http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/3fb037fc93580b3b2b1b875d22fb4d05.PDF eb31b83ac4187f312a2d34b7726c29e5 PDF Text Text A MOT'SO-PUNNY TAlg: Vol. XVII No. 17 SEAFARERS story On Page 2 LOG « OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION > ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL • JOB CALLS IN SlU HIT 20-IIII0S HIGH I'-W >15 •Story On Page 3 MTD To Be Key Unit In Merger ! ..'m Story On Page 2 Prize Winners. Robin Mowbray's acting SIU ship's delegate, Peter Gvozdich (center) and Captain H. E. MacDermid (right) re­ ceive National Safety Council award on behalf of crew from M. S. Pennington, company director of operations. Copies of the award are going to all Robin Line ships. Company compiled best safety record of any US shipping operator in 1954. Record has been attrib­ uted to active participation by SIU Robin Line crews in shipboai'd safety meetings and procedures. (Story on Page 3.) I '' I visi Hospital Bonus. Four of several Seafarers who were voted retroactive hospi­ tal benefits after Union went to bat for them are shown col­ lecting checks from New Or­ leans SIU patrolman, Herman Troxclair, (right). Men had been discharged previously as unfit for duty and could not get qualifying seatime for benefits before they reentered hospital. However, the Union - presented their cases to Wei- , fare Plan trustees who ruled them eligible for $21 weekly benefit from day thfey re­ entered. Shown here are (left to right)-: Charles Nicholson, Charles E. Brady, G. D. Olive and B. C. Seal. - " ?I �Pate Twe SEAFARERS MTD Guaranteed Major Voice In AFL-CIO Merger Antuat 19, 1955 A /iOX'SO-^FUAJNY TAUB z NCE UPON A TIME many years ago agency officials, who gave the detective acthere was a small Government agency .oess to supposedly confidential personnel that had a few humdrum responsibilities files. Another involved a deal between the and not too much in the way of an exciting agency and a private company whereby the future. That was before big business meth­ agency agreed to overlook certain of its own CHICAGO—Assurances that the AFL Maritime Trades De­ ods came to Government, and the popularity safety standards so the company would be able to save a considerable sum in maintenpartment will he the spokesman for" maritime labor under 6nce and repair. Several employees of the the AFL-CIO merger were given by AFL President George company subsequently lost their lives in a Meany at a pre-convention"*' serious accident. date, the CIO unions have not co­ conference of AFL unions Just recently the agency has been plump­ operated with MTD. here. In answer to questions ing enthusiastically for a new contract which MTD was originally formed as would undoubtedly involve millions of dolraised by the SIU of NA delega­ a mutual assistance group of AFL ars yearly in additional appropriations. The tion, Meany declared that the marine and shoreside maritime contract would apply a wide variety of elaMTD would continue to function unions, to aid each other in organ­ of the theory that agencies, just like private izing and contract beefs, tt played iborate pseudo-scientific test procedures to and would be the key maritime a big role in defeating the attempt businesses, must grow, expand into new personnel already partially under its control. unit in the merged labor organiza­ of Harry Bridges and the Com­ fields, get bigger appropriations and make (Professional psychologists call this procemittee of Maritime Unity to take more noise if they are to be considered suc­ tion. rdure a "battery" of tests, and there is no quesMTD then, will have status iden­ over US maritime. cessful. At the same time, of course, this This past June 30 the MTD met tical to other AFL departments, means more and higher paid top executives, such as the Building Trades De­ in New York to elect new top of­ more clerks and more field hands, along with ; partment and Metal Trades De­ ficials and plan for future water­ the added power that all this represents. ^ partment, whose functions and front action with the organization This particular agency had some exciting' organization will carry over into of East Coast longshoremen top­ ping the list. Lundeberg was elect­ times in the 1920's when it was chasing pro­ the new merger structure. Representatives of AFL interna­ ed president of MTD with E. L. hibition lawbreakers, but along came repeal tional unions were present at the Slaughter, secretary of the Inter­ and the depression and it settled back to re­ gathering, which was in the form national Brotherhood of Long­ lative inactivity. shoremen, AFL, secretary-treasur­ Like many a dormant enterprise, the tibn but that a certain amount of shock is in­ er of the maritime body. agency got a big boost toward prosperity with volved.) Member unions of MTD include Cet That SS • The procedures are designed to enmesh the the arrival of World War II. It eagerly the SIU, AFL Radio Officers employees of the private industry in a tan­ Number Right seized its opportunity and effected a merger Union, IBL, Masters Mates and gled web of. red tape of dubious ancestry, in­ Seafarers filing vacation Pilots, Sailors Union of the Pacific, with a,bureau formerly under another agen­ money claims should make Brotherhood of Marine Engineers, cy's control. Its first big contract was an as­ volving extremely questionable procedures. sure that they use their correct Marine Firemen's Union, AFL signment to issue documents and supervise But for the agency the tests would mean new Social Security number. Use Marine Cooks and Stewards and the work of several hundred thousand men paperwork, new hearing panels, more cleri­ of the wrong number means a the Staff Officers Union. in a vital private industry, as well as to in- cal help. It all adds up to more authority and clerical headache for the Vaca­ more of the taxpayer's money. tion Plan office and slows up The agency described here is, of course, the handling of payments. none other than the United States Coast Also, a Seafarer who uses Guard. Its latest proposed addition to its the incorrect Social Security original safety-at-sea function would be the number is crediting his tax de­ "brain-body" test series for merchant sea­ ductions to some other US worker. men, on top of its authority over shipboard 9=1 discipline, its control over seamen's docum^ts, and its security clearance system for of a pre-merger conference to iron spect the plants. Naturally this involved a sSamen and longshoremen. out any questions member unions Nor are the "brain-body" tests the end of considerable expansion of the work force for might raise about merger. SIU of the affair. It is gradually encroaching, on NA president Harry Lundeberg this purpose. headed the SIU delegation which With the end of the war, it appeared off­ seamen in other respects. One is its sudden After a brief boycott by Brit­ also included Paul Hall, SIU hand that the agency would be doomed to discovery of the ship's logbooks. In the best A&G District; Morris Weisberger, ish maritime unions affiliated considerable shrinkage. But some adroit tradition of some recent investigative activi­ Sailors Union; John Hawk, SIU of with the International Transties, the Coast Guard is now applying retroacNA; Hal Banks, Canadian District; portworkers Federation, owners of maneuvering followed during which it suc­ Captain John Fox, Inland Boat­ the San Salvador, a Costa Rican ceeded in maintaining its war-time function man's Union; Fred Farnen, Great ship, agreed to sign an ITF con­ as supervisor-of personnel in this particular Lakes District, and Matthew tract. Signing of the San Salvador private industry. Naturally this meant re­ represented another forward step tention of a large percentage of wartime ap­ Dushane, SIU of NA. The question of MTD's future in the campaign of the Specml Sea­ propriations and wartime work forces. A was raised by Lundeberg in view farers Section of ITF td^ boost large number of executives who had been ot the fact that merger will bring standards on "runaway" flag ships. concerned with the possibility of downgrad­ three CIO maritime unions into Wages were boosted by approxi­ ing, loss in status and salary, could now face the combined organization. To mately $18 for each crewmember the future with confidence. Meanwhile the tiye justice by punishing men for infractions and the manning scale increased. Both boosts brought the crew's agency continued its noiimal peacetime work of years past long since forgotten. No mis­ involving in the main the enforcement of cer­ hap is too small to be entered in the logbook, up to British scale. SEAFARERS LOG conditions In recent weeks the Special Sea­ tain safety standards. the Coast Guard says, or too small to punish Aug. 19, 1955 Vet. XVII, No. 17 farers Section has been increasing­ The Korean War gave the agency its sec­ a seaman for. It makes exhaustive sugges­ ly active on both sides of the At­ PAUL HALL, SecretaTy-Treasurer lantic in efforts to win decent con- ond big opportunity to expand. A new con­ tions on how to keep a logbook and a per­ tract assignment was obtained involving an manent service record on seamen in its pub­ HEnsERT BRAND, Editor; RAY DENISON, Managing Editor; BERNARD SEAMAN, Art .ditions for seamen under runaway extension of its personnel powers over 100,lication dealing with safety at sea. T-he Coast Editor; HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN SPIVACK. flags. Guard seems particularly anxious to compile Staff Writers; BILL MOODY, Gulf Area Tied Up In England Representative. a day-by-day record of every seaman from The San Salvador was hung up his first wail in infancy until he cashes in his Burly Page 13 in the port of Barrow Furness, Editorial Cartoon Page 10 England, by railroad workers in the chips. Editorial ."Page 10 As a result of this record of growth and ex­ Final Dispatch Page 15 National Union of Railwayman and pansion, the Coast Guard has been able to and longshoremen in the Transport Inquming Seafarer Page 11 publish recently four pages of amendments to Labor Roundup Page 10 and General Workers Union. Both regulations. The amendments were pre­ unions refused to handle cargo for Letters Pages 12,14 the vessel. Low wages, bad con­ sented in condensed form because space Meet The Seafarer Page 10 Personals Page 15 ditions and undermanning were 000 or more workers not previously affected Recent Arrivals Page 15 the reasons for the action by the plus additional authority as a Government security watchdog. This involved the estab­ Seafarers In Action Page 11 ITF's British affiliates. Here in the US, the ITF Sea­ lishment of m&ny more boards and a vast Shipping Figures Page 4 Your Dollar's Worth Page 6 farers Section recently opened an new volume of paper workvwhich^ undoubt­ organizing office at 33 Whitehall edly opened up a iew new careers for ambiti­ Published blwemly nt the headquarters Street for the purpose of organiz­ et the Seafarers International Union, At­ seamen. The ous officials in the ranks. lantic A Gulf District, AFL, «7S Fourth ing runaway flag Like any Government agency, it had been Avenue, Brooklyn 32, NY. Tel. HYacinth -9-SiOO. Entered as second claf. mailer campaign here is under the direc­ at the Post Office In Brooklyn, NY. under tion of Willy Dorchain, ITF US involved in a few scrapes along the line but the Act of Aug. 24, 1912. representative. It has a strong en­ haid managed to wiggle through. The only simply didn't permit all of them to be printed in full. Of course, every regulation means dorsement from the last SIU of NA casualties were a few red faces. convention which pledged it the One such scrape involved a questionable that much more in the form of Coast Guard fullest possible support. collaboration between a private, detective and control over seamen; v i ITF Boycott Wins Pact On Runaway 0im$ LOG \ O �Parcnfe* SlSAFAttERS LOG Anffuat 19; 19W Shoreside Union Rep Gets Taste Of Sea Job Pace At 20-Mo. High In 5IU-A&C Job opportunities for men shipping with the SIU reached a new high in the past two weeks as more Sea­ farers shipped out than at any time since the pre-Christmas boom of 1953. The total of 1,574 men shipped to off­ shore jobs surpassed a previous high of 1,416 men shipped in the two-week months. The department's ac­ period of June 29 through cent tivities have increased the tradi­ July 12. tionally high ratio of job opportu­ Furthermore, total shipping exceeded registration by 127 jobs with the result that in many ports men with class A seniority are shipping regu­ larly with cards a few days On tour of SlU-manned Del Norte, R. L Grevemberg, New Orleans business representative of AFL radio and TV technicians, picks up soma pointers from Seafarer Peter Prevas, DM (right), while Seafarers Joe Vigo, OS, and Angel J. Urti, DM, look on. Grevemberg also toured SlU New Orleans hall. old and ratings of all kinds are in considerable demand. Much of the credit for the favor­ able SIU shipping picture belongs to the Union's organizing depart­ ment which has brought several new companies and hundreds of jobs under Union contract in re- SIU Action Reverses Loggings BALTIMORE—"Two for one" loggings of Seafarers by one operator in this port have been defeated as a result of prompt SIU action. Fort agent Earl Sheppard said that the Coast Guard has agreed that^ the loggings in these instances X is now on a test cruise to deter­ were not legal and the men mine how the ship will handle. will have their money refunded. The loggings beef arose on ships More good news from the port of the Ore Steamship Company and came fn the form of the crewing involved men who did not report of the Ideal X for Pan-Atlantic, a aboard one hour before scheduled T-2 tanker specially modified for sailing, as a result of which ships carriage jof deck cargo. The Ideal sometimes sailed shorthanded. However, even in those instances where a replacement was secured by the Union the captains were making it a practice to log the men on a "two for one" basis. Won Ruling The SIU took action on -the case with the Coast Guard and won a ruling from Washington that the loggings were unjustified. However, Sheppard warned, the Robin Crews Hailed On Safety Recognition for their outstanding safety record in maritime has been given Seafarer crews, of SlU-manned Robin Line ships which won the top National Safety Coimcil award for 1954. Each Robin Line ship is being presented with a copy of the award plaque. lY In presenting the plaque to the crew of the Robin Mow­ bray, M. S. Pennington, Di­ rector of operations for the com­ pany declared, "these awards are a tribute to the fine cooperation on safety matters between the com­ pany, the crews and the unions. They are the result of the effective shipboard safety meetings that are held on all of our ships. On behalf of the company I would like to thank the officers and SIU crews for making this distinction pos­ sible. "The direct participation of crews In our safety program is the only way that our safety objectives can be attained." Cited Also In'53 The Robin Line was also cited in 1953 for the second best showing on safety. It got special honors for the greatest improvement in safety of any US shipping line. The awards are based on statistics showing both the frequency and severity of shipboard accidents. Safety operations of the com­ pany are directed by a shoreside central safety committee. ShipSeafarers and officers of the Robin Mowbray gather round board committees consisting of the to admire safety award for crew given to company by Na''J'f i. I c / X ^ •! I X iL I X 1 • X gates meet regularly and pass on tiona Safety Council. In center (back to camera) is actsuggestions to this shoreside ing SIU ship s delegate Peter Gvozdich who received award committee. If they are of merit, on behalf of crew from M. S. Pennington, company director the procedures are put into effect of opprations (holding''plaque). on all ships of the Robin Line. I ' SIU contract specifically provides that men should be aboard one hour before scheduled sailing time. Where Seafarers do not abide by the contract they create hardship for their shipmates and cause dif­ ficulties such as these with the company. Anybody who fails to make the ship at the required time, he pointed out, is liable to charges. The crewing of the Ideal X for an experimental run will be fol­ lowed next month by the crewing of the Almena, Sheppard reports. Both ships were modified at the Bethlehem shipyards here. In the event the operation works out. Pan Atlanticy is expected to add more ships to the run. Shipping in the port slacked off somewhat from the good pace of the past two months with 12 pay­ offs, 9 sign ons and 22 in-transits. nities which Seafarers have en­ joyed in the past.. Consequently the past two weeks' shipping perfor­ mance represents a trend going back through several months and not simply a one-shot affair. Evenly Distributed Shipping prosperity was distrib­ uted pretty generally throughout the A&G District with the head­ quarters port of New York pacing the Union, and New Orleans, Mi­ ami and West Coast ports doing extremely well. New York figures broke the 400 mark for the first time since the December, 1953, period. As a result of the excellent ship­ ping picture, an unusually heavy number of class C men shipped in the past two week period be­ cause of a lack of class A and B manpower for jobs that had to be filled. Shipping for class C men, who have no seniority in the SIU, accounted for 14 percent of all shipping in the period and was the highest recorded under the SIU seniority system. For the first time, every port in the District shipped at least one or more class C men. The biggest demand remains for deck and engine department rat­ ings. Several ports reported they were cleaned out of ABs and rated black gang men. Steward ratings, while doing w ell, are in more ample supply. A breakdown of the shipping fig­ ures shows that class A men con­ tinue to maintain a two to one superiority in jobs shipped, get­ ting 56 percent of the total to 30 percent for class B, which in turn shipped two men for every class C man getting out. Push AFL Pier Drive Despite I LA 'Pact' No change in its plans to continue organizing longshoremen in New York harbor are contemplated, the AFL International Brotherhood of Longshoremen announced, in the wake of reports of a "mutual pact" be tween the International for an organizing campaign in the Brotherhood of Teamsters and South." Thus far, the proposed the AFL-expelled International pact has not been signed by reiiLongshoremen's Association. The resentatives of either the Team­ IBL said that it would continue its sters or the ILA. campaign in the New York area No matter what the outcome of with the full support of 100,000 the ILA-Teamster talks, the IBL AFL waterfront workers in the enlphasizcd they would have no Maritime Trades Department. bearing on AFL longshore union objectives in New York harbor or Full Pledge The MTD at a meeting last elsewhere in the US. month pledged to give the IBL that support "until it has successfully brought all longshoremen of the United States and Canada the ben­ efits and protection of AFL con­ tracts." The SIU and other SIU of Regular membership meet­ NA affiliates are MTD members. ings in SIU headquarters and Reports of the Teamster-ILA at all branches are held every pact have been rife for the past second Wednesday night at two weeks. The "New York Times" 7 PM. The schedule for the of August 10 described the Team­ next few meetings is as follows: ster move for a wbrking alliance Aug. 24, Sept. 7, Sept. 21. "as an attempt to gain ILA support Meeting Night Every 2 Weeks m ,c] ' I 'J •%i �^ SEAFARERS fflonduran Visitor To SiU ^- ' • r -•. LOG • ^"'.