementary unemployment insur­ i Eric Madsen ance. Lacy Dan Deason, bora July 12, Plea.se get in touch with Mrs. Actually of course, the supple­ 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lacy A. H. Madsen, c/o Mi's. J. Buzlear, mentary unemployment plan has Deason, Jr., Jasper, Ala. 205 Mott St., New York, NY. not yet gone into effect since a one year interval remains between 4 4 4' the signing of the contract and the William R. Dixon effective date of the benefits, Urgent you contact your wife at which means that NMU members 150 Virginia Ave., Uniontown, Pa., receive no benefits at all this year. or call Geneva 8-3957. NMU Men Hit Vacation Rule -Hi PERSONALS liiiliiiil DISPATCH 4 4 4 Feeding Plan Popular Item Francis A. Warren, Jr. Please get in touch with your The deaths of the following Sea­ farers have been reported , to the mother, at 276 East Ave., East NorSeafarers Welfare Plan and the walk. Conn. 4 4 4 SIU death benefit is being paid to Ladislaus Ziembka their beneficiaries: * (Continued from page 2) Please contact your niece, Mrs. such items as sardines, boiled eggs, Harvey Brown, 54: A heart at­ Henry Olszewski, 97 Ridge Ave., tack proved fatal to Brother Brown Bridgeport, Conn., as soon as pos­ sliced leftover roasts, such as pork, beef and ham, potato salad and who died on May sible. baked beans in addition to the cus­ 31, 1955, in the 4 4 4 tomary cold cuts and cheese. St. Marks Hotel Russell E. Morrison Standardization of menus also is in Oakland, Cali­ Get in touch with your mother at avoided and hot bread and rolls are fornia. Place of DEL VALLE (Mississippi), April 17— 84 Robey St., Uphams Corner, Dor­ baked daily, weather permitting. Chairman, R. Jensen; Secretary, J. Wise. b u'r i a 1 is not chester, Mass. Ship's delegate reported that the biggest Cakes or other pastries are served known. He had trouble is getting ship painted. Delegate 4 4 4 at coffee time as often as possible. is taking same up with patrolman or joined the Union agent upon arrival in New Orlean«y Re­ Charles Achoy Also popular is the setting up of in 1947 in Tampa port concerning hiring hall and seniority Seymour Savitt a special table reserved for men system discussed, and Brother Charles and had been Johnson made a motion to postpone vot­ Angel Feliciano on watch so they can be served sailing in the en­ ing on same until clarification from agent Your gear is being held in the quickly. upon arrival at Tampa. Motion carried gine department since that time. that all SIU ships carrying penalty cargo baggage room at SIU headquarters The new rules, Reyes pointed regardless of amount shouRTbe paid pen­ Brother Brown is survived by his out, all are designed to promote alty wages, as they stUl have to contend mother, Mrs. Edith Brown of in Brooklyn. with bugs and files. A new garbage greater cleanliness, make food 4 4 4 shute to replace old one la needed. A Tampa, Florida. more attractive in appearance, vote of thanks was given to the steward Samuel Langham ^ ^ department for a job well done. quality and taste, and to do away ex-bosun WW II April 25—Chairman, G. Muner; SacreJohn C. Maclnnes, 58: Brother tsry, J. Wise. Headquarters report clari­ Get in touch with Miller Mar­ with over-cooking and over-prepa­ fied by patrolman per action from min­ Maclnnes died of natural causes shall, 1424 K Street, Washington, ration which accounts for most utes of previous meeting. Motion made and carried to accept and concur. Car­ in the USPHS hospital in Staten DC. shipboard waste. Burial took ried unanimously. Crew voted full ap­ Island, New York. proval of new SIU hiring and AFL posi­ place at the Rose Hill Cemetery in tion on CAMU issue. A wire was sent to Brother Lundeberg extending to him Linden, N. J. Brother Maclnnes a vote of confidence from the crewmem­ is survived by his brother, Mr. bers .aboard this ship. Seafarers are urged to make a careful double-check when they Donald A. Maclnnes of Garrison, fill out their enrollment cards for the new family hospital-surgi­ YAKA (Waterman), April 24—Chair­ NY. man, E. CzosnowskI; Secretary, J. Craft. cal benefits provided by the SIU Welfare Plan, because many of Discussion on sanitation, Crewmembers' t the cards filed so far lack the signature of the Seafarer in­ feel that more agreements should be Robert Hostler, 45: On March 1, placed aboard this ship. All repair lists volved to make everything official. The absence of a proper sig­ should be turned in to the ship's delegate 1955, Brother Hostler died of aiiute nature at the time of a claim can complicate or delay approval before arrival in Miami. Warning given to all by the delegates on the conse­ poisoning aboard the Orfon Star at at the worst possible moment when aid of some kind is actually quences of getting "gassed" and perform- Manila Bay. Burial took place at needed. 'ing in next port. There is a balance in the San Lazaro Crenlatory. the ship's fund of $2.40. 