•:! ''-sj AMcnstr 19; 198S SHIPPING ROUND-UP AND FORECAST . .-V JULY 27 THROUGH AUGUST 9 Registered Port Deck A Boston New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Miami Tampa Mobile New Orleans Lake Charles 10 111 14 67 11 11 7 4 32 39 10 25 19 21 19 Seatlle 3 23 9 26 5 5 6 3 13 20 9 6 6 14 12 Deck A 160 NY Vf elcome Mat Ou! For Rated Seafarers Deck A Boston 9 New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Miami Tampa Mobile New Orleans Lake Charles .....7 Houston 11 Wilmington San Francisco...... Seattle Deck A Total trails behind the other two. Noting the lack of deck and black gang ratings. Assistant SecretaryTreasurer Claude Simmons, head­ quarters port agemt, urged Seafar­ ers having these endorsements, who are not too particular about the ship or the run, to come to New York and be sure of getting out in a short time. Several Payoffs Due He forecast the arrival of "quite ,a few ships" for payoff in the com­ ing period, several of them from long runs, so that shipping is ex­ pected to continue booming along. Statistics for the last two weeks included 27 payoffs, nine sign-ons on foreign articles and ten in-trans­ it, ships. No major beefs were re­ ported on any of these ships, all of them having come in with only minor overtime disputes and re­ pairs which were taken care of aboard ship. Simmons again called attention, however, to the need for impressing all SIU men with the Importance of taking jobs when they are hang­ ing on the shipping board, in­ stead of forcing the dispatchers to secure replacements from other sources. He pointed out that many jobs remained on the board for more than one call until they were finally taken. "It is vital for the membership to realize that by taking these jobs now, as they come up, they are guaranteeing we will have these jobs in the future," he added. "The more we demonstrate that we can man the ships as the need arises, the easier it will also be to sign new ships and companies when these opportunities develop." • SAN FRANCISCO—Seafar­ ers in this port had a choice selection of Far East and intercoastal runs this past two weeks as shipping opportunities exceed­ ed registration by a wide margin. Four payoffs, five sign-ons and five in-transits made up the port's shipping activity. ^ Future prospects are also topgrade, port agent Leon "Blondie" Johnson reported. Waterman ac­ tivity on Far East runs provided the bulk of the jobs. As a result of the fine shippihg here, Johnson reports, class C men on the bottom rung of the senior­ ity ladder have been moving out in quantity. SeaHle Still 'Very ^od' SEATTLE—That old refrain "very good shipping" is still the story out here in the Northwest. Not only has shipping been excellent out of this port but it has held up remarkably well for a good many months now. The crewing of the Heywood Broun, a Victory Carriers Liberty ship that had been in lay-up here for 21 months, gave an added fillip to an already pleasant shipping picture. Six payoffs, five sign-ons and eight ships in transit made an imposing total bf job opportunities for Seafarers here. 2 48 10 31 11 6 6 0 10 24 9 8 6 21 16 ••4. - Eng. A 6 88 21 33 3 4 7 3 19 53 7 6 5 26 14 En^g. 268 Deck B Deck C 0 30 6 14 4 2 9 2 19 32 4 2 5 18 18 1 21 0 3 9 2 6 0 0 4 0 0 7 7 1 Deck B Deck C 165 61 Eng. . Eng. B 3 82 . , 35 12'' 4 36 24 7 3 4 1 7 2 1 4 9 21 20 45 7 8 9 8 3 6 23 18 13 18 Eng. A 263 Eng. B 173 As reported in the story on page 3 of this issue, shipping has broken all records since December, 1953, in the A&G District. Eight NEW YORK—Breaking all records of the past 2Q months, SIU ports showed increases over the past two shipping in the headquarters Port of New York topped 400 .week' period, with only slight decreases in during the last two weeks, for the hest performance since the three others and three remaining at previous pre-Christmas hoom of _ 1953 4. levels. ^New York, Miami, New Orleans and Actual number of men shipped the West Coast paced shipping activity with in the past period was 408. only Savannah experiencing a genuine de­ The good shipping for the port cline. pointed up the continued short­ The following is the forecast port by port:' age of rated engine and deck de­ BOSTON: Fair this period; future looks partment men, who have been in slow . . . . NEW YORK: Booming along; still short supply for some time. Ac­ short on deck, engine Iratings .... PHILA­ tivity for the steward department SF Proves Job Haven Stew. A Stew. A 208 295 Stew. B 2 19 10 19 5 4 7 1 8 11 5 7 2 11 5 Stew. B 116 Total . A Total B 25 278 55 146 25 21 15 15 64 120 21 43 29 69 37 7 90 29 76 21 15 19 4 31 55 23 21 14 46 33 Tutul A 963 Total Reg. 32 368 84 222 46 36 34 19 95 175 44 64 43 115 70 Totsl B Total Reg. 484 1447 Shipped - Studying SIU operations, Raul E. Estrada (center), secretary general of the Tela Railway Workers Union, La Lima, Hon­ duras, examines multi-colored ship control board at SIU headquarters showing location and status of all SlU-contracted ships. US State Dept. aide F. Ivl. Lanza (left), who served as interpreter, looks on as LOS editor Herb Brand explains ships' record set-up. Estrada, whose union belongs to Int'l Confederation of Free Trade Unions, with which SIU is also affiliated, is on tour arranged by US Labor Dept., Int'l Labor Affairs Office. Eng. B 9 79 20 46 11 6 1 8 13 28 4 12 5 22 Deck B 400 Port Eng. A Deck B En^. 3 27 1 7 4 0 3 0 10 2 4 4 710 7 Eng. C 89 Stew. A 3 62 14 22 4 1 10 0 23 44 3 5 3 21 17 Stew. A 232 Stew. B 1 16 4 24"^ 3 1 7 4 7 24 4 2 4 11 14 Stew. B 126 Stew. C 1 26 1 5 5 2 3 1 1 22 ,1 0 2 7 3 Total A 15 259 44 111 17 6 20 9 75 146 22 20 17 70 55 stew.' To-al C A 74 886 Total B Total Total C Ship. •4 81 14 62 14 7 23 7 35 76 16 13 15 47 50 5 24 68 408 2 60 15 188 18 49 4 17 12 55 1 17 11 121 28 250 43 5 4 37 16 48 24 141 11 116 Total Total c Ship. 224 1574 Total B 464 DELPHIA: Still good .... BALTIMORE: Registration near record; shipping down a bit... . NORFOLK: Outlook fair. SAVANNAH: Down again, but two pay­ offs due .... MIAMI: Very good; port cleaned out of ABs, engine ratings .... TAMPA: Fair; short on deck department men .... MOBILE: Good; should continue NEW ORLEANS: Very good. LAKE-CHARLES: Qood HOUSTON: Slow; future about the same WILMING­ TON: Good; holding its own . ."v. SAN FRANCISCO: Very good SEATTLE: Excellent. Several payoffs due; Battle Rock will crew up. Burglars Tap Mobile's Vacation Tiil MOBILE—Burglars last week-end forced several doors in the SIU hall here and made off with all the SIU vacation checks on hand after breaking open a locked drawer. However, police were successful in picking up four or five ihen and recovered approxi­ mately two-thirds of the"^ Several SIU brothers acted as pall­ stolen checks. bearers. Meanwhile, machinery has Brother Russell, a member of been set in motion to have new th^ engine department, passed cheeks issued for the men whose away in the New Orleans marine checks were stolen. This is expect­ hospital from a lung cancer, after ed to take a week to ten days. As a long Illness. His last ship was the Alcoa Cavalier, aboard which soon as information on this is for­ he served as electrician for almost MIAlVn—All deck and en­ warded from headquarters, the a year. His burial is being ar­ gine department ratings were membership will be Informed, Cal ranged in New Orleans by a friend on the high seas out of this Tanner, pojt agent here, stated. designated as his beneficiary. sunny port after another two week On allied matters. Tanner report­ pOriod of top shipping. New ships Aside from the inconvenience the brothers involved will suffer no ed that the Mobile area has con­ signed recently by the SIU organ­ loss as a result of this incident, he tributed ten claims to the total of izational department were a promi­ SIU dependents benefits paid out noted. nent factor in the outstanding throughout the A&G District. Tlie branch membership has ex­ He again urged Seafarers to file shipping picture. tended its sincere sympathy to The port paid off and signed on a properly-executed enrollment the families and friends of two the tanker Ventura and the pas­ card and also photostatic copies SIU brothers who died in the area senger ship Florida. Eight inrecently, Charles W. Gann and of their mamage certificates and transit ships in the same two week the birth certificates of their chil­ James Russell. period had port agent Eddie Parr dren. (^ann, who sailed in the steward If this is^ done in advance, it is "shaking the palm trees" in the department, was was thp victim of estimated claims can be processed area for aU ratings. a brutal murder, and his slayers one to three days faster than or­ . What's more, the upsurge in this have not yet been found. port is expected .to continue as dinarily. Beaten To Death Chaimian of the last branch Mian^ shipping is at its bes^ in He was found beaten to death membership meeting, Seafarer many a year. near the shipyard where his ship Phil Reyes explained the operation One result of the shipping activ­ had gone in for repairs. He had and purpose of the new feeding ity was that the port had to forego just gotten off the Madaket after plan being instituted in the Wa­ its regular membership meeting. a trip. Efforts to locate relatives terman fleet, which was soundly There Just weren't enough Sea­ failed until his foster mother was endorsed and supported by the farers on the beach to make a quon^m, , ^ located to uithorize his . buriaL members here. Jobs Boom Port Miami �SEAFARERS Aiwnst 19, IMf New Rules Ease Alien Hardships Pac«~^ll«K LOG He^s Full-Fledged Citizen Now Gov't Unit Raps MSTS Slowdown WASHINGTON—Bottled up for the past seven months, a House subcommittee report sharply critical of the Military Sea Transportation Service was finally made public this week. WASHINGTON—More libThe document, containing ments, but with Commerce in" the eral rules designed to*' give the findings of a special House forefront, "the reverse occurred." Its inference was that the milifairer treatment to aliens in unit in the last Congress, has just tary had maneuvered itself into • deportation cases have been pro­ been released by the House Mer­ position which left very little con­ posed by the Immigration and Nat­ chant Marine Committee. It pin­ sideration for the needs of private uralization service, pointed the general dissatisfaction shipi)ing, and indicated little likeThe new rulings would do away with arrests of aliens, pending de­ of many Congressmen with the liho(^ of any serious intent to cur­ portation, and would change the slow pace at which the Defense tail MSTS operations. hearing system so that the same Department has been cutting back Immigration officer would no MSTS activities. longer act in the double role of prosecuting attorney and judge. Criticized Before Under the old system, an alien MSTS has been on the carpet Involved in deportation proceed­ under fire on many occasions in ings would be served with a war­ the past because of its competi­ rant and often was forced to post tion with private shippers. The bond. When the new rules go in Government agency has been effect, as expected, the alien will charged with handling vast vol­ simply be given an order to show umes of cargo and passenger traf­ cause why he should not be de­ fic which could have been just as ported—in ather words, to appear efficiently moved by privatelyat a deportation hearing. operated vessels, and at a much Still fuming over the treatment The hearing itself will be con­ lower cost. given them by the NMU and the ducted by a Special Inquiry Officer Seafarer Frank S. Bosmente happily points to newly-entered The report of the subcommittee, NMU Pilot, the 1,000-man crew of who will hear the Government's "US" stamp on his seaman's papers indicating he has United which was headed by Rep. John J. the passenger ship United States case from a Service Examining Allen (Rep., Calif.), pointed out voted down "approved" candidates States citizenship. He is, shown in Brooklyn home with wife Officer. In the past the Inquiry that whereas the size of the MSTS and elected two convention dele­ officer at times, both presented and mother-in-law. SlU Welfare Services Department nucleus fleet should have been gates who are openly opposed to the case and rendered a decision, speeded up procedure after Bosmente endured lengthy wait the joint responsibility of both the the program of NMU president a procedure which loaded the dice Commerce and Defense Depart- Joseph Curran. without results. against the alien. The crew had previously reject­ ed the new NMU contract by a near unanimous vote and has since been frozen out of the NMU news­ paper which refuses to report its action. Instead the Pilot has launched a retaliatory personal at­ tack against the creW at large. When the crew elected its, dele­ Stung by repeated exposure of its cover-ups and inconsis­ gates last week the US stewards tencies on major maritime issues, the National Maritime Un­ department rejected Curran-apion is trying to persuade its members to look the other vi^ay proved candidates by a vote of three to one, electing Kvo men when a copy of the SEAFAR-tof their own choice. The ship has ERS LOG appears. An edi­ dent Joseph Curran's plans to dis­ four delegates in all. torial in the last issue of the card treasurer M. Hedley Stone Rejected Coi^tract NMU Pilot, reflected the NMU's under the guise of reorganizing extreme sensitivity over its short­ the NMU's official set-up, because The United States crew had Stone .opposed the abandonment voted 456 to 1 at the July 3 meet­ comings. ing to turn thumbs down on the The general feeling among mari­ of the hiring hall. Since the Pilot has dropped NMU contract, because it contains time observers is that Curran, in his frustration over a series of a blanket of silence over much of a compulsory vacation clause and failures over the Tonsina incident this information or deliberately a supplemental jobless pay plan of and his fiasco surrounding his fail­ concealed its implications, it was dubious value. The compulsory va­ ures in CAMU and the NMU hir­ only natural that large numbers cation provision was hustled into ing hall, is now blindly lashing out of NMU mentbers would turn to the contract without prior notice at all who voice any criticism of the LOG for news of what was to the NMU membership as a way happening in their own union. out of the situation created by the his policies. Of equal embarrassment to the Likewise, it is felt that Curran, NMU was the LOG'S report on NMU's action in hastily opening who has always attempted to play Curran's ambitions t o become its books and hiring halls to all the role of "labor statesman" and number one man in American comers. The compulsory vacation, de­ has resisted replying to past re­ maritime under AFL-CIO merger. ports of his shortcomings in the In the light of this ambition Cur­ signed to get men off the ships SEAFARERS LOG, will now very ran's past actions and outlook and relieve the pressure at the likely turn his hysterical guns in were of major interest to Sea­ shoreside halls, was packaged in a broadside attack on the SIU and farers and all other uniop seamen. a gift wrapping under the mis­ the SEAFARERS LOG. For this reason the LOG print­ leading title of "Employment Officials Worried ed excerpts from the record show­ Security Plan." It was the first time in the According to insiders, the NMU ing Curran's enthusiastic endorse­ is seriously concerned because its ment of the Communist Party line memory of maritime observers thnt members are. turning to the LOG before, during and after World a compulsory vacation had ever to find out just what the score is War II and his intemperate attacks been labeled as a method of pro­ in the NMU. The LOG has been on CIO President Walter Reuther viding security of employment. printing the stories of events with­ and others, leaving it for readers Aside from the openly antiin the NMU in order to give NMU to judge the quality of this par­ Curran steward delegates, crewseamen their democratic right to ticular candidate. members of the US chose a deck news of their own union. For ex­ No matter what the Pilot may delegate who is acceptable to the ample, NMU members first learned or may not say, the policy of the crew, if regarded with lukewarm in the LOG that it wds not neces­ LOG will be to print information enthusiasm by the NMU admin­ sary to open the books and aban­ of interest and importance to Sea­ istration. The engine delegate ap­ don the union hiring hall, but that farers and to all American sea­ parently endorses the Curran pro­ a workable seniority system could men. gram. have protected the professional NMU seaman. It was the LOG report entitled "Guaranteed Annual Wage and the The SIU headquarters food committee will hold a series of meetings Maritime Industry" which first in­ formed NMU members that the the week of September 12 to'formulate a master set of rules governing highly-touted NMU jobless pay the steward departments on all SlU-contracted ships Tlje committee plan was in actuality a disguised meetings follow the successful institution of the new feeding program compulsory vacation plan. The LOG also notified the NMU on many SIU vessels. membership that the crew of the All steward department crewmembers and other interested parties While City of Alma loads grain in New Orleans for Far East United States Ifad twice rejected are requested to write in any suggestions or criticisms of the system run, Seafarer Coy Morrow, BR, starts first of many miles of the compulsory vacation plan and travel behind mop he'wijl make before the Waterman ship the entire NMU 1955 contract now in effect. Their suggestions will guide the committee in its worit. agreement. It told of NMU Presi­ All interested parties may attend the meetings. returns home. Ang^ NMII Crew Vetos Outran Men City of Alma's Mop-Up Operator NMU Squirms As LOG Ferrets Out Cover-Ups Notice To SIU Steward Dept. Men I .. »i �Avrust 19. 1955 SEAFARERS LOG Pace Six SIU Scholarship €aps| 15-Year-Old Dream Trying for several years now to obtain some professional training, Seafarer Joe Kite of Jacksonville, Fla., has §nally made the grade, thanks to the SIU scholarship award and the financial help it provides. Dogged hy had breaks and and was left high and dry soon shipyard work, plus Jobs In the misfortune since the death of after when the Navy changed its electrical field. His first maritime his wife just before World mind. job came in the mid-1930s when he Returned To Sea War II, Kite has raised his teen­ grabbed at a chance for a berth as He enrolled again that June and age son with the aid of his mother a deck hand on the tug Three and brothers, plus the good wages remained uptil June, 1953, when Brothers," out of Brunswick, Ga. his funds ran out and he had to re­ and conditions that have come his The tug, operating in the lumber way since he started Scdling SIU turn to sea. By this February he had accumulated a stake once trade along the Satilla River, was ships in 1947. It again, but this time was forced out hasn't been an In danger of losing its tow during by his mother's ill health. easy fight. dirty weather, and Kite, nearby on Back once again this summer, Now attending a small sailboat he owned, was able with four years of schooling now summer school at to lend a hand getting it secured. assured, and all homefront prob­ the University In return, the old man offered him lems smoothed over, he is now of Florida in a job. "Tug crews ate regular so ready to turn to and learn some en­ in Gainesville, gineering. "When I say 'thank I accepted," Kite recalled. prepping for a Ashore for a time with an Infant you' to the brothers, I really mean degree in electri­ son after the death of his wife. it," he said recently. "If I didn't cal engineering, Kite have their financial help now, I Kite enlisted in the Army Air Kite first en­ Force as a glider pilot in 1942. But tered there early in 1951, dropped could not be here." A native of Florida, Kite has split the glider program was curtailed in out a week later when the Naval Reserve called him for active duty his energies between the sea and 1943, and he was discharged and back in the shipyards again. Canada Ship Engineers Voting On Link To SIU " MONTREAL—Another affiliate for the growing SIU of NA family is in the offing as Canadian marine engineers bal­ lot on whether to join the SIU. An application for a charter has already been made hy the 4^ National Association of Ma' ships and aboard the ships of the rine Engineers, representing Great Lakes fleet. Great Lakes and East Coast engi­ Climax To Discussions neers in Canada. Affiliation of the Canadian en­ If the vote is favorable, as Is ex­ gineers has been under discussion pected, the Canadian engineers between the engineers and the SIU would become a second shipboard for several months. While Canadian engineers on the affiliate of the SIU in Canada. The SIU Canadian District already rep­ West Coast are not involved In the resents the bulk of unlicensed current balloting, the decision of the East Coast engineers is ex­ Canadian seamen. The voting of engineer.s is being pected to have considerable influ­ conducted by mall for deep sea ence on their future action. Sailed Cites Service Finally, on St. Patrick's Day, 1945, he was shipping once more, and signed on the old SS Hadnot. "Believe you me, she had not," he noted, "but it was the luckiest day of my life. She belonged to the Cities Service Oil Co. and it was aboard her that I saw my first LOG. Soon I was calling at SIU head­ quarters trying to interest the Un­ ion in the fleet and trying to in­ terest my shipmates in the SIU . . . It was a long haul, but eventually we won." In the same way, it was a long haul for Kite to make his way back to school, but now that degree in engineering looms much nearer. "I know I can never thank my Union brothers and all the officials enough for this opportunity. It's wonderful that our Union can make things like this possible fol its members," he added. A trip to tho SIU hall was included in a tour of New Orleans for little Larkell Hernandez, 5, on a trip from her home in Baton Rouge with her uncle, Seafarer 8. M. Slade, electrician. The little lady seems a bit wary of the cameraman. Ratings Shortage Now Tampa's Chief ^ncern TAMPA—Shipping held up very well in this port during the past two weeks and is expected to do the same in the coming period. Port agent Tom Banning by the fact that there was no reported a shortage of deck quorum available for the sched­ rates on the beach and avail­ uled branch membership meeting able to ship and Invited men ship­ ping in that department to take advantage of the expected job op­ portunities as well as the chance to get in some good fishing, while they wait. The general lack of manpower on the beach is evidenced .further YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH SEAFARERS GUIDE TO BETTER BUYING Does Self-Contracting Save $? Several readers have asked the same question many others of us have often wondered about: Can you cut the cost of a house by doing your own contracting? One man writes that he wants to buy a lot and haVe a house built, but doesn't want to go to a contractor to do the whole job as he thinks this will cost him a small fortune. He wants to go to an architect for plans, and have individual contractors pour the foundation, put in the wiring, plumbing and heating, etc. "I know this will mean a lot of running around," he writes, "but I know people who have done this and they tell me they saved a couple of thousand dollars." Undoubtedly doing your own contracting can save you money in building an individual house. Generally a con­ tractor's margin is 15 per cent of the cost of a house, which includes his return on his investment, his over­ head expenses, salary and profit. You assume his respon­ sibilities and chores. of contracting and supervision and you save his cost and profit. But it is doubtful that self-contracting for an individual house can save money over the price of a new home in a large development. Surveys have shown that develop­ ment builders can put up large groups of houses for 1# to 20 per cent less than the cost of building an individual house. Of course the individually-built house still has the possible advantages of enabling you to have the kind of house you want in an area you might prefer, and with­ out the monotonous appearance and inadequacy of com­ munity facilities which sometimes mar large develop­ ments. Also, large developments generally are not avail­ able in many smaller towns. There are two ways a family can uindertake to sejfcontract besides the easiest and costliest rqetbod of hiring an architect to supply plans, engage contractors and last week. As a result, no meet­ ing was held. He also noted that union chemi­ cal workers in the area are in­ volved in a beef over conditions, but that the SIU is not taking part in the action at this time. How­ ever, if help is needed, he added, we'll be glad to provide some. iVrlt'tsu fop The Seafarers Los leallM®' "Mgolius, leading expert on biying supervise the entire job, which is not often done for engage a contractor to build the shell, you should also moderate-price houses. A less-expensive way of getting get estimates from several suppliers. Building-supply some help is using the limited-service plan offered by houses are experienced in estimating the entire cost of some architects. They supply detailed stock plans, modi­ the lumber for a house from an inspection of the plans. fy them for your particular wants, advise on the suit­ But specify what grade you want. No. 2 lumber if often ability of the lot you have chosen in relation to the house used in commerciallyibuilt moderate-price homes, but If plan, arrange for bids, and provide a limited amount of the house is to have dry-wall construction, the smoother inspection during construction. But the least costly way, No. 1 grade may be desirable. At every point you need if also the most time-consuming, is to simply buy a set to decide what materials you will use before you ask of stock plans, show them to sub-contractors, get bids, for bids: what grade of flooring, thickness of insulation, and yourself inspect the work as it progresses. what kind of tile for the bathroom, whether double-hung You can buy stock plans for as little as $25 a set from windows (costlier to frame) or windows that open out, etc. architectural services and building-supply houses. These So before any family buys a lot and undertakes to do arc often attractive designs Including detailed blueprints. Its own contracting, it ought to carefully study the dif­ You will need at least five sets of blueprints to give to ferent types of construction and materials which affect the building authorities for a permit, and the sub-con­ the price. For this purpose, we suggest you get the fol­ tractors to get bids and do the work. Make sure any lowing Uterature on home-building: stock plans you buy are fully detailed, and also comply I publications; Several Government agen­ with local building code and zoning restrictions. cies publish useful, low-cost pamphlets on various aspects In securing bids from sub-contractors, it is desirable of construction and materials. Write to the Superintend­ to get at least three for each job—the foundation, fram­ ing and finishing the house; plunnbing and heating, wir­ ent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Wash­ ington 25, DC, for a list of available pamphlets for ing, and grading, driveway and walks. homeowners and builders. Families who have done their own sub-contracting University of Illinois Small Homes Council: This agency sometimes report they find sizable variations in bids. has a series of useful circulars which it sells at nominal Price, of course, is not the only gauge of value, especially charges. They advise on selecting a lot, plan and mate­ for the jobs requiring skilled work. Make sufe you state rials. You can get a list of these circulars from the specifically and fully what you want the job to include, Small Homes Council, Mumford House, University of and that the contractor is a reliable, well-established per­ Illinois, Urbana, III. son. You can Check his reputation With local buildingFacts You Should Know About Buying or Building A supply houses, banks, real-estate dealers, aiid especially, Rome, a pamphlet, is available from any Better Business other people the contractor did jobs for. If possible. In­ spect other work the contractor has done or is doing, and Bureau or the National Better Business Bureau, 405 Lex­ observe the care With which he did or is doing the work. ington Ave.,. New York, and is highly infdrmetiye. It cOsts ; If you plan to buy the lumber yourself and simply •'ten*cehti. • �cv,r,;.y^ Avfittt 19. 19SS SBAIfARBRS "fRIOfRtC C. COLLIN (Dry Traht), Jun* M—Chairman, P. «. Maria; Sac ratary, R. McLaod. Diacusalon beUI on the oleanUneaa of dUhea, menroom and pantry. Shlp'a deleaate will aea the chief engineer regarding repairi. One crewmember was left in hospital in Calcutta and an inventory waa made of his gear which will be delivered to him in hospital Entire crew accepted communications from headquarters. new parti were not oi-dered. Wind­ less forward was not repaired. June 12—Chairman, B. OranbdrBI Sacratary, P. Kustuva. Soma discus­ sion on the men logged in Japan. Chairman asked ((eiegates to get everything on repair list. Each delegite should have ship fumigation on -repair list. ^ ROBIN TRENT (Seas Shipping), June 3i—Chairman, J. HIgglns; Sec­ retary, P. Nakllchl. Departments will EMILIA (Bull), July 13—Chairman, make up- repair lists. One beef re­ P. Asonta; Sacratary, Stanley Sondur. ported that no mops be washed in Discussion on the new ice box for the ship's laundry. crew mess and the washing machine. ALCOA RANGER (Alcoa), June 11 STEEL FLYER (Isthmian), July IS —Chairman, C. Bush; Sacratary, J. —Chalr(pan, L. Splvty; Sacratary, H. Nolda. Notified Chief Engineer about West. ShjA in good order. Bepair list discolored drinking water. AU went ^landled Rpt trip. Recent headquar­ well this trip. No beefs. Communica- ters communications accepted and concurred. CITY OF ALMA (Waterman), July .11—Chairman, C. Lee; Secretary, H. Scholls. Everything running smooth except a few hours disputed over­ time. Headquarters communications accepted and concurred. CHILORE (Ore), July 10—Chairman, R. King; Secretary, K. Brittaln. Ship's delegate left this 'vessel because of death in his family. Ship's fund was turned over to brother who was hos­ pitalized. Recent communication ac­ cepted and carried unanimously. Col­ tions from headquarters read, ac­ lection was made for former ship's cepted unanimously.. A vote of thanks delegate, whose daughter passed away. given to black gahg delegate and Chief Electrician for repair' 'work CHIWAWA (Cities Service), July 13 done. A motion was made and sec­ —Chairman, J. Christy; Secretary, J. onded that ail work that paid as Call. Communication from headquar­ overtime during straight time, work­ ters accepted qnd concurred. Dis­ ing hours be paid for at the rate of cussion held on pro-book system. time and a half, or double time, after Everything running okay. the hours of five PM or before eight AM Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays. GATEWAY CITY (WaternMn), June 18—Chairman, J. CIsieckl; Secretary, SEATRAIN GEORGIA (Sestrain), D.. Collins. Beef about electrician July 17—Chairman, W. Nswbsrg; Sac- squared away. No beefs. Ship's dele­ rstary, A. Lambert. Flowers sent to gate elected. Full cooperation was steward's sister, money taken from pledged on new feeding program. ship's fund. Ship's fund—412.08. July 13—Chairman, J. CIsleckl; Sec­ Steward thanked crew for flowers retary, D. Collins. No beefs. Motion sent to his sister. made and carried. that communication from headquarters be accepted unani­ SOUTH PORT (South Atlantic), July mously. 11—Chairman, R. PIsrce; Secretary, W. Thompson. Motion made and car­ WILD RANGER (Wavermen), June ried to accept communication from If—Chairmen, J. Tarwick; Secretary, headquarters. E. McCaskey. Motion made and car­ ried that in the next negotiations STEEL MAKER (Isthmlsn), July 3— some arrangement be made between Chairman, B. Brown; Sscretary, C. the Union, company and MSTS that Hsnnlngsr. Communication from master on ail MSTS-chartered ships headquarters read, accepted, and car­ have authority to purchase ship stores ried unanimously. Discussion held on and necessary utensils. Discussion repairs of doors. on the quality and quantity of food. If possible some Improvement should WINTER HILL (Cities Service), July be made. 17—Chairman, E. HIM; Secretary, P. Wilkinson. No beefs. Ship's fund— ALCOA ROAMER (Alcoa), June 7— $40. Motion made and carried to ac­ Chairman, R. Klenasti Secretary, V. cept and concur headquarters recent C. Smith. Electrician euggested that communication. his room be painted and the engine department rooms be sougeed. Ship's ALCOA PATRIOT (Alcoa), July 10— delegate reported that the chief en­ Chairman, T. Sencheu Secretary, A. gineer would 'not repair coffee urn Trerner. Motion made and carried to because steward ordered coffee per­ accept and concur with headquarters colators. This will be taken up with communications. Ship's delegate patrolman. Enrollment cards were elected. Request made for better given to each member to be filled launch service. out and to be mailed in Tampa. ALCOA PIONEER (Aicos), July 11 MASSMAR (Calmar), July 11—Chair­ —Chairmen, G. Chandler; Secretary, man, A. Novak; Secretary, V. ElchenG. Anthony. Motion made and car­ berg. Patrolman Johnson explained ried to accept and concur In head­ to the crew the necessity of holding quarters communications. No beets, meetings regularly. everything running smoothly. Re­ July 9—Chairman, James Dorat; pairs and disputed overtime cleared Sacratary, J. Elchanbarg. Engine del­ in SlU style by Mobile patrolman. egate asked why the silverware and glasses are smeared. The steward ex­ BIENVILLE (Waterman), July 17— plained tha^^e panftry men will not Chairman, A. Plontek; Secretary, L. do them the way he tells him to. Plarson. Motion made and carried to Engine department will take care of accept and concur in all headquarters washroom one week then the deck communications to date; All members will do it the next and the steward requested to keep messhall clean, department will follow. and not to use lava soap in washing machine. It stops It up. Water tanks PORTMAR (Calmar), May 31—Chair­ to be inspected for rust. Suggestion man, M. Klelber; Secretary, P. Ross. made that dependent parents of sin­ Varioui sanitary measures were dis­ gle men be Included in the Welfare cussed. Suggestion made that notices Plan. be posted on bulletin board. A vota of thanks was given to the steward CLAIBORNB (Waterman), July 13— department for a job well done with Chairman, C. Coker; Secretary, W. a very limited amount of stores. A Barnes. No beefs, everything running motion was made by M. Kleiber that O.K. Motion made and carried to all union officials at IVest Coast accept and concur communications branches be placed on ballot at the from headquarters. next general election. Motion car­ ried by a majority vote. Resolution CHICKASAW (Pan Atlantic), July made not to patronize slopcheSt. 15—Chairman, A. Elllt; Secretary, W, July 3—Chairman, Prank Albore; Thayer. Motion made and carried to Sacratary,' Patrick Lannlng. 