'v: Sign Enrollment Cards OSS �Vol. XVII No. 16 SEAFARERS • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC Sv; AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • Seafarers Rate HigK iVith II S Customs 1 American seamen are more honest in their dealings with US Customs officers than any group of people who pass through inspection centers on the piers. Cus­ toms agents report that there are millionaires who smuggle for thrills and seamen on foreign vessels working for coolie wages who have to smuggle, but complaints registered against American seamen are extremely rare. Officials connected with the Customs Collector's office also point to the fact that they collect daily in duty charges more from crewmembers as regular duty than from those who travel as passengers. "You would be sui'prised at how little comes in com­ pared to the number of persons who make foreign voy­ ages and plane trips. The amount is negligible," said one official. "The seamen, however, realize that they must declare on the ship's curio list the real value of the articles they wish to bring ashore and that they cannot fool the Customs men on the piers." These statements indicate a certain trust in Sea­ farers, though Customs men are no less vigilant when going aboard US-flag freighters and tankers. Understaffed For Job The present nationwide staff of 7,500 to 8,000 is doing a job that needs at least half again as many men. Recently the Customs staff received a strong assist in its work through a directive now posted in ports where US ships dock. Treasury Department officials are lav­ ish in their praise of the results and ask Seafarers to assist in a campaign to wipe out the illicit trade in narcotics. The directive offers a reward of $500 per kilogram for information leading to the seizure in a port in the United States of smuggled heroin. Assisting ^n this campaign would not only be profita­ ble, but it is the duty of eyery Seafarer to his family and his country. The SIU for many years has main­ tained a strong membership-adopted rule which calls for expulsion of any Seafarer fou.id guilty of smug­ gling narcotics. The SIU has been commended in ar­ ticles in national magazines for its work in this fight. The vigilance of alert trade unions. Customs men and the directives posted in all ports of the world have noticeably cut down the smuggling of narcotics. "Too often, though," a Customs officer noted, "you get the messenger boy and not the actual smuggler. This could be some poor dupe to whom the lure of easy money is irresistible." Squads Spot-Check Ships * A vigilant enforcement division of the Bureau of Customs Is constantly sending out search squads to board ships on a "spot-check" basis or on information received from overseas, or from the ship's radiogram as having been learned by the captain. Often these ships are selected because the port from which* they sailed has been pinpointed as a known area from which narcotics are dispersed. This could be a Mediterra­ nean port, an Oriental base, or the like. These search squads, called by one official- "the greatest gang for finding things," are a yarn unto themselves. The recently-developed baggage X-ray machine is proving invaluable both in what it seeks out and dis­ covers and as a deterrent to anyone who wants to beat the tariff laws. This machine has not yet (nor is it ex­ pected to be) used on anyone's person. US Customs in­ spectors pride themselves on discovering suspicious bulges in pockets. _ Hollow cigars, hollow canes and fake fountain pens containing many carats of illicit diamonds are spotted easily by eagle-eyed inspectors, and are items that are not even safe to carry if empty. A recent discovery was a man who wore a skintight vest under his shirt containing 96 little pockets, each just big enough to contain a watch movement. Pets are not permitted ashore unless they come from a certified "clean" port, and even then you may have to pay for a veterinarian examination and an inocula­ tion. Parakeets or parrots, frequently made pets by Seafarers, are not allowed ashore. You can take in one bottle of liquor, but make sure its a quart bottle if you want the maximum and not a fifth: one bottle only. Other articles acquired abroad by Seafarers during a voyage and exclusively for pse during a voyage or while on shore leave, such as necessary clothing, toi­ letries, cameras, watches, razors, and other purely per­ sonal effects may be landed. In addition, besides the quart of alcoholic beverage previously mentioned, the Seafarer can bring in tobacco products not in excess of 50 cigars or 300 cigarettes or 3 pounds of smoking tobacco or a proportionate amount of each. Regulations regarding the landing of articles are , necessarily long, boring, printed in .smail tyxie that is hard on the eyes, and changing so constantly that only career men in the US Customs office keep up to date with them.