'Voted accept and concur in communications that ail crewmembers donate $1 to from headquarters. There was some the ship's fund at the payoff. Crewdiscussion about getting a SSa Chest members were requested to fill out aboard. -No beefs. welfare forms and have them ready to hand over to the patrolman in DEL CAMPO (MIsslulppI), July 12 Philadelphia. Crew in favor of re­ —Chairman, C. Gauteau; Secretary, ports from headquarters and a vota L. Martin. Motion made and carried of thanks was given to all concerned. to accept and conciu- communications July 13—Chalrmatv M. Klelber; Sec­ , from headquarters up . to date. retary, J; -HetzelL Everything run­ ning smoothly except for the washing Discussion held -on the rou­ ROYAL OAK (Cities Service), June machine. tine activities aboard ship. Ship's 25—Chairman, V. Kleklrlllo; Secre­ fund will started at the payoff of tary, D. Beard. All communications this trip bybeeach member contributing and reports from headquarters posted SI. Motion made by R. Oates not to on arrival aboard ship. Menus need patronize any Horn and Hardart res­ Improving with more of a variety for taurants on the East Coast as they breakfast. are not unionized. Discussion of new hospitalization and surgical benefits OREMAR (Ore), June IS—Chairman, In the Welfare Plan. E. Game; Secretary, H. Stewart. A new ship's delegate was elected. Dis­ MAC ALLISTER VICTORY (Seat cussion on the new welfare benefits. Shipping), June 29—Chairman, Charles A vote of thanks was given to the Moora; Sacratary, ScoHy Malvenan. ateward department. Headquarters report on Merchant Marine Fisheries Committee was read and discussed.. All brothers aboard CUBORB (Ora), Jung 18—Chairman, in favor of stand taken by union *. Colyar; Sacratary, J. Smith. Pa­ are in opposing As this vessel has trolman will be informed about tha been laid upthis. for several years there unsafe working conditions on deck. are of several important Motion made and carried that a letter Itemsshortages on board. The steward depart­ be sent to tha Baltimore agent re­ ment hat agreed to take care of the garding a clarification on shore leave recreation room and the ship's laun­ in San Juan. dry will be cleaned by deck and en­ gine departments. All trash and gar­ THE CABINS (MaMilasan), May bage to bo carried aa far aft as poiChairman, J. Stewart; Sacratary, P. alble. All elothes lockers win be Kustuva. There la • balanca of t84.S0 painted. A vote of thanks waa gtvea in: the ihlp'a fund. Pumpmen re- tt the alewafd" daiN>Ttnient far their |K>rted that repalre can't be made as effort to plaaaa tha,craw. - Far• flferra LOG New Run Of Ex-Alaska 'Jinxed' —Canada SlU Crew Sues For $ f-m v1 The SIU Canadian Districti;rew which manned the SS Mazatlan is suing the Liberian-flag ship for impaid wages. A US marshal! has takeiv possession of her at San Pedro. The action by the crew climaxes a fouled-up series of events which began four months ago. Fomaerly the SS Alaska of^ ^' the Alaska SS Company, the later signed a contract and took on appointed passengers cancelled va­ 350-foot vessel was sold early a Canadian District crew in Van­ cation plans. this year to the Margo-Pacitic Lines. Scab Crew The original sailing date was cancelled when the ship tried to sail with a scab crew and was halted by the Sallys Union of the Pacific at Coos Bay, Oregon. She couver and sailed for San Diego, where she was scheduled to open a delayed sailing /une 4. A few hours ^aiter arriving at San Diego the refrigeration system went on the blink and the vessel went into the shipyard for extensivef repairs. The second sailing was called ofif and scores of dis- AFL Bids Congress Act On Domestic 'Runaways' After a two week overhaul, the steamer finally sailed, with about 85 passengers and some cargo. The Canadian crew were expe­ rienced men and included stew­ ards department personnel who had sailed on some of the big Atlantic and Pacific passenger liners. The Alaska was built for the northern, cold weather run and cabins became so hot on the run to Acapuico that most of the pas­ sengers got off there and elected to return north by air. To make things worse, the ship bent its pro­ peller going into Mazatlan. Coming north with a bent pro­ peller, the Mazatlan's speed was reduced so much that feed water ran out for the boilers and a tug was called. A sad contrast to the once-proud ship of the Alaska run, the Mazatlan rode into San Pedro at the end of a towrope! San Diego ship suppliers, mean­ while, have joined crewmen in en­ tering suits for unpaid bills. The company even failed to pay San Diego harbor pilots and stevedores, and the San Diego Harbor Depart­ ment, from whom it rented office space. CHICAGO—^An attack on "runaway" industries in the United States that have fled established industrial areas to low-cost sections of the country has been published by the AFL in a demand for Congres-^ sional action. The problems legislation, low or non-existent presented in a special AFL re­ state minimum wages and little or port strongly parallel those faced no regulation of working condi­ by US maritime unions in compet­ tions, safety and sanitary stand­ ards. ing with runaway flag ships. The AFL charged that this While applauding the natural growth of industry in previously "pirating" of industries, mostly undeveloped areas, the AFL at­ from the North and Middle West tacked the practice of many cities is a threat to the lasting prosperity in offering special inducements to of the nation, because it is not business. These include free plants based on sound economic practice. built at the expense of local resi­ Criticism Heavy dents, low or free taxes, anti-union Industry critics of the runaways have also been numerous. They point out that any small rural town which offers rent-free, taxThe following is the latest free privileges to an industry is in available listing of official ex­ no position as a result to provide change rates for foreign cur­ necessary municipal services — rencies. Listings are as of schools, roads, police and fire pro­ Aug. 18, 1955, and are sub­ tection, garbage disposal, water ject to change without notice. supply and the like. In the long England. New Zealand. South Airun the burden will fall on the in­ r'ra: $2.80 per pcund sterling. dustrial plant and the entire com­ Australia; S2.24 per pound sterling. munity suffers. Belgium: SO francs to the doUar. The AFL asked Congress to Denmark: 14.43 cents per krone. WASHINGTON—The stage block the trend by action to France: 350 francs to the dollar. is being set for a new "50-50" strengthen national minimum wage Germany: 4.3 marks to the dollar. Holland: 3.7-3.8 guilders to the fight next year by the Senate laws and to reduce wage differen­ dollar. farm bloc. Senators Clinton Ander­ tials in various parts of the coun­ Italy: 624.9 lire to the doUar. son (Dem. New Mex.) and Francis try. It also called for elimination Norway: 14 cents per krone. Case (Rep. So. Dak.) have intro­ of differentials in unemployment Portugal: 28.73 escudos to the dollar. Sweden: 19.33 cents per krona. duced a new bill which will be insurance, and an end to Federal India: 21 cents per rupee. taken up at the next session of tax exemption for municipal bonds Pakistan: 30.22 cents per rupee. Congress. The bill would exempt used for constructing runaway Argentina: 14.3 pesos to the dollar. agricultural surplus export from plants. Brazil: 5.4 cents per cruzeiro. the "50-50" law. Government contracts should Uruguay: 52.63 cents per peso. As previously reported, an at­ also be denied firms which do not Venezuela: 29.83 cente per boliyar. tempt to include such a bill in this live up to NLRB orders, the AFL year's program was defeated by a said. lopsided margin in the House of Representatives and was with­ drawn in the Senate Agriculture Committee. The withdrawal was made after It toecame plain that 50-50" opponents did not have a chance of -mustering a big vote against the measure. The Anderson-Case measure Is preparatory groundwork for next, year at which time it is expected that the foreign" shipping lobbyists Will attempt to rebuild the anti"50-50" alliance after the stinging defeat they suffered in recent weeks. While "50-50" supporters now hold the upper hand, next year's fight is liable to be more impor­ tant than ever because the amount of agricultural surplus going abroad will toe more than dou­ bled, from $700 million this year to $1.5 million next, under legisla­ tion now being approved, and many more seafaring jobs iihll be at stake. As long at foreign nations ac^ cept US-surpluses, chances of the farm bloc to beat "50-50" are small, All set for prtlimlnary heat fn soap box darby sponsored by since the only excuse for their op­ tlaiM Orleans raeraatian department is 13-yaar-eld Paul position to the measure was that Oaiger, SlU-spensorad. entry. Paul finiskad "out of tht it was hindering sales of surpluses abroad. j monay" but vowed t»ba back next year. New Attack On '50-50' Set For '56 ; fl .ii Money Exchange Rates Listed SIU SpQnsors NO Soap Box Entrant •ut :-'?l 4 • - "dsl 'J �Pare EIrbt SEAFARERS LOI$ iAncuit M, 1955 RACKET or GOOD DIEAL for Seafarers ? handy and quick mode of trans­ in the US, HawaU, the West In­ portation. dies, Bermuda. Canada and Mexico. Such being the case, Seafarers These are the policies that are are undoubtedly familiar with the underwritten by the Associated blue and white insurucb vending _Aviation Underwriters, a grouping machines that are evw-present. in of 56 companies in the aviation airline terminals. Less familiar Seafarers may work on though, may be the function these insurance business. • Higher Overseas ships but seamen log an machines serve. To some persons Similar one-flight policies can be astonishing amount of mile­ the fantastic insurance offered purchased in South America and age each year on airplanes. seems implausible; they dismiss the overseas areas, but in that Whether returning to the machines as a "racket." Actually, other case the Seafarer would have to port of engagement after paying it's all very legitimate. If you carry a personal life In­ hunt up a local insurance agent. off in another port, flying home for a vacation, or flying back to the surance policy and take a look at. The rates overseas are higher. It's Papa Celestm may have passed away but his famed Dixie­ States after getting off in a foreign the small print, you will find that 50 cents for the basic policy in land jazz band plays on at sailings of Delta passenger ships, port. Seafarers find air travel a the policy does not cover loss of Iceland and Latin America outside as has been traditional for yiears. '4* life resulting from an airline of Mexico, $1 in Europe and $2 disaster. That's where the air elsewhere in the world. The rate terminal vending machine policiel^ structure, by the way, is a ;pretty good tribute to US airlines' safety cover the gap. . standards. «IU Protect! In the event of an airplane acci­ Unlike privately-purchased in­ dent, the victim's beneficiary gets surance policies, the SIU Welfare full payment in case of death, or Plan's 1^,500 death benefit is paid the victim gets the same sum if in case of airplane accident. But blinded or if he loses both hands the 25-cent trip insurance policy or both feet, or a combination of available at airports provides an such misfortunes (one hand and added cushion of protection. In ad­ one foot, one hand and one eye and dition it pays off in whole or in part so on). Loss of one eye, one hand in case of disabling accidents short or one foot is compensated by a of loss of life, as well as ^medical half-payment. Medical expense allowances cover any type of medi­ expenses up to a Certain limit. Here's the way the system works. cal cost up to the amount the For 25 cents the buyer gets $6,250 policy provides. In addition to the one trip policy. worth of flight insurance, which includes $312.50 in medical ex­ Seafarers who do a lot of flying pense coverage. That's the basic might be interested in year-round policy. Each quarter you put in the coverage which applies all over the machine increases the coverage up world. The service is sold at. a flat to a maximum of $2.50 for which rate as is the vending machine $62,500 in insurance is provided, policy. The only difference is that including $3,125 in medical ex­ it is generally not sold to men over pense. All that has to be done is to 65 and buyers are questioned as fill in the card which comes with to their general physical condition. Various Travel Policies the policy. A typical policy, which sells for The flat rate policy applies re­ Carrying an unusual passenger list, Del Sud pulls away from dock as Seafarers wave good­ gardless of age, physical condition $10, gives $10,000 year-round pro­ bye. Passenger list was largely made up of Catholic clergymen eh-route to 36th Eucharistic tection plus $50 medical expense. or other circumstances. Congress in Buenos Aires held recently. It covers mishaps suffered while Not For Non-Skeds riding as a passenger on a sched­ Like anything else though, air­ uled airliner or while boarding or line flight insurance has limita­ leaving an aircraft, or while on an tions. One of the most important airfield or in a terminal. Policies of is that it does not apply to non- this kind are available up to scheduled airlines. This does not $100,000 worth. necessarily reflect the service Another variation is the common or standards of the non-skeds carrier policy which will cover buy- • which are understandably popular ers against accidents on planes, with seamen because of their lower trains, busses, ships, taxis, street cost. cars or any other form of public The vending machine insurance transportation anywhere in the will cover the Seafarer against any world. This kind of policy is avail­ accident that takes place on the able for periods of from three days plane, on an airfield or even in to a year. ine terminal building. It will not Most Seafarers though, are con­ cover death from other causes, tent to drop their quarter in the such as having a heart attack in machine when they take a plane. the course of an airplane flight. It's a worthwhile investment be­ As to the vending machine poli­ cause plane accidents do happen cies themselves, they are available despite the best of precautions. Bon voyage visitors and travelers chatted aboard Del Sud before ship left. In foreground (with glasses) Is Archbishop of New Orleans, the Rt. Rev. Joseph F. Rummel. Four other arch­ bishops and two bishops also made the trip. There Was No Cussin' On The Del Sud This Trip 1^' l?VA. Ic;'. I;!-•• :• \W'' fl'---- vV,. . ifV:/- L;\-:-. TO,.,,. Ready to go aboard after a last'goodbyo on the pier is Seafarer Fidele DiGiovanni (left) shown with his wife and daughter. Angle. Cousin Dominic "Pasquale" DiGiovanni is also a member of the Del Sud crew. CAFETERIAS NEW YORK^ BALTIMORE �S E A r A It E H 5 LQ g Japanese barber trims hair of Seafarer Henry Sedgeway in modern Yokohama barber shop. Sedgeway is electrician aboard Waterman's Citrus Packer. Pretty young barber­ shop attendant looks like good reason to visit Japan. Pace Nine Batting up a little breeze at "Le Cyclone" bar in Tamatave, Madagascar, are three Sea­ farers off the Robin Locksley on the South and East African run. Left to right, they are; Moe, the carpenter, Jake and Lee, ABs. Looks like a pleasant little wind with no cydone in sight; only a couple of bottles of suds to keep the conversational whistle wet. Del Norte steward department men clown through a demonstration of "How not to serve the passengers" during an idle moment between meals. Photo was taken by Seafarer Leroy Rinker, official ship's photographer, aboard the popular Delta Lines cruise ship on the run to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Seafarer Thomfas M. Collins stretches out in his foc'sle on the Steel Navigator while his portable record player puts out some soothing music. Shorts are approved outfit for Seafarers on Isthmian's hot summertime run to Asia. �Faf• T«A SEAFARERS MEET THE SEAFARERS LOG AnfOst 19, 1955 Wait til Next Year!' HENRY SHEPETA, AB JOHN V. DOLAN, steward The sea has often been a home It takes experience with both sides of the fence to tell just how for those who were homeless in valuable the SIU has been to their childhood and Seafarer working seamen. Seafarer John Henry Shepeta of Baltimore has V. Dolan has been a union man found it to be a good one. Just 27 for 20 years, a good many of theih years of age, Shepeta has 11 years with the NMU and other unions. as a 'seaman under his belt, start­ "Now being an SIU man," he says, ing out at the age-of 16 soon after "all I can say is a man really he was put on his own by the city muk have sailed in both unions of Pittsburgh which -cared for him to really appreciate how far we up until then. have come." Like many Seafarers in Balti­ Dolan calls New York his home, more, he is a "regular" on the Ore ibut right now he is shipping off Line runs, goirg to Venezuela, Chile, Peru and more recently to the West Coast the fabulous ore fields of Seven on his favorite Isles, Canada. Since tKb ore boats run to the Far '• East. Like many are in and out very frequently, he other Seafarers finds them the best run for a Dolan lost his family man. "It's always nice to be * heart to Yoko­ on a short trip when you have a hama which is wife and two youngsters at home," he says. his favorite port of call. While Although he sailed in the latter holding a chief part of World War II, Shepeta's stewards rating, closest brushes he will ship to any rated job in with disaster the steward department. came in peace­ Jack started going to sea In the time. In 1946 he depression year of 1934, at the was aboard the time when maritime unions were Rutgers Victory first reviving. He has had his when she was .share of the major waterfront rammed by the beefs including the history-mak­ Nash Bulk 200 ing 1936 strike and the general miles from New York. The ship strike of 1946 among others. Shepeta Dolan gave up on: the NMU in limped in the rest of the way with a terrific list. 1943, joining tlie SIU that year in New York. He has been a Sea­ Early this year he was" a crewfarer ever since and has had oc­ member of the Steelore when she casion to be thankful for the nearly went under in a fierce At­ lantic storm. The performance of change. While ashore, Dolan confesses the Steelore crew in that crisis he has been bitten by the pros­ won it the plaudits of the mari­ pecting bug. Along with thou­ time industry. The unfinished business in Congress relating to maritime indicates that sands of other Americans he has Missed New Arrival hopes some day of making a strike One side-effect of the Steelore's in uranium, gold or some other difficulties was that Shepeta miss­ the SIU and other unions were pretty successful at the recently-adjourned precious metal which will bring ed the birth of his second child him wealth. Until then, going to because the ship was, towed into session in defeating attacks on basic porkchoj) issues. But threats on these sea is a good way to make a living. port at four knots instead of mak­ issues are still very much alive and are being fully considered by the Union. The veteran Seafarer is enthu­ ing her usual speed. siastic about the new SIU senior­ Like many seamen, Shepeta is Many Live Issues ity hiring system because of the an avid reader while aboard ship. protection it offers the professional When ashore he can often be A number of bills in the hopper for next year are designed to revive the seaman. found out at Babe Ruth stadium He believes that the disability attempting to root the Orioles pension is one of the Union's fin­ home. He admits to not much suc­ fight against '50-50', to close the Public Health Service hospitals, extend est achievements. "If some one cess on that score. controls over maritime unions and take other unfavorable action. Fights had told me a few years ago that Shepeta's main ambition at the seamen would have a pension one moment is to become a home­ over these bills are expected to he particularly sharp in a presidential elec­ day, T would have said 'nuts'. owner so that he can provide for "I could go on for hours talking his family the kind of home life tion year. .The SIU is prepared to go to the mat again on these items. up the SIU," he concluded, "but he never had. With SIU wages hnd one just has to read the LOG to conditions he feels he has a good Congress On Move understand what I mean." chance of making the grade. ROUND-UP NLRB hearings are now going on over the question of whether or not to take jurisdiction in the three-month old Miami hotel strike. An NLRB decision to act in the case would have far-reach­ ing effects on the vast hotel indus­ try which up until now has been under jurisdiction of state laws. 4- 3^ Joint AFL-CIO negotiations won 15-cent hoiu-ly increases for 26,000 workers employed by the Alu­ minum Company o€ America. The Alcoa shoreside workers are rep­ resented by the United Steelworkers (CIO) and the AFL Aluminum Workers Union. 