* Items For Persona! Use It is sufficient for the Seafarer to realize that he can bring in "free of diTty and internal revenue tax" ar­ ticles that ai-e usually taxable if he declares on the crew purchase manifest (curio list) they are strictly for personal or'household use, or as gifts, and that these do not have a total value of more than $10. This is in addition to the regular tobacco and alcoholic al­ lowance under the law; but should this latter allowance be exceeded Iftr even as little as $1, or should the value of the gift item exceed the $10 "then the $10 exemp­ tion shall not be allowed and duty or tax shall be col­ lected on ALL the articles." If you are willing to pay all the fees prescribed by law, there is no limit on what you can bring in as long as every article is listed on the curio Ifst and the duty paid. A Seafarer is not eligible for treatment as a "return­ ing resident" which would allow him $500 worth of duty-free articles, unless he leaves the vessel without intention of reshipping on a ship touching on foreign ports. There are hundreds of other regulations, but the new. Seafarer and the old should have, a pretty good idea of what he can or cannot do. Sometimes, though, a Seafarer does run into difficulty by forgetting to fill out a certificate of registration of effects taken aboard during a voyage. Protect Purchase of Foreign Items Included in this could very well be that brand new. watch or camera or binoculars somebody gave you as a gift and you didn't think of asking for a sales slip. If it is of foreign manufacture, and frequently they are, and is not listed on the certificate that is good for two years, you may very well lose the article and pay a fine. An official said, "We cannot be picayune. We don't have enough men to list every little thing. Sea­ farers just have to be careful." There are thousands of articles like musical instru­ ments and perfumes which are subject to objection by trade mark or,copyright owners. TlMse who do have such objection to the entry of these articles charge fees ranging from $1 to $10 for a release to the cus­ toms officers. Many times J;hey blame the customs offi­ cials for a "racket" they themselves are benefiting by. If you are charged what you consider an exorbitant fee : for such a release, call it to the attention of US Cus­ toms personnel. Under Section 584 of the Tariff Act of 1930 as amended, the master of a ship is responsible for every­ thing on that ship being on the manifest. If a crew- • member causes a master to be penalized, the'^master looks for that crewmember ^to make good the fine : which is the appraised value of the merchandise plus penalties.. For the average Seafarer though. Customs is just , one of the necessary routines to be gone through when his ship hits port. Today with good wages and condi- . tions crewmembers have far too much at stake in their jobs to run the risk of a few illicit dollars. They hav«4no desire to attempt to outwit the pros in the Customs • office in a foolish game which would only get them into hot water. I-'' ' Iv"''' i'^ I'^x • ife^. Is-'-'' ' 11'';"'"• ••• 11":- -• hi; ,y V''" iS--" ' • • Two customs agents located this package of narcotics in the back of a cabinet on a ship arriving in Nqw York from a European voyage. Approximately two pounds of heroin were involved. Gold bars were stowed' in­ side car's door panels but agents spotted attempt. (Agent's faces masked*)^ Familiar Snow Boy washing powder boxes carried unusual contents on one ship. Customs agents-found the "soap powder" consisted of marijuana. � 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 August 5, 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. 16 Description An account of the resource Headlines: PLAN ALL-OUT BATTLE ON LA. 'WRECK' LAW SIU FOOD PLAN POPULAR WITH WATERMAN CREWS NY SHIP BEEFS DWINDLE: JOB BOOM CONTINUES SIUNA WILL ATTEND AFL MERGER MEET SIU FAMILY BENEFIT SHOWS BIG INCREASE IN SECOND MONTH US SHIPPING BOOSTED BY FOREIGN AID VOTE MAW SIGNS BAY BOATS IN BALTIMORE TRAILERSHIP PLANS TALLED ANTI-SIU 'EYE' MILKED US FILES N' ORLEANS SHIP CANAL BILL OKAYED TAMPA OKAYS FOOD SYSTEM ABOARD SHIPS NMU MEN ASSAIL FORCED VACATION CANADA STRIKES FOR HOURLY PAY SIU ACTION WINS FULL BENEFITS FOR SICK MEN LAKE CHARLES BIDS FOR SALES TAX OKAY GRAIN, COAL CREATE NO SHIP BOOM LAKE CHARLES BIDS FOR SALES TAX OKAY SYRIA SERVICE TO INDONESIA ILA CRIMP RIG READY TO FOLD SEAFARER BICYCLES ACROSS COUNTRY CG PROFILE PITCH IGNORES STIFF CO. HEALTH EXAMS ALL BEEFS SETTLED - SMOOTH PAYOFF AB BACK TO SCHOOL VIA SIU AWARD LABOR UNITED PROMISES AREN'T ENOUGH FACE-LIFT BOSTON HALL SEATTLE STILL BOOSTS BEST OF SHIPPING HAMILL HUMMING ON FIRST TOUR OF ORIENT ANTINOUS FINDS OLD WORLD NEW SANDCAPTAIN BEEF, BEER IN BOIL SEASTAR'S CREW RATES STEWARDS TOPS IN BIZ SHIP'S REPORTER SPEEDS NEWS SEAFARERS RATE HIGH WITH US CUSTOMS Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/5/1955 1955 Periodicals Seafarers Log