4 Ci' IIP: 4' 4> Latest onion to take part in the union headquarters building boom is the Screen Actors Guild which will put up a stylized California' inodern story building on Hol­ lywood's famous Simset Boulevard. Building will include a roofed te]> race, meeting rooins, -.offices, lounges and other facHitieA ^ A seniority hiring system has been agreed on between the New Haven Railroad and Local 370, AFL Dining Car Employees. The agreement ended a dispute, over the hiring of women waiters for dining cars while veteran mafe waiters with seniority were on the unemployed list. ^ 4 4 4 lAM Machinists on strike against the Flying Tiger Airline got valu­ able support from the International Transportworkers Federation. The ITF put the line on the "hot oargo" list, to keep it from breaking to strike by doing its maintenance work overseas. iv 4 4 The nation's biggest, commuter railroad, the Long Island, was still running in its normal fashion fol­ lowing agreement to mediate a trainmen's contract dispute. The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen had asked for wage increases for conductors and brakemen as well as the establishment of a shorter run ac the normal day's work-load. On the positive side of the ledger there are signs that Congress is moving in the direction of a broader and more active merchant marine program. Such a program would be of real benefit to the entire industry, not just a few select companies. Increasing Congressional pressure on MSTS to stop competing with private shipping is one example of constructive interest. Another is the attitude of Congress on development of atomic power plants, with Congressional emphasis being on commercially useful systems as op­ posed to floating showcases. New ship types.are also meeting with Con­ gressional favor. The majority of Congressmen can he counted on to react favorably when the chips are down on any major maritime issue. One of the jobs the SIU has chosen for itself is to keep Congress informed of the facts so that the legislators will know the score on just how any proposal affects Seafarer^' jobs and well-being. ' The Seafarer's Role Seafarers themselves can play an important part by letting their individ­ ual representatives know how they feel on any given subject. Active par­ ticipation by Seafarers has always been of tremendous help in any legislativefight.^' \ �Awut 19, 195S SEAFARERS LOG . Paffe Elevea Uranium's Riches Lure Seafarer Advancing far inland after a long stint at sea, Seafarer Cliff Bellamy recently joined the hordes of hopeful uranium prospectors combing the Utah countryside for a paying claim. Question: Are your family end shoreline friends interested in The relative ieasc with which claims can be staked, he reported, has made the Western your seagoing life? countryside a mecca for thou-^* sands of part-time prospec­ Leo Dwyer, chief cook: I find Alex Stevenson, MM: My dad went to sea for 42 years and was they are very curious about the tors. "People have staked the foreign ports and country so much that it looks like once an SIU member so the the souvenirs I you're driving through one big bring home. On graveyard these days," he com­ family knows all mented. about seafaring. my last trip I Bellamy and others on the trip But a lot of other brought back with him wound up with five people I meet some hand-naint- claims in the 18 days they were in know little about ed Japanese lea the desert. Naturally, ''we think, the maritime in­ sets. Now every and hope, that most of them are dustry and are body in the fam­ good," he added. really interested ily is serving tea Low Cost and surprised to and asking me if Claims can be filed for $1.40, so learn about the conditions we have. I can get a few more the next trip that there is a no high cost to out. 4" t 4" face when trying your luck. Sylvester ZygarowSki, steward: 4 4* 4" • However, Bellamy admitted that Most people are curious about how Theodore Spence, deck engineer: his prospecting consisted mostly of a seaman can sup­ Most shoreside people are inter­ finding a place that hasn't been port a family. ested mainly in staked, providing it can be They are aston­ souvenirs I can reached with a car. They had the get them. They ished when I tell usual Geiger counter with them for want you to them that I make detecting the metal, but the bring back enough money in "pings" that the gadget registers stamps, and other the SIU to put my doesn't always mean you've hit stuff. Then there son and daughter paydirt. • are people who through profes­ He pointed out also that a lot sional music call themselves of the uranium "rush" these days school. They cer­ friends of the is sparked by the low cost of the tainly are interested in that part seaman but their whole adventure. Some men, he of it. only interest is in his dough. said, probably were content just to Prospecting for uranium in the Utah hills, Seafarer Cliff 4" 4i 4" 4i i pick the first available spot to Steve Poole, AB: Most people I Bellamy (right) takes time out for a "friendly little diversion" George Austin, 2nd cook: Many stake, then head home and show meet these days figure a seaman of my friends get very interested all the girls how they have a in the form of a snake. HJs sidekick at left prepares to belt has a good job when they hear uranium claim in Utah. the snake if he gets restless. and makes mon­ about the pay we Most of the claims are worthless, 4 ey. What they get on ships and of course, but the excitement they who mayflave wondered about them that the patents he applied for on are interested is what they want generate is all part of the game. not how you work to know is how As a vacation, however, the trip a couple of his inventions are com­ and live at sea to get seamen's was tops, he recalled. "Certainly ing through finally. Of the three papers and ship with uranium to be had I would of them filed with the US Patent but in the for­ eign ports you out. Of course have kicked myself for not going," Office, two have been approved and the other is pending and make .and how a lot of people he added. should be okayed soon. people live there. like the idea of Patents In Works One of the items is a "wrinkleSome ask you to traveling around He pointed out also for the ben­ do a little shopping for them too. the world to different ports. efit of his friends and shipmates proof" gear-carrier called a "Seacase," in which several Seafarers have already indicated interest. The gadget consists of a metal cylinder into which shirts, under­ The failure and fold-up of wear and other apparel are packed the ILA's false-face seaman's from one end by placing the A good sample of the way a gear was inadequate and some of Ingen seiwed as meeting officers, cylinder in a vertical position. "union" has been virtually heads-up crew, the Union and the it had failed to function on the while the Miami meeting was Jackets--and slacks can be rolled completed, with the departure of company can handle shipboard previous voyage. chaired by R. Birmingham. R. around the cylinder in a wrinkle- its head man for other pastures. safety problems without a Govern­ When the headquarters patrol­ Seekinger and B. Scarlett were free manner and then the whole Keith Alsop, secretary-treasurer of ment agency Intervening took man came aboard and took this meeting officers in Tampa, D. L. cylinder is placed In its own carry­ the "United International Seaman's place aboard the Steel Surveyor beef up with the company a num­ Parker in Mobile, J. Merrell and ing case, which provides an in- Union, Local 1824" has left town (Isthmian) at her ber of changes were made. The E. Manuel in Lake Charles and J. genuious drawer for storing shoes and was reported last seen in Texas looking for another money grub­ last payoff. Sea­ stoppers were changed to a more F. Bell in Houston. and toiletries. farers D. Claus- suitable size and the 14" snatch bing project. On the, West Coast, Seattle's sen and A. Rich­ blocks, which were being used as meeting was run by W. Mansfield, Alsop, ex-SIU Galveston agent, ards raised the topping lift fairlead blocks, were B. Toner and G. Hildreth while was defeated in the last SIU elec­ problem at a replaced by 14" gin blocks. The E. A. Lane and T. R. Maldonado tion, in the course of which he tied shipboard meet­ topping lift wire was run through served in Wilmington. in with the APL-expelled Interna­ ing wh'en they these blocks. The whole change­ tional Longshoremen's Association. " 4 4 4 All seems peaches and cream moved that the over is assurance of safer condi­ The ILA gave considerable funds topping lift fair- tions on the ship. aboard the Alcoa Runner these to Alsop and his associates in an VClaussen, who sails in the deck leads and chain days with the new SIU feeding attempt to oust SIU SecretaryCiaussen stoppers be in­ department, comes from Nebraska plan working to the satisfaction of Treasurer Paul Hall. spected and replaced if necessary. originally, and got his Union book all hands. SIU steward Cliff Wil­ As a reward for his services the They pointed out that the existing in New York City in 1947. Rich­ son, who is in charge of the pro­ ILA put Alsop in charge of its ards is also a deck department gram on Alcoa ships, reports that seamen's "union" which was set man. He lives in Mobile and the Runner's gang is doing very up ostensibly to organize foreign LAKE CHARLES —Labor flag seamen. Actually their objec­ joined the SIU back in its earliest well, and the rest of the crew gave days. the department a vote of thanks here is girding itself for all- tive was to raid the SIU. The for "making the ship a fine feed­ out support of candidates for union" financed itself largely by 4" 4 4" Seafarers and other patients at ing ship." the legislature at Baton Rouge crimping for runaway flag ships. the Galveston PHS hospital are Julio Colon is who will commit themselves to help Crimping Again now enjoying their favorite televi­ the steward de­ get the Ro-called "right-to-work" Meanwhile, Louis Le Doulx, an sion shows thanks to the crew of partment d e 1 e- law repealed. old time shipping master who was WASHINGTON —National rec­ the Val Chem. At the suggestion gate on the RunUnion forces are mapping a fullfronting for Alsop for a while, is ognition for merchant seamen who of Seafarer Ben Grice, the set that n e r. Unfortun­ scale campaign to fight for the again operating an "independent" served during the Korean War or had been purchased by the crew ately, the names overturn of the unpopular measure of his own. When Alsop dispensed who perform acts of valor at sea some time previously was turned of the rest of the and get it knocked off the books with Le Doulx the latter took off would be provided undei- legisla­ over to the hospital patients. gang were not by backing the election of men tion sponsored by the Commerce Grice is a veteran Union mem­ who are friends of labor and recog­ with the ILA "union" charter available. Department. The bill calls for is­ ber who has been a Seafarer since nize the dangers of "right-to-work" which is reported still in his pos­ 4 4 '4 session, to the embarrassment of suance of a service ribbon to crew- joining in New Orleans back in Another SIU legislation. ^oney ILA Captain Bradley. members who served during the Aside from this development, the s h i p's delegate 1943. He had his Korean fighting, as well as provid­ Associated with Alsop in the illhome in Haynes- who has done a heads up job is labor front remains quiet and ing for a merchant marine dis­ ville, Louisiana. Seafarer Andrew Boney on the peaceful, since almost all of the fated raid was Bill Higgs, ex­ tinguished service medal and meri­ Azalea City. The crew reported outstanding contracts have been pelled from the SIU for aiding the 4 4 4 torious service medal for individual As is the usual that they had a numiber of beefs nailed down by the unions involv­ ILA in the 1954 waterfront drive. acts in line of duty. practice, a Iwge with the engineers and the cap­ ed. All local unions report their A figure in the opposition was .at­ torney Ben Sterling who reported­ Ship's crews would also be eligi­ number of rank tain but the delegates "worked fast 'members busy on the job. ble for mass citations for service Port business for this SIU ly handled large sums of money and file Seafar­ and eradicated them fast" so,that in marine disasters and other emer­ ers were elected everything was wrapped up SIU- branch is also in fine shape. Ship­ given Higgs, Alsop and Ray White, gencies. ping continues to hold up weil, ex-Tampa agent. White is one of by the member­ style. iiil as a result of the activity of the several men under indictment for Boney, who is 27 years old, be­ ship to meeting The bill would revive the World Scarlett posts at the dis­ came an SlU^jpnember last year in past two weeks here, with nine an a^empt to assassinate Hall last War H system of decorations given to merchant seamen an^ give of­ trict-wide membership meetings Norfolk. He sails in the deck de­ Cities Service tankers calling, and Christmas eve. Hired assassin ficial, rocoghitioh tovindividual acts of July 27. In Bavannah Seafarers partment and comes from Suffolk, in Port Neches, Texas, where the James Cobb was sentenced to 5-7 years last month. Trinity (Carras) paid a visit. C. W, Thompson and B. Swear- Va. ' of h;?.very at sea. ' , . Job Lost, Alsop Seeks New Angle Lake Chas. Maps Labor Law Fight Sea Bravery Medals Urged '^1 �-m Seaman's Philosophy? Seafarer Has Answer What is the most common philosophy among seamen? That's a question pondered by many, according to Seafarer John F. Wunderlich. "I have often wondered, but unfortun­ ately never found an answer.-^ "After reading the much- man ... the happiness known with wife and kids ... the pleasure of published theories written by coming after a long trip . great men . . . thinkers and the joy home of a wife's enfolding arms dreamers of the past and present, I gave up fti disgust. I was more confused than originally, "Recently I had several conver­ sations with Brother Frenehy Michelet, and you can knock me down with feather if our in­ tellectual brother didn't hit the nail square on the head. He had the correct a'nswer . . . anticipation and retrospecWunderlich tion. "Mr. Webster states that antici­ pation is to foretaste or foresee; retrospection is the act of looking back on things past ... I kind of rolled those words around in my limited mind for a few days, tell­ ing myself it couldn't be right . . . couldn't be that simple. "Finally, something clicked . . . Hell, yes, he was right. What other philosophy but that? Anticipation and retrospection . . . that's us, brothers. "When we're in the messroom at sea shooting the bull, about what theme is the conversation central­ ized? Of course, about the ports we have been in, or the ports we are bound for, or the ports we would like to go to . . . yes . . . anticipation and retrospection. "When at the wheel or on look­ out, on what does our imagination linger? That's right... the women we have known, the women we ex­ pect to know, or the women we would like to know . . . again an­ ticipation and retrospection. "When in our bunk, late at night, what's our dreams? For a married or watchii)^ the kids in care-free play . . . The single man is dream­ ing often of the wife and kids he would like to have . . . it's all an­ ticipation and retrospection. "We are usually talking or dreaming of either the past or the future, whether we be seamen or store clerks, for that matter ... I tip my imaginary hat to you, Frenehy . . . you have the right answer." Barbara's Barber "Snapped just before the mate had to sew bosun P. Libby's ear back on, with Jess Winifield doing the butchering," says reporter Oscar Payne on the Bar­ bara Frietchie. Libby kept smiling all during the haircuting ordeal, so all must be well. feel so important?" Well, w« of the SIU have security, freedom and contentment. To be sure, there are other labor organizaTo the Editor: A recent i-ssue of the LOG tiohs that have the same, yet, carried an article by a brother when the chips are down, it is member suggesting that Sea­ a known fact that the SIU is farers think carefully about recognized as the union of the present and the future, both making a will. I think that this is a very good " nationally and internationally. Since the year 1938, the world, idea not only for the member but also for his beneficiary in and I use that word literally, the event something happens to has realized that a small group of real Union men started the him. It would eliminate a lot of SIU, and the realization has now legal action later on. As secretary-reporter on the confB to them and many others that, our Union has grown into one of the best and qpost re­ spected labor organizations of all time. It is a credit to those who were there at its inception, many of whom are still active, and also a credit to the young­ sters who came later. They have seen - this wonderful organiza-. tioft develop from an iota of a dream into one of the staunehest Del Valle, I have been requested bulwarks of free trade unionism. to write about the SIU libraries I ask many persons who are that are being put on the ships. The last three times this ship not Seafarers and know nothing has received the same books, so of seamen why when the going that we have an accumulation gets rough does the SIU always 'of two and three of a kind assist any other bona fide Ameri­ aboard now. We hope something can union, irrespective of its can be done to straighten this affiliation. The only answer is out. Otherwise the library is that we know that we are an very much appreciated by important organization, and will assist and aid anyone or any everyone. I am writing this before we group or groups that can show arrive back in good old New that they believe in the Ameri­ Orleans. We have had a pretty can way of fair play. Certainly we not only feel im­ good trip. There hasn't been a single word all trip about the portant, but we know that we food, which is understandable are so, for the SIU has «lways led the way in showing the sea­ since it has been very good and faring man the right road to tasty. And even if it was forgotten security, real security, and the at the .ship's meeting, I really freedom to'speak anywhere and anytime. In so doing, it has think the steward department given the seaman the chance to . deserves a vote of thanks, espe­ cially the good cooks we have enjoy his life to the fullest. We must cooperate at all on board. times to preserve same for, with­ O. H. Manifold (Ed. note: Your beef on the out the Union, we are exactly library_is well taken. A careful like a ship without a sail, motor check is being made to see that or rudder. We'd sure as hell be the duplication doesn't con­ lost. Davy Jones tinue. ) it it tr S> SI Del Valle Notes Library Snafu Letters to the Editor Family Aid Is Friend In Need I b:>i.i<«7'i5Tr6il •%->] ?SSW; IISPHS HOSPiT.^L BALTIMORE, MD. Manuel Antonana Bjorn A. Granberg E. Ardoin Albert Hawkins Francisco Argenal A. E. Johansson Joseph Battaglia Charles E. Johnson Eugene W. Bent Steve Kolina Kenneth Bewig Robert BlcCorkel Frederick Burford D. McCorkltidale William J. Carey Earl McKendree Carl E. Chandler Robert G. McKnew Charles Coburn Albert Nelson Victor B. Cooper Wm. E. Nordland Guy G. Gage Fred Pittman Charles H. GUI Albert WUhelm Gorman T. Glaze USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON. TEXAS P. G. Daugherty James E. Hodges Thomas Crosby John E. Markopolo M. DeGollado Henry B. Riley H. V. Erickson John E. Tillman USPHS HOSPITAL MOBILE, ALA. Matthew J. Nolan USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS, LA. T. P. Barbour Leo H. Lang Julian B. Barrett Oscar Lee Carol J. Bauman Theo Lee Merton Baxter Tinerman Lee Charles Bradley Nils Lornsen Charles E. Brady C. R. Nicholson J. L. Buckelew Alfonso Olaquibel John L. Caldwell George D. Olive Lloyd T. Callaway William J. Rose Byron Chapman Thomas A. Scanlon Peter DeVries Joseph Sintes Jack Fillingin Woodrow A. Snead George Foley Henry S. Sosa Leo Fontenot • William A. Tatum Louis Guarino Lonnie R. Tickle Earl T. Hardeman Dirk Visser George A. Hill James E. Ward Edward Jeanfreau Herman Werneth E. G. Knapp William Williams Duska Korolia David A. Wright Not^man L. Krnmm USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK, VA. Edwin A. Ainsworth John A. Morris SAILORS SNUG HARBOR STATEN ISLAND. NY Joseph Koslusky USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATTAN BEACH *; i BROOKLYN, NY Edmund Abualy Robert L. Booker Fortunato Bacomo Joseph G. Carr Fran W. Bemrick Gabriel Colonl Claude F. Blanks Mariano Ciwtes AacoBt 19, 1»A5 SEAFARERS-lOe Pate TwelT« Walter W. Denley John J. Driscoll Bart E. Guranick Taib Hassen Joseph Ifsils Thomas Isaksen John W. Keenan John R. Klemowicz Ludwig Krlstiansen Frederick Landry James J. Lawlor Kaarel Leetmaa Leonard Leidig James Lewis Arthur Lomas Mike Lubai Francis F. Lynch Joseph D. McGravr A. McGuigan H. F. MacDonald Michael Machusky Vic MUazzo Melvin O. More Eugene T. Nelson Joseph Neubauer James O'Hare Daniel Ruggiano G. E. Shumaker Henry E. Smith Harry S. Tuttle VirgU E. Wilmoth Chee K. Zal USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO. CALIF. Marcelo B. Belen Charles D. Merrill Raymond Frye Alonzo M. Mileski E. K. Hansen John F. Murphy William Hunt Orlando Rosales A. F. Martinez USPHS HOSPITAL ^ STATEN ISLAND, NT Thomas D. Dailey John Michlek Gerald Fitzjames Perry Roberts William Glesen G. H. Robinson EsteU Godfrey Jose Rodriguez Manuel Landron Matti Ruusukallio John McWilliams Dominick Trevisano Joseph JIartus USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH, GA. Jimmie Littleton Ernest H. Webb USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASH. R. J. Arsenauit Franklin W. Fyock L. Bosley Sverre Johannessen Dominick Di Maio V. K. Ming H. Fountain L. E. Twite SEASIDE HOSPITAL LONG BEACH, CALIF. Malcolm M. Cross USPHS HOSPITAL DETROIT, MICH. Tim Burke USPHS HOSPITAL MEMPHIS. TENN. Charles Burton ' TRIPLER ARMY HOSPITAL ' HONOLULU. HAWAU Frank T. Campbell USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH. TEXAS B. F. Deibler Jose Santiago ' Albert W. Kozzihe Bosendo Serrano' , To the Editor: Just a few words to say that to me, as a Seafarer's^ wife, the new surgical and hospital bene­ fits for members' families are the best thing yet. It is a great comfort to the wives left home with children to care for while their husbands are away at sea. We all get sick spmetimes, find ourselves with­ out money and wind up with a very rough time of it. - My husband left last week after being home for two weeks, but this time, as a result of this • new protection, I almost feel as if he is leaving someone behind to care for us all. This is a wonderful feeling. Ma:iy thanks to the SIU for these new benefits. Mrs. James T. Lassitcr $1 New Benefits A Major Gain To the Editor: It is with sincere pleasure that I endeavor to put my heart­ felt thanks regarding the new welfare benefits for the mem­ bers and their families into words. In fact,- an expression of appreciation should be given by the whole membership to those who have fought so hatd and long on our behalf. Where else in the whole labor move­ ment can you find the wages, conditions and benefits enjoyed by the SIU membership? Quite often, ^ople have asked me, "What makes an SIU man so proud and makes him steel Age Crew Mourns 2nd Cook LOG Gives Her Sea 'Know-How' To the Editor: I would like to change th« mailing address of my husband, Stanley J. Hutchinson, so that we can. get the LOG at our new address. I have been married only a few months and had never read the LOG until recently. I would like you to know what a won­ derful paper it Is and how it has helped me to better understand the things my husband talks , about. He loves the sea very much and naturally enjoys his work on any ship. But before I read the LOG I was in the dark when he mentioned different ships. . Familiar With Ships Now, thanks to your paper, 1 am familiar with the names of the different ships and also with terms which seamen" use. Stanley is at present on the Oremar and of course 1 like thai^, very much because he gets home a little oftener, even if it is only for one night. Thanks again for your most wonderful and helpful paper. 1 would appreciate it if you would change the address as soon as possible so that 1 may get the papers more quickly. 1 certainly look forward to reading them. Mrs. Stanley J. Hutchinson (Ed. note: We are revising our mailing list as you request­ ed so that you can again receive the LOG regularly.) 4" t i . Gi Remembers Shipping Days To the Edjtor: 1 really appreciate receiving the SEAFARERS LOG once again as I now can more or less keep up with everything that is going on in the Union. The paper also reminds me of some of the old runs 1 made years ago. In this connection 1 would appreeiate if some of my old shipmates on the South African and Far East' runs would write to me here. They may remem­ ber me by the nickname "Junior." PFC Nicolay Korolchuck Co. A., 39th Engn. (C) BlU Fort Riley, Kansas To the Editor: This is a repor^ on the death of Brother Louis F. Johnson. The shib's delegate has already turned in a report to the SIU i> if if welfare services department, but I have been asked to write this for publication to allow any of his ^friends and former ship­ mates who wish to do SD to ex­ To the Editor: I am writing to you to request tend their condolences to his you to send the SEAFARERS family. Brother Johnson was the 2nd LOG to the USNS Suamico. This cook on the Steel Age; he took is an SUP ship but there are pride in his work and his Union four SIU men on here and we activities. He was, at the time expect to be in the Persian Gulf of his death, the steward depart­ for some time yet. The LOG would help us keep ment delegate and was doing-a in -touch with our Union. fine job at it. Up until the time he took sick John E. Brady (Ed. note: Your name has in Colombo (Ceylon),' on July 17, he seemed healthy enqugh been added to the mailing list and no one had any idea of his and you will receive the LOG cbndition until he asked to see regularly from now on.) the doctor there. On returning i. i if to the ship, he turned in to the ship's hospital. Three days later, he died at about nine in the evening. He was buried at sea on Sat­ To the Editor: 1 would like tolhank you for urday, July 23, at latitude 12" sending me the SEAFARERS 12' North, longitude 48° 41' East. Services were read by LOG all the last five years with Captain Talk, and the entire such constant regularity. 1 have been going to sea crew attended. again since 1948 and now 1 am Brother Johnson is missed by all and the crew extends its in navigation schooLr preparing heartfelt sympathy to his fam- "- to get my captain's license. .1 have been following your Hy; He is survived by his moth­ er, his wife, Mrs, Sadie John­ progress carefully and wish we son, land four children. Anyone would have as good a union wishing to send condolences may here also. For the future 1 wish reach them at Apt. 230, 40 An­ you all the success you havB' nunciation Road, Boston, Mass. had up to date. C. E. Tobias R. Suttor Ship's secretary Bremen, Germany LOG Can Keep 'Em Up To Date German Seaman Hails SOU Rise �LOG Stalwart Sidelined By Packer Mishap NW Victory Capitulates Bombay Is No Bargain For Cecil Bean Crew places, Seafarer Luis A. Ramirez this time is the subject of another's penmanship, following an accident which occurred recently on the Citrus Packer (Waterman). Ramirez, the 4-8 fireman, suf­ fered burns in the face and on his arm after what is described as "a terrific ex­ plosion" in one of the boilers on the ship. He was on watch at the time, as the Pack­ er was leaving Kobe, Japan. According to T. Weber, ship's sec­ retary - reporter, Ramirez who recounted the incident, Ramirez was treated later by a doctor in Yokohama, but is still pretty shaken up, aside from the pain of the burns them­ selves. Sailing on SIU ships since 1943, Ramirez notes that this was the first time that he had ever had an accident on the job, hnd that he certainly hopes this is the last one as well. His many friends are hoping he's back in A-1 shape again soon, so that he can continue his tireless correspondence regarding the dif­ ferent places he visits on SIU ships. (The photo above was taken after the accident.—^Ed.) from the Ship's Reporter Tasty Dish Digging in to demolish tome cooling watermelon, "Woody" Woodward. 3rd cook on the Royal Oak, looks pleased with the task ahead. His cooking hat the rest of the crew smiling also, says reporter Dan Beard. Photo by "Scotty" Ramsey. ••••'Si As far as the Seafarers on the Cecil N. Bean are concerned, "the gettln' was almost as bad as the bein'," on their recent trip to Bombay. which means more delay. After ' According to details sup­ three weeks here, we're still due plied by Seafarer Sten T. Zet- for another month of this heat, terman, ship's secretary-re­ filth and never- A frequent contributor to the SEAFARERS LOG re­ garding faraway people and Burly Pace TidMaifp SBAFARBM8L06 Amgmt 1»» IfW It was "just like home" for Seafarers Fario Morris, wiper; Chester B. Wilson, DM, and Paul Hellerbrand, bosun, all off the Northwestern Victory, v/hen they helped waitresses cut string beans for dinner in the USS Club, Naha, Okinawa. It's probably a lot tougher to get them to turn to like that when they^re fiome, however. Robin Sherwood Takes Afriea—& Vice Versa "Baseball, babes and bruises"—although not necessarily in that order—very adequately describes the most rec6nt South African port-to-port junket of Seafarers aboard the.Robin Sherwood, according to the the wrong foot, with all the bats, account furnished by Bill balls and gloves in one hand and much refresh­ Dunham, ship's reporter. Arriving at Capetown, crewmembers were quick to notice "smoke signals in the far-distant hills noti­ fying the sisters that the romeos were approach­ ing, loaded with pounds . . . One man was not ready when it came time to leave the ship, and was halfdressed on enter­ ing the Carlton House, shirt and Maynes tie still in his hand. "But the poor guy had forgotten his girl's address, so he had to go back anyway and get it. Another man, with plenty of pound and shilling appeal, was there with not one but four of his harem planning the evening's entertainment." Hospital Cases On the unhappy side, Dunham reported there were several hos­ pital cases on record, including Heath "Tony" Pressly, our "glori­ fied galleyboy," who was left in Capetown with a ruptured appen­ dix; Tom Maynes, crew pantryman, hospitalized in Port Elizabeth; J. Rios, oiler, drydocked In Lorenzo Marques; Charles Cantwell, baker, off at Dar Es Salaam with a bad foot, and Frank Manthy, AB, an­ other appendix victim. "After a lot of hard work," Dun­ ham continued, "the Sherwood AllStars were reborn at Dar Es Sa­ laam, and met up with the Ameri­ can consul teahi for a baseball game. But the All-Stars got off on ment iii the oth­ er, so they lost by a heavy mar­ gin, 13-2. "This did not dilscourage them, however; they came back for more and landed on top this time . . . "At Mombasa, we were fortunate to pick" up Nick Hermank, 'per­ sonality kid of the engine depart­ ment,' wiio took over the duties of crew pantryman. What he did not know in this job, he organized to his way of thinking. He had help from all departments in washing his dishes." porter, the ship originally left the US from Seattle in March, loaded with grain for India. The crew was really looking forward to spend­ ing at least a short time in their favorite • port of Yokohama,' which was to be the first stop for bunkers on the 'round-the - world trip. "However, we hit a little rough weather—and a Liberty ship be­ Zefterman ing what it is —headed south to Honolulu to get badly-needed fuel. A few days later, engine trouble developed, so we began looking for Guam, our nearest port . . . "While entering the harbor there, we lost one of the anchors. But it was a small price to pay, as it definitely saved the ship from piling on the rocks before the chain parted . . . "Finally, after another stop in Singapore for bunkers, we arrived in Bombay, after spending almost two months getting there . . . No Return Planned "The crew's opinion of Bombay is given daily—in unprintable words. Shipping will have to be really tough before any of us take a ship to this place again .. . There are some exceptions to this, of course, as a couple of the boys made great progress with some. European 'femmes' at Beach Candy . .. "Bombay 1% probably the slowest port in the world when it comes to unloading and loading a ship. The stevedores seem to be working on an intensified 'go slow' policy, and the monsoon is just starting. ending haggling with the na­ tives . . . "You'd think a popular collec­ tor's item here would be an ele­ phant tusk or a snake charmer's . cecU Bean outfit, but actual­ ly it's a beer per­ mit. Even if you have one, the limit is only three bottles of beer every two days, one one day, and two the next. Without a permit, the strongest thing you can get is a coke .. . "We'll be a happy bunch when we get on our way to the States." from the Ship'sReporter .-•-33 I Bosun At Work •r.-.-'i? 11 With strands of wire strung -out in all directions, bosun George Libby on the Steel Age looks like he's tangling with an octopus as he tries his hand on a "Navy-locked splice" on a length of cable. Photo sent in by reporter C. Tobias. By E. A. King There's something so alive, yet so resolved. As though with but the great it is involved; The petty things, the nil, the minutiae Are out of place when thinking of the Sea. And yet within its' fullness still is found The smallest life, past sense of sight and sound. tie Improvised I1 m Thoughts About The Sea I try for words: grand, beautiful, serene; Or cruel, majestic, wild—these do not mean What f, vxmld say, perhaps there is no word; Thoughts of the Sea are deeper felt than heard. • 3:11 331 •i I LOG-A-RHYTHM: There's something so profound about the sea This one short line remains to me When I attempt my feelings to define As I behold it from the beach shoreline. "731 As the immense; both find in it a home, Within, beneath that depth of weight and foam. So safe; so all eternal and so deep— How peacefully the dead at sea must sleep! Beneficient, yet treacherous, untamed, Called many names, yet in true fact unnamed. So changeless yet so ever at a change So near, familiar, yet so far and strange; So mighty; so impassive; so unknown— And yet so much a part of all we own. It never rests, but moves with destined pace Held by the moons and seasons in its place I could write on, but this line speaks for me: There's something so profound about the Sea. Bp Bernard Seaman v;-^l :•! •S^l •'m �5-W.?;.s» Ifi;I?;-;- WEi-r-''' Fame, Fortune Fizzle As Del Sud Message In Bottle Lands In Cuba A ragged ll"x6" scrap of brown paper enclosed in a bottle that washed up on the beach at Cayo Coco, Cuba, last month probably represented the closest that Cuban fisherman Tomas Perez ever came to fame and fortune in his life. — ——^ Written in English, it might-*have been the key to some SIU men and other seamen. Sea­ Pizza 'Chemist' fabled "lost treasure of the In­ farers Brown and Caudill had in­ Backing away from the oven—and almost out of the photo also, Yince Astorino, galleyman on Steel Chemist, removes one of those sizzling pizza pies he bakes for the crew. Photo by Ed Lessor. die?" or to a long-forgotten sea disaster, for all Perez knew. The cryptic message, however, held out hope of neither. It read as follows: "If found please write to 'Sea­ farers Log,' 675 - 4th Ave., Brook­ lyn, NY. Thrown overboard from the SS Del Sud, between Cuba and Florida on February 13, 1954. By Ira C. Brown and E. C. Caudill." Obviously, what might have been was definitely not. But once Perez got it translated he dutifully did the next best thing and wrote to the LOG. If he was disappointed by his find, he didn't let on. The bottle was found on the morning of July 15, and "as the paper says, we are writing to you. My name is Tomas Perez, fisher­ man. I live at 16th Pareado St., Caibar'ien, Cuba. This letter is written by a friend, for we don't know English." Apparently, like many other Directory Of SIU Branches CLEVELAND SIU, A&G District BALTI.MORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Earl Slieppard, Agent EAstern 7-4900 BOS'l'O.N 278 State St. James Sheehan, Agent Richmond 2-0140 HOUSTON 4202 Canal St. C. Tanneliill, Acting Agent Capital 7-6558 LAKE CHARLES, La .7. 1419 Ryan St. Leroy Clarke. Agent HEmlock 0-5744 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St Cal Tanner. Agent HEmlock 2-1734 NEW ORLEANS 523 BienvUle St Lindsey Williams. Agent Magnolia 6112-6113 NEW VORK 675 4tb Ave.. Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. Ben Rccs. Agent MAdison 2-9834 PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St. 5. Cardullo Agent Market 7-1635 SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St Leon Johnson. Agent Douglas 2-5475 Slarly Uruitlioll, West Coast nepresentative PUERTA de T1B.RRA PR Pelayo 51—La f Sal Coils. Agent Phone 2-599P -SAVANNAH 2 Abercorn St E. B. McAuley. .Acting Agent Phone 3-1728 SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Jell Gillette, Agent Elliott 4334 TA.MPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. Tom Banning. Agent Phone 2-1323 WlLMlNGTOiN, Calif.... 505 Marine Ave. Ernest Tilley, Agent Terminal 4-2074 HE.ADUUARTERS 675 4th Ave.. Bklyn. SECRETARY TREASURER Paul Hall ASST SECRETARY-TREASURERS J. Algina. Deck C. Simmons, Joint J. Voipian, Eng. W. Hall, Joint E. ftlooney, Std. R. Matthews, Joint SUP HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND 522 N. W. Everett St. Beacon 43.36 KHHMOND, CALIF 257 5th St. Phone 2.599 6.AN S'RANCISCO 450 Harrison St. Douglas 2-8363 SE.ATTLE 2505 1st Ave. Main U290 WIL.\llN(iTON 505 Marine Ave. Terminal 4-3131 NEW YORK 675 4th Ave.. Brooklyn HYacinth 9-6600 Canadian District HALIFAX, N.S 128i/a Hollis St. Phone- 3-B91) MONTREAL 634 St. James St. West PLateau 8161 FORT WILLIAM . . 11816 Syndicate Ave. Ontario Phone: 3-3221 PORT COL BORNE 103 Durham St. Ontario Phone: 5501 TORONTO, Ontario 272 King St. E. EMpire 4-5719 VICTORIA BC ... B17V4 Cormorant St. Empire 4531 VANCOUVER, BC 298 Main St. Pacific 7824 SYDNEY. NS 304 Charlotte St. Phone 6346 BAGOTVILLE. Quebec 20 Elgin St. Phone: 545 THOROLD, Ontario 62 St. Davids St. CAnal 7-3202 QUEBEC 113 Cote Oe La Montague Quebec Phone: 2-7078 SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St NB Phone: 2-5232 Great Lakes District ALPENA BUFFALO, NY.... Aurust li IMS - SEAFARERS LOG Pare Fourteen 133 W. Fletcher Phone: 12.38W 180 Main St. Phono: Main 1-0147 \ 734 Lakeside Ave., NE Phone: Cleveland 7391 DETROIT 1038 3rd St. Headquarter! Phone: Woodward 1-6857 DULUTH 531 W. Michigan St. „ Phone: Melrose 2-4110 SOUTH CHICAGO 3261 E. 92n(l St Phone; E-sse* 5-2419 nocently dispatched a bottle into the briny to see how far and where the sea would carry it. Many ships do this sort of thing regularly under US Government auspices to help scientists chart the path and speed of ocean currents. Brown and Caudill, however, were on their own. The bottle might have wound up in Madagas­ car or Greenland. For the record, their glass - enclosed missive did not get too far. Cayo Coco is outside the Cuban city of Caibarien, a sugar port of 22,000 popula­ tion, which is on the northern Brown coast of the is­ land about 190 miles east of Ha­ vana as the crow flies. It is just slightly to the southeast of being on a direct line from Miami on the Florida mainland, 225 miles away. But the bottle apparently took one year and five months to make land. Most of us could swim the distance faster, providing the sharks didn't raise any objection. If nothing else, however, the events prove that (I) notes in bot­ tles are read carefully, (2) they do land somewhere although almost nevdr where you expect them to go and (3), that the SEAFARERS LOG really gets around. Beauregard(s) In Yokohama Relaxing ashore in Yokohama on Far East run, Tampa Seafar­ ers on the Beauregard say hello to friends all over world. Pic­ tured (l-r) are A. Llanes, AB; J. Pagola, night cook-baker; J. Williams, oiler; R. Tavolacci, OS, and J. Moro, wiper. Editor, SEAFARERS LOG, 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn 32. NY I would like to receive the SEAFARERS LOG—please put my name on your mailing list. (Print Information) NAME STREET ADDRESS CITY ZONE STATE Signed TO AVOID DUPLICATION: If you ar« an old subtcrlbar and hava a ehanga of addrais, plaata glva your formtr addrats balowt ADDRESS CITY • f MlM*aa6B«66aaa! ZONE ••fMeeeeei .STATE ...;A Applauds SlU's Ship Meal Plan his lot on the ship more pleas­ ant and secure, for as long as he follows and enforces the list of instructions pertaining to To the Editor: ^ When we were in Norfolk, the system he has no worry "Virginia, we were boarded by about the company or the Hhil Reyes, SIU consultant on Union giving him hell as has the union's new feeding system happened in many cases in the aboard our contracted ships. past. I believe also that this The steward department and new system will eliminate the other crewmembers were pleas­ Incompetents in the steward antly surprised to learn that department and will result in the SIU is right on the ball the full application of the con­ again in instituting this new ditions that our union has system. In which we are sure fought so hard to obtain for us. To other ships of the Water­ man fleet and to re.st of our contracted ships in general, I and the crew aboard this ship heartily recommend the new SIU feeding system. Mike Michalik, Chief Steward Michael Schalestock, S'up's delegate Letters to the Editor Wants Name On LOG List will have a far-reaching benefit in our shipboard conditions. Brother Reyes called a To the Editor: I wonder if you could mail special meeting of all depart­ ments and explained in detail me the SEAFARERS LOG. I the new system, how it works understand that it is a great and why it is necessary that it paper to read on all marine and should succeed not only on this union matters. I have a brother who has been vessel but on every one of our contracted ships. He assured a member of the SIU since its the members that the system organization, and would very does not entail any additional much like to read the LOG work as provided by our pres­ about which he speaks so well. ent agreement, nor would it My brother's name is J. T. Lasconflict with the steward de­ siter and he is riding under the partment routine, and he also proud Union number L-2. Thank assured the crew that should you in advahcc for your paper. H. B. Lassiter this system be followed, better (Ed. vole: Your name has service, more palatable food, with less waste would be ob­ been added to the mailing list tained. Furthermore, by mini­ and yon will receive the LOG mizing or eliminating waste from now on.) the union will have a stronger »v« t position in demanding more varieties of better quality food from our contracted companies. At First Skeptical To the Editor: At first the steward depart­ The members of the quarter­ ment, including myself, were a ly finance committee wish to in­ little ' skeptical about the new form the membership that we se(>up but after several days, were very much impressed with with Brother Reyes supervising the efficient and business-like the introduction of the new manner in which the Union system, compliments began keeps its records and runs its flowing into the galley from affairs. various crewmembers and of­ This is in sharp-contrast with ficers topside, the feeling of what we have learned from re­ .skepticism vanished, and the cent Congress hearings about steward department became the sloppy way that some of the very enthusiastic about the new, subsidized steamship operators program. They now feel that do business. As far as we are the extra efforts they will have -concerned they could take a leaf , to put into the system will be from the Union when it comes more than compensated by the to administration. absence of any food beefs, and The committee rhemhers, be­ the amicable relations all sides myself,' who agree with ai-ound among satisfied and these sentiments are Edward well-fed crewmembers. Hansen, Frank Moran, Ralph Of course the success of the Ewing, Joseph M a 1 o me and system depends on the co-op­ Charles Oppenheimer. eration of the three depart­ E. A. "Andy" Anderson ments aboard ships. Tolerance and patience of the deck and engine departments is neces­ sary in waiting for their orders from the galley, just like in hotels and restaurants, and To the Editor: Just recently I had to get off ordering only what they feel the Seatrain Georgia, on which like eating, instead of the usual "full house" when one is too I was chief stewai'd, because of lazy to read the menu on the the death of my sister. My shipmates on the Georgia were hoard. ^ I am happy to report that kind enough to take tip a col­ the crew of the Maiden Creek lection and send flowers to the not only gave Brother Reyes funeral ceremonies. I would like to ^thank these their full cooperation hut even offered him several suggestions Union brothers for their kind­ to further improve the new ness and consideration. It is system. He highly compli­ deeply appreciated. Walter Newberg mented the crew at the end of 44-4 his trip with us. Knows The Problems As a steward who has been sailing for many years and who knows the many problems To the Editor: I want you to know I thor­ which confronts us stewards with respect to oui;- relations oughly enjoy reading the SEA­ with the company and the FARERS LOG. It has so many crew, I believe this' new SIU interesting items and features. feeding system is the best I think the SIU is a wonder­ break in our shipboard condi­ ful Union and I'm proud my tions. Any steward who is com­ husba'nd belongs to it. Mrs. Wayne Henderson petent and capable will find Impressed By Union Methods Thanks Shipmate. For Sympathy Likes The LOG — Union Too �Ancnst la. 1955 ; HURRICANrt (W<f«rman), July .9— Chairman, J. Lengfallewi Sacratary, R; McHala. Room* have been painted but more fana are dedred in foc'ale. It waa moved that fana be placed in recreation room And that a letter be acnt to New York regarding deck department'a , breakfaat hour. It was suggested that crew cooperate with turning in all linen and returning cupsi that repair Hats be drawir up; that lock be placed on pantry doors and library doors. aoVERNMENT CAMP (CItlet Serv­ ice), July 10—Chairman, H. Connelli Secretary, J. Moloney. Since the ship is scheduled for shipyard at the end of this voyage all repairs 'are to be listed. New fans are aboard and will be installed on Northbound trip. Treasurer reported $7 in the ship's fund. Digest of ships* Meetings SEATRAIN TEXAS (Seafrairt), June 25—Chairman, J. Allen; Secretary, C. Oppenheimer. Discussion on crew, members reporting on bocrd ship at least one hour before sailing *Hme. Ship's delegate will contact patrol­ man for instructions to act on at next Instance for members being late. Cash on hand $84.52. Report on Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee was read and discussed by the crew. All agreed to accept. SEAFARERS tJiould be placed siboard. Sink In pantry should be repaired as soon as possible. A new iron Jot the crew was purchased., and the money was taken from the ship's fund. ^ STEEL RECORDER (Isthmlsn), June 12—Chslrman, J. BurehlnsI; Secretsry, J. Ereen. All crewmembers and offi­ cers donated S3 per man for washing machine which was bought by the sec­ ond electrician out of his own pocket. All members were given enrollment cards to fill out. Treasurer reported $37.79 in the ship',; fund. DE SOTO (Pan Atlantic), June 2«— Chairman, B. Vsrn> Jr.; Secretary, J. Chermailne. Repairs will be taken care of at payoff in New Orleans. Re­ port on Merchant Marine and Fish­ eries Committee was read and dis­ cussed by crewmembers. Ship's re­ porter explained why list of names were in the LOG. Old ship's delegate urged crew to give full cooperation to the new delegate. MAIDEN CREEK (Waterman), June 19—Chairman, W. Anderson; Secre­ tary, L. Wing. One man missed ship in San Juan and he will be turned over to the boarding patrolman. Sev­ eral topics were discussed and sug­ gestions made on same. Each depart­ ment delegate turned in a repair list. FORT HOSKINS (CHIet Service), June 9—Chairman, H. Westfall; Sec­ retary, B. Webb. Brother WestfaU elected ship's delegate by acclama­ tion. Ship's trrosurer reported a bal­ ance of $10 in the-ship's fund. Rooms are being painted, springs need fix­ ing and new mattresses are com­ ing aboard. STEEL MAKER (Isthmian), June 27 —Chairman, Brown; Secretary, Flood. YORKMAR (Calmer), Juno 18— Chairman, J. Watt; Secretary, R. Morgan. Discussion on stores and if they will last to New York. Steward reported that with the stores ordered for Panama there WiU_be sufficient supplies on board. Discussion on re­ pair list. All communications were read and discussed by entire crew. - A motion was made by W. Wilkens to accept same. Carried unanimously. Crew was given a report on the SIU Wel­ fare Plan, the Mercliant Marine and Fisheries Committee and the New York waterfront beef here. Motion made and seconded to accept patrol­ man's verbal reportg. Carried. MANKATO VICTORY (Victory Car­ riers), June 24—Chairman, Lucas; Sec­ retary, Cothrell. Motion made and carried , to accept verbal report as given by boarding patrolman. All communications and reports sent to ship were read and discussed by the entire crew. No beefs or disputed overtime reported. KYSKA (Waterman), Juno 22— Chairman, J. Batson; Secretary, E. Mattlson. Sanitary work on the ship, including laundry and recreation room aft was settled between the wiper and OS. All repairs of the previous trip are to be taken care of. New large blankets are aboard and men can get same from the steward. Captain will have all crew foc'sles painted this trip. There is a balance of $5.10 in the ship's fund. One oiler on board who caused so much trouble last trip was suspended for sixty days by the US Coast Guard. All reports were posted on the bulletin board. STEEL SEAFARER (Isthmian), June 17—Chairman, R. Darvllle; Secretary, F. Puglltl. Ship's treasurer reported that there is $12.63 fai the ship's fund. Crew was given a report on the con­ vention and agents' conference which they agreed to accept unanimously. AFOUNDRIA (Waterman), June 12 —Chairman, J. Orlmas; Secretary, L. Moore. A new ship's delegate was elected. Menu board will be moved as entire crew cant see it when they are sitting down at tables. Repairs lists will be made up on items that crew can repair. Slop chest price list and opening time will be posted on board. All hands were asked to keep laundry cleaner and to bring all dirty linen up at changing time. SAND CAPTAIN (Construction Agtregates), Juni 19—Chairman, R. Taliaksen; Secretary, A. Ferrara. Ship's delegate reported that the mail serv­ ice will be improved by appointing one responsible person in the Zapara Island offlce. Quarterly statements are to be more thoroughly investi­ gated. Ship's treasurer reported $60 in the fund. Crewmembers are. in favor of purchasing a movie projector. Men were asked to turn in excess linen. DEL MAR (Mtssiulppl), May 29— Chairman, E. P. Leonard; Secretary, E. Caudlll. Discussion by the ship's delegate on performing. Beer will be cut off by the captain and guilty mem­ ber will face a fine from the Union so crewmembers were asked to act ac­ cordingly. ' Discussion on men going to the hospital in foreign ports. Bal­ ance on hand in ship's fund is $183.90. Motion made and cairied to take $30 out' of every arrival pool for special movie fund. Brother Bobby Garn, ship's delegate of last trip, was given a vote of thanks for a Job well done. HASTINGS (Waterman), June l$-rChalrman, R. Callahan; Secretary, N. LafortezxI. A few minor beefs on the food situation Will be taken care of. Forms for welfare plan have been sent in. Some disputed overtime re­ ported. Crewmembers read and dis­ cussed report from headquarters on the convention and agents' con­ ference. ALCOA PURITAN (Alcoa), June 19 —Chairman, C. Parker; Secretary, H. Kllmon. A suggestion was made to paint the lockers on the Inside to keep rust off the clothes. Steward asked crewmembers to take care of the folding coU and put them away when not being used. The aft springline has a lot of Ash hooks in it and needs replacing. Suggestion that shelves be installed over bunks. SALEM, MARITIME (Cities Service), June 21—iChalrman, W.- Palmer; Sec­ retary, E. Harrison. A vote of thanks was given to the ship's delegate for a Job well done. A new brand of soap OCEAN NORA (Marlflma Overseas), July 2—Chairman, T. Holl; Secretary, E. Kazmowsky. Discussion held on money draws in Pusan, Korea with particular interest on the rate of ex­ change. There was a special meeting for steward department regarding tiine off. Some disputed overtime. ROBIN WENTLEY (Seas Shipping), June 12—Chairman, D. Hall; Sacra­ tary, W. Wentllng. Operation of new sandwich grill in crew mess Was ex­ plained to the crew. Request made to fix lockers in 8 to 12 foc'sle. Mo­ tion made and carried to see patrol­ man about pptting a separate wash­ ing machine aboard for officers. There is a balance of $41.20 in the ship's fund. SOUTHSTAR (South Atlantic), June 19—Chairman, J. Wunderllch; Secre­ tary, J. Fleyd.^, Discussion on date ship's articles go into effect. Discus­ sion on different drinks to be served with meals. Question of fresh milk in Antwerp brought up, and it was decided that rank taste cannot be helped due to excess bacteria count when delivered. Brother Burnsed made a motion that at payoff crew should get a clarification on using electric chipping guns aloft. Motion carried. ROBIN SHERWOOD (Robin), June 11 —Chairman, B. Johnson; Secretary, Tom William. Food is a big prob­ lem aboard this ship. The steaks are tough, preparation of food is not up to standard and quality of beef isn't good. . Crewmembers were told to keep natives out of midship house as one brother has lost considerable mondy already. Two men taken off ship for medical attention. ELIZABETH (Bull), June 2S—Chair­ man, L. Gooch; Secretary, R. Velllnga. Ship's delegate reported that crew messman was slugged by longshore­ man in New Ybrk. Mail service aboard this ship Is bad. A new ship'a delegate was elected. ALCOA CLIPPER (Alcoa), June 19— Chairman, R. Roberts; Secretary, H. Patterson. Article from Venezuela newspaper will be sent to LOG. ,Suggestion made to change time slop chest is opened. Brothers were asked to accept nominationF for various of­ fices so they will be more familiar with the -Union. Crewmembers must have a good excuse for missing fire and boat drill. Food beefs wiU be taken to patrolman. There is b total in the ship's fund of $163.18. MOJAVE (TrsnMceanlc Marine), June 19—Chairman, L. Pepper; $ecretary, R. Elsslens. Seattle agent was given a big hand for squaring away a beef with the Radio Operations Un­ ion Just before sailing time. The stew­ ard department was given a vote of thanks for doing a swell Job. A new light is needed on the washing ma­ chine to tell whether It is running or not. GENEVIEVE PETERKIN (Bloomfield), June 19—Chairman, E. Rowell; Secretary, J. Atchison. Adequate bunks to be installed in the hospital so sick men can use same. This ship is loaded with roaches and patrolman will be informed of situation. Stew­ ard department to clean up all pas­ sageways. One man paid off in France will be put in hospital. Mo­ tion made by E. Goings that all men after one year on a ship should have to get off due to shipping slowing down. Carried by majority. \ HIGH POINT VICTORY (Bull), June 2$—Chslrman, R. Miller; Secretary, R;. Merrliette. Brother Miller sent a wire to New York to find out why the company didn't put a new wash'' Ing machine aboard. Each member of the crew was asked to donate 25c. to the ship's' fund. All the depart­ ment delegates were asked to get a repair list up as soon as possible. AIJ hands were asked to keep the messhall clean, and to see that cups and glasses are brought back to the pan­ try. A vote of thanks was given to the steward department for doing a very fine Job. THE CABINS (Mathlasen), .June 12 —Chairman, B. Granberg; Secretary, F. Kustura. Ship's delegate reported that no attempt was made to repair windless forward. There was some discussion on men who were logged in Japan. Each delegate should em­ phasize on his repair list that the ves­ sel needs fumigating for roaches. Deck delegate cautioned men about talking about crew affairs with offi­ cers. Ship's delegate reported that repairs have not been made on water tight door after appearing on repair list several times. STEEL NAVIGATOR (Isthmian), June 12—Chairman, H. McQuage; Sec­ retary, G. Perry. There was a gen­ eral discussion of unionism by crew­ members. The latest communications and reports from headquarters were read and accepted by the entire crew. A letter was read to the- crew in ref­ erence to safety conditions in the deck department. DEL ALBA (Mississippi), June 19— Chairman, James King; Sacratary, W. Gels. Master requested that any man going aloft should wear safety belt. Everything in order with no beefs. The steward will contact the port officials on the poor grades of meats put on board last voyage, especially strip loins, chucks and bacon. ALCOA PEGASUS (Alcoa), June 19 —Chairman, W. Yarbrough; Secretary, V. Burns. Suggestion made that an electric iron be purchased with money from the ship's fund. A motion was made and carried to have a new drain installed for scuttlebutt, and due to constant postponement this will be referred to the patrolman. Motion made that showers and toilet be in­ stalled for stevedores as on other Vessels of the line, and that nmning water be supplied at once for Jury toilet on fantall. Treasurer reports $25 in the ship's fund. ' CHILORE (Ore), June 23—Chairman, E. ZebrowskI; Secretary, F. Sawyer.- Stiip's delegate will see the patrolman about the lack of buttermilk and JiUces. Motion made by R. Ring to donate entire ship's fund of $10.70 to a brother injured aboard who was transferred from the SS Santore. A vote of thanks was given to the stew­ ard department for good food and serving. SOUTHPORT (South Atlantic), June 18—Chairman, A. May; Secretary, J. Christy. Suggestion made to keep forward storm doors open in hot weather. Steward reported that cap­ tain said there would be no sougeeing of messhall and passageways. Shortage of stores will be brought to the attention of patrolman. Com­ munications and reports read, dis­ cussed and posted. Quite a few minor beefs reported, however, none can be settled till the payoff. SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY (Seatrain), June 23—Chairman, W. Brightwell; Secretary, P. Patrick. One man mi.ssed ship when it sailed from Edgewater. Several copies- of his gear were made out and signed by engine delegate. A new ship's delegate was elected. Discussion by chief cook and baker about heating hot water in shipyard. a> GULF WATER (Metro),' June 2«— Chairman, H. Hallman; Secretary, H. RIdgeway. A special meeting was caUed to elect a ship's delegate. Saw skipper about two meals sub­ sistence in Mobile. Draw list turned in. Repair lists made out and turned in. GOVERNMENT CAMP . (Cities Serv­ ice), June 26—Chairman, M. Croft; Secretary, E. Deshtels, Crew will try to get a new coffee pot. Bulletin on welfare benefits read to the crew and posted on board. Motion was made and carried that money left in ship's fund at the end of a trip when ship goes in shipyard should be turned over to some worthy charity. May 29—Chairman, M. Brendle; Sec­ retary, E. Deshotels. Patrolman will see about getting mattresses for crew as they have requested, same four dif­ ferent times. Treasurer reported a balance of $20 in the ship's fund. A new ship's, delegate was elected. June 30—Chairman, K. Hallman; Secretary, R. Lyie. General discussion on SIU Welfare Plan. Ship's delegate reported no beefs or disputes in any department. Latest communications were read and discussed among crew­ members. ALCOA POLARIS (Alcoa), June 19 —Chairman, E. Yates; Secretary, J. H'annon. A door should be put on the book rack for library. All hands were asked to keep pantry clean at night. A vote of thanks given to the ship'd delegate for a Job well done. The steward department was also thankedfor fine chow and service. SEATRAIN "LOUISIANA (Seatrsln), June 28—Chairman, M. Reed; Secre­ tary, S. Frelllch. Ship's delegate gave a talk on the Bonner Bill for the ben­ efit of those not familiar with antimaritime features of said Bin. This crew goes on record to give full sup­ port to any action taken by SIU to fight BUI. Discussion on advlsabiUty of getting TV repaired. '• '••'" V'.' Faw Flfteea.' ________ LOG FINAL DISPATCH The deaths oj the following Sea­ farers have been reported to the Seafarers Welfare Plan and the SIU death benefit is being paid to their beneficiaries: Elmer Shipp, 55: On July 1, 1955, Brother Shipp died of a heart ailment. Burial took place at Tiradentes Cemetery, Giudad Trujillo, Domini­ can Republic. Brother Shipp was one of the first members to sail with the SIU, joining the Union in 1939 in the Port of New York, and sailing in the engine department. He is survived by his sister, Mrs. R. Berry of Dordele, Ga. t 4. - .:- ^ Speak Out At SMU Meetings Under tiK Union constitu­ tion every member attending a Union meeting is entitled to nominate himself for the elected posts to be niied at the meeting—chairman, read­ ing clerk and recording secre­ tary. Your Union urges you to take an active part in meet­ ings b^ taking these posts of service. / ^ And, of course, all members haVe the right to take the floor and express their opinions on any officer's report or issue under discussion. Seafarers are urged to hit the deck at these meetings and let their shipmates know what's on their minds. t Ralph B. Dagger, 37: Brother Bugger died in Nakaku, Y o k o hama, on May 23, 1955, of acute poisoning. Join­ ing the Union in San Francisco, California, in 1951, Brother Bugger had been sailing in . the deck department. Place of burial is not known. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Bugger, of Bellflower, California. 4> William Monway, 31: Asphyxia was the cause of Brother M o n way's death at the Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Burial took place at the Mt. Hope Ceme­ tery in Mt. Hope, West Virgints: Brother Monway joined the Union in 1953 in the Port of New York "and was sailing in the engine de­ partment. He is survived by his mother, Bella Monway, of Beckly, West "Virginia. All of the following SIU families will collect the $200 maternity benefit plus a $25 bond from the Union in the baby's name: Pamela Lee Parker, born July 12, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde B. Parker, Chickasaw, Ala. 4> 4> 4> Alison Vema Smith, bom April 14, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith, Yonkers, NY. 4* 4^ Bobby Gerard Carrasquillo, born July 11, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Carrasquillo, New Orleans, La. 4" 4" l" t. t. t. 4" t 4" 4^ 4" 4" 4< 4 4> 4" t 4" ^ 4> 4^ Dale Ann Maas, born May 31, 1955. Parents, Mr, and Mrs. Henry J. Maas, Jr., New Orleans, La. •fil Deborah Ruth Rankin, born July 12, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Rankin, New Orleans, La. Vicky Lee Anderson, born July 2, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Anderson, Colmar Manor, Md. 4i 41 ^ Susan Anne Payne, born July 16, 1955.' Parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles N. Payne, Baltimore, Md. Melanie Dorothy Doyle, born June 17, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Herbert Klotz: Brother Klotz was Mrs. William Boyle, New Orleans, lost at sea aboard the MV Southern La. Districts, which -was last heard 4' 4- 4' from on December 6, 1954. Janice Mae Brown, born June 30, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown, Savannah, Ga. 4, i 4> :FEftSOI^LS: John Scott Please call MO 6-8637 in New York City concerning Adrienne Scott. t. 4i i Jimmy Cassaro x I still have your wristwatch. Call me in New York at HA 4-8684.-Ron Wolf, ex-Steel Advocate. Peter Heinrich Lohse, born March 7, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lohs'e, Flushing, NY. Vassilios John Livanos, born July 15, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John V. Livanos, Brooklyn, NY. Patricia Agnes Burgess, bom 4> 4 t July 22, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Kenneth L. Roberts Mrs. Joseph Burgess, Brooklyn, Please get in touch with your NY. draft board in New York immedi­ 4" 4i 4" Leslie Ramon Cubano Mercado, ately. born July 4, 1955. Parents, Mr. t 4i t and Mrs. Jose Cubano, San Juan, Louis Y. Coffey Contact your wife immediately at PR. 4 ^ i ' 909 North M St., Tacoma, Wash. Thomas Edward Floyes, born It is urgent that you do so. July 22, 1955. Parents, Mi*, and 4« 4" t Mrs. Robert Floyes, Mobile, Ala. Mulvery B. Wilson 4" 4" 4i It is urgent that you contact your Martha Jean Wallace, born July mother as soon as possible. 20, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. 4i 4> 4> Earl C. Wallace, Galveston, Tex. Felix Botello ^ ^ 4Contact the welfare department Edward Henry Kolenovsky, Jr., at SIU headquarters immediately born ^uly 27, 1955. Parents, Mr. regarding maternity benefits being and Mrs. Edward H. Kolenovsky, held for you. Galveston, Tex. 4 4" 4' . - f'l ">•/ 4' Friends of William E. Pepper are Jeanne Elizabeth Jones, born asked to write or visit him at the July 20, 1955. Parents, Mr. and Belt Parkway Nursing Home, 1832- Mrs. Wilkerson Vamel Jones, Mo- . bile, Ala. 83 St., Brooklyn 14. NY. • �SEAFARERS LOG • OFFICIAL ORGAN, OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFt jSeafarin' ^liakesptarts Well-known to LOG readers ore the two Seafarerwriters whose tales are printed here. Shrimpton's recent account in the LOG of a voyage with a foad of monkeys was excerpted in the Christian Science Monitor. Michelet is well-known for his colorful essays on his many ports of call throughout the world and his tasty recipes. The Little Man In The Box By Seafarer Jack "Aussie" Shrimpton One of the minor occupational hazards of seafaring is that most of us have too much time on our hands and very little to do with it. This often leads to shipboard shenanigans both comic and serious. The hi-'*juke box, which he intended to larious cameo that follows oc­ transport his native Manila. In curred recently aboard an return forto parking privileges in Isthmian ship homeward bound from a run-of-the-mill round-theglobe-haul. The cheracters (and 1 do mean characters) in the order of their appearance were Shorty, a diminut i V e , knee-high-to-a-grasshopper pantryman, and Brainy, a first-trip wiper right out of the back bayous of Louisiana. Brainy most certain­ ly belied his nickname in spades and was the kind of a lad who would have experienced extreme difficulty counting up his fingers and toes without waggling them. His daily diet was grits and gravy, and the very swamp grass figura­ tively sprouted out of both ears. Naturally, it was only a matter of hours before his shipmates caught on, and thenceforth the boisterous sport of pulling Brainy's innocent Spar became a daily pastime. The prankster-inchief was a 4-8 fireman named Shakey, who was endowed by na­ ture with both a vivid imagination and a most lurid line of feminine anecdote. His trusty little help­ mate at all times was Shorty, the pint-sized crew pantryman. At San Francisco, one of the cooks bought a huge second-hand the messmall, he agreed to allow the messhall. he agreed to allow was, accordingly, stowed and lashed in shipshape manner right beneath the crew pantry service window, and thenceforth the joint was jumping to the strains of "The Boogie-woogie Rag" and "O Mien Papa." To Brainy, however, the whole box of tricks was a source of never-ending bewilderment. It was the first juke box he had ever clapped eyes on, and within 48 hours Shakey had him firmly con­ vinced that one of Shorty's many duties was to sit inside it and change the records . . . on over­ time yet! If all this sounds incredible, it is only necessary to remind you that the Brooklyn Bridge has been sold on nine officially recorded occa­ sions, while early this year, sohie eleven hundred New York citizens appended their names (in passer­ by innocence) to a public petition to hang the President from atop the Empire State Building . . . and they were not all Democrats either. After several aays of continuous build-up Shakey had Brainy all primed and ready for the kill. The Puerto Rico Revisited By Seafarer A. "Frenchy" Michelet I have alvyays considered those starry-eyed darlings who parlay cute dimples, trim figures and provocative smiles intO' matrimonial alliances with wealthy playboys as this country's finest salespeople. However, even the brilliance of their Vandals got loose in the Western World. The site is now disfigured achievements pale somewhat by three hideous tanks which bear in the light of the efforts of those unsung heroes of the advertising world who manage to peddle to the public the idea that there's ro­ mance to be found these days in the island of Puerto Rico. Any romance that you find in Puerto Rico today you will take there yourself, because the place has become as prosaic as Down­ town Brooklyn. Do you remember that cluster of crazy huts that extended for acres around Waterman's docks in San Juan? You know—the place tvhere we used to get together in somebody or other's shack and drink rum and tell each other lies until the dolls came to lead us away to their respective shacks in the farthest reaches of the rabbit warren. Well, it's been leveled to the ground. There ain't a stick standing. It's as flat as one of J. P. Shuler's biscuits. This is as ruth­ less and wanton a job of destruc­ tion as I've heard tell of since the the legend "Emulsified Asphalt." Scenery Gone Emulsified Asphalt right smack dab in the middle of that hallowed ground where you and I boxed the compass and tied the knots until old Don Q Rum got us so befud­ dled that we couldn't have found the East at sunrise. The whole island has broken out in a rash of spit and polish. A sailor needs these air-condi­ tioned bars like he needs a hole in his head. Air-conditioning seems to attract a cold and mer­ cenary type of broad who can give a guy a casual once-over and cal­ culate to the penny the condition of his bankroll and her chances for latching on to it. Give me the good old bars of the Pennsylvania type any day. The air there was usually in a terribie condition, but the atmosphere was right. Turning the whole thing over in my mind on my first night ashore in San Juan, and a little sick of steward cooperated by obligingly no cali to be in there racking up putting hogs-jowls and turnip overtime during meal hours any­ greens on the supper menu, that way. You go right over and tell delicacy being the Bayou boy's him to get out of that damn thing gastronomic delight and joy. and get his fanny back in the pan­ Shorty was instructed to duck out try were it belongs." "Think I'll of sight beneath his pantry service do just that," drawled the lad from window and to ad lib his part as the swamps; and going over to the it came to him. juke box he bent down and fetched Biisy In The Bo.x it a field goal slap in the pants and At 5:30 into the messhall yelled, "Hey, Shorty, you get outa marched our hero all set for his that damn conti-aption pronto and favorite dish o' victuals. The juke git me some hogs-jowls, willya." box was going full blast as usual, "Okay—wait a minute, can't and as Brainy attempted to place you," came the muffled reply, ap­ his order above the din, John, the parently from out of the innermost messman, hollered to him that he bowels of the box. "I've gotta would have to wait awhile because put this Harry James number on Shorty was on overtime and too for Shakey first—take it easy, busy to come out of the box and willya—I'll be right out." Sure serve in the pantry. enough, the record changed and Immediately Shakey leaped bel­ then up bobbed Shorty from be­ ligerently to the rescue. "Why hind his pantry window for ali the don't you tell him to get the hell world as if he had just come outa there, Brainy," he said. "His crawling out of the innards of the pantry job comes first and he's got j nickelodeon. "Gosh," he said, displaying a pair of very grimy palms, "It's damn dusty inside that thing. Now what's for you. Brainy ^ . . hogsjowls and greens . . . coming right up, fella." "Well, okay," said The Brain, somewhat mollified and returning to his seat. "Why don't you quit fooling around in that box anyway. And if you've gotta be in there why in hell don't you put on some good Rebel tunes Instead of all that damnyankee twaddle. Come on, boy . . . let's go." If at this point you are inclined to agree with the cynical gent who said that "a ship was the only in­ stitution on God's green earth that was run entirely by the inmates," nobody is going to give you much of an argument. However, lunatic ' laughter is both good for the di­ gestive tract and, even more im­ portantly, to break up the dreary monotony of a long voyage. these chrome palaces downtown, I determined to grab a cab "and go over and see my old friends at the Pennsylvania. So I did without further ado. Imagine my astonish­ ment when the cabbie pulls up at the old familiar stop 2V^ to find not a trace of a bar there. They The Pennsylvania,* or stop 21^ as it was better knOwn, was the court-where Caledonia was wont to reign as queen in all her glory with ali the lesser dolls as maidsin-waiting, much as the dusky Rose in Calcutta or Margie of the Chicago in Yokohama do to this very hour. The manager was an . easy touch. The beachcombers could always cuff a flop in the roqms topside. We had the use of the galley too. Many's the chicken and rice yours truly has whipped up there for the benefit of the hungry beachcombers topside and in all the shacks alongside. • Perhaps the change is in me as well as in Puerto Rico. Some wise man once warned, "Never go back." He should have explained that you can't go back. It was Francois Villon, one of' the few true troubadours, who, toothless, wrinkled and bald, summed it all up when he sighed so poignantly for the snows of other years, "Tell me in what hidden way is Lady Flora the lovely Roman? Where Hipparchia, and where is Thais, Neither of them, the fairer woman? Where is Echo, beheld of no man. Only heard on river and more. She whose beauty was more than human? But where are the snows of '• of yester-year?" ' v ')"• have pulled down the old Penn­ sylvania Bar and all the shacks that used to nestle alongside, like a hen with a brood of chicks, lev­ eled off the site, poured some of that same damn asphalt on it, and erected a battery of power houses there. � 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 19, 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. 17 Description An account of the resource Headlines: MTD GUARANTEED MAJOR VOICE IN AFL-CIO MERGER ITF BOYCOTT WINS PACT ON RUNAWAY JOB PACE AT 20-MO. HIGH IN SIU-A&G SIU ACTION REVERSES LOGGINGS ROBIN CREWS HAILED ON SAFETY PUSH AFL PIER DRIVE DESPITE ILA 'PACT' NY WELCOME MAT OUT FOR RATED SEAFARERS SF PROVES JOB HAVEN BURGLARS TAP MOBILE'S VACATION TILL JOBS BOOM PORT MIAMI SEATTLE STILL 'VERY GOOD' NEW RULES EASE ALIEN HARDSHIPS GOV'T UNIT RAPS MSTS SLOWDOWN ANGRY NMU CREW VETOS CURRAN MEN NMU SQUIRMS AS LOG FERRETS OUT COVER-UPS SIU SCHOLARSHIP CAPS 15-YEAR-OLD DREAM CANADA SHIP ENGINEERS VOTING ON LINK TO SIU RATINGS SHORTAGE NOW TAMPA'S CHIEF CONCERN NEW RUN OF EX-ALASKA 'JINXED' - CANADA SIU CREW SUES FOR $ AFL BIDS CONGRESS ACT ON DOMESTIC 'RUNAWAYS' NEW ATTACK ON '50-50' SET FOR '56 RACKET OR GOOD DEAL FOR SEAFARERS? SEAFARERS WORKIN' AND RELAXIN' URANIUM'S RICHES LURE SEAFARER JOB LOST, ALSOP SEEKS NEW ANGLE LAKE CHAS. MAPS LABOR LAW FIGHT SEA BRAVERY MEDALS URGED SEAMAN'S PHILOSOPHY? SEAFARER HAS ANSWER LOG STALWART SIDELINED BY PACKER MISHAP BOMBAY IS NO BARGAIN FOR CECIL BEAN CREW ROBIN SHERWOOD TAKES AFRICA & VICE VERSA FAME, FORTUNE FIZZLE AS DEL SUD MESSAGE IN BOTTLE LANDS IN CUBA SEAFARIN' SHAKESPEARES PUERTO RICO REVISITED Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/15/1955 1955 Periodicals Seafarers Log