http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/60dc08bf9c6b24f69bb9b04d9e4aa6e4.PDF 5bf064ae9c3d4de9314128ee39ff9253 PDF Text Text s^mmssmsa SEAFARERS Vol. XViil No. 18 AWARDED FIRST PRIZE • GENERAL EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE • US5 • LOG INTERNATIONAL LABOR PRESS OF AMERICA • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO • Af An lVne»Len#i Fresh white caps marked the occasion when ffieri wwVEEVtny* gju crew manned the SS Grain Shipper, one of several ships recently added to the SlU-contracted fleet. Added ships and US cargo boom are helping set new records in job activity for Seafarers. Jobs in past two-week period reached highest point since August, 1955. Pictured here (1 to r) are Parker, AB; Brazil, DM, and Lester, OS. (See story on Page 3.) SlUSETS BMONIH JOB HIGH M -Story On Page 3 i CC Draffs Plan For Reinforcing Of Welded C-3s -Story On Page 2 •il • '•'I I ^21 "I "^1 S •J II I m ^Amnn# CAsn large ship of its kind, the SlU-manned ViCntSnW Florida State, formerly a Liberty collier, is de­ signed to unload 9,000 tons of cement in 16 hours by using compressed air to force it through ten-inch discharge pipes shown on deck. The $2.5 million conversion job does away with conventional conveyers in the holds. Ship is currently on Florida-Puerto Rico run for the Ponce Cement Co. / N Early Dock Ballot Seen As Labor Bd. Rejects Delay Bid -Story On Page 3 •!°l ^^J1| J 1 �SEAFA REUS Page Twe CG Maps Order For Strapping Of Welded C-3s August 31, 1958 LOG Republic, Dock Meet; Dock Wins Captain Admits Excess Speed On Fairisie Pleading guilty to running the ship at excessive speed, the captain of the ill-fated Fairisie has turned WASHINGTON—As the result of recommendations made in his papers to the Coast Guard. hy the American Bureau of Shipping, the US Coast Guard is The skipper's plea came in the now preparing an order which >viH call for the strapping of course of Coast Guard hearings on the collision between the Pan-At­ all of the welded C-3 ships now in service. The order will lantic ship and the Panamanian also require reinforcement of the corners of C-3 hatches tanker San Jose II in a heavy fog which have shown a tendency to crack under stress in the off Ambrose Light the morning of July 23. past. fore the onset of winter weather, Testimony at the hearing In­ The projected order comes •but steel shortages and scheduling dicated that the vessel was proceed­ as an aftermath of the sink­ problems could delay the comple­ ing at a speed of 15 knots at the ing of the Washington Mail, tion of the job. time of the accident T)he Fairisie which broke in two in stormy Like most World War II ships, was rammed amidships 6h tlie port North Pacific waters last March. side and subsequently iu^ndd However, the ABS said it had the the C-3s were all-welded with the turtle and sank on her .starboard problem under study for several exception of a handful of early side in the sheltered waters , of years before making its current models which were partially rivet­ Gravesend Bay- She has since been recommendations. Normally ed. The age of the vessels, In ad­ Razor-like cut in the bow of the tanker Republic tepi emphasizes sold for renovation and transfer to speaking, ABS proposals are dition to the nature of their con­ the force with which the SIU ship struck the concrete lip of the Panamanian flag. usually adopted by the Coast struction, is a factor in the Bu­ a dock in Portland, Maine, recently. Aside from the bow reau's proposal for modifications At the same time, the San Jose Guard without change as they are damage, no one was reported injured. II was accused by the Fairisle's drawn up in consultation with that now. skipper of making an incorrect agency, marine insurers and other turn and'blowing incorrect ;and interested parties. confusing whistle signals at the Three SHI Companies time of the accident. Three SIU companies would be The formerly SlU-manned ship affected by the order in varying has been sold to Seatraders for degrees. Isthmian Lines has 24 $200,000 plus. It is estimated that' C-3s in its fleet, making necessary the cpst of raising the ship will run a major overhaul operation. Robin as high as' $300,000 plus another Line operates six C-3s on its A test case of seamen's rights to collect Alabama unemployment insurance after paying $900,000 to recondition the vesseL South African service, but may not She has been sitting half in, half have to make important changes off under the 60-day rule is now being pressed by the SIU. The Union's action comes in the out of water for the past five as its ships were heavily modified wake of two previous victories on similar cases in New York and Delaware—the favorable weeks. originally. Some of the modifica­ Delaware decision coming lasf^ ^— The chief mate and a passenger tions appear to be in line with the month. from Alabama after leaving the paying off in accordance with the were Injured during the accident ABS recommendations. Up until now, seamen with ship under the 60-day provisions contractual provisions existing be­ but the rest of the crew escaped The three Mississippi passenger B or G seniority have been unable of the contract with the operators. tween the Union and the company. unhurt. ships—Del Sud, Del Norte and to collect unemployment benefits Since Waterman has its home of­ Del Mar—are converted C-3s and fices in Alabama, the test case will may also be covered by the pend­ have far reaching effects among ing order. All told there are ap­ seamen on Waterman and Pan proximately 80 welded C-3s oper­ Atlantic ships. ating under the American flag, Both Delaware and New York most of them on long-haul Pacific have ruled that the 60-day rule is runs. The weakness in the hatch struc­ A National Geographic Society Seafarers holding B and 0 ture of these ships consists of the research ship, the Calypso, has seniority who pay off under the squared off hatch corners. The .successfully anchored in water 60 - day contract provision ABS has recommended that these more than 414 miles deep. The should inform Unemployment corners be reinforced either by 142-foot former minesweeper put Insurance offices accordingly rounding them off or by installing down 24,600 feet of nylon line less when applying for their bene­ angled brackets as reinforcement than a half-inch in diameter and fits. The accurate ahid official In this area. In addition, the Bu­ anchored in the Romanche Trench, reason under such circum­ reau has recommended that the a deep gorge in the Atlantic half­ stances is "leaving vessel be­ hulls be strapped with extra way between Africa and South cause of a provision In the plating. America at the equator. contract." It was reported that the Calypso Ordinarily it would be desirable Merely listing "60-day rule" for the work to be completed be- aiichored steadily with no drifting. or "Union rule" is not accepted After the anchor was dropped, the as sufficient reason and could ship lowered cameras and lighting cause loss of benefits. ec(uipment to the bottom of the Where appeals are pending. trench to take pictures of the ocean Seafarers should report regu­ depths. larly as required by the Unem­ The Calypso is a French ship ployment Insurance office. operated in conjunction with the society. It intends to move next to the Pacific where it will explore a valid and reasonable part of the the 35,650-foot Challenger Depth collective bargaining agreement. off Guam. Consequently men leaving the ship Seafarers who performed acts of under the rule were not quitting heroism in merchant ship service their jobs and can qualify for during and after the Korean War benefits. can qualify for the recently-apVol. XVIii. No. 18 The New York ruling was af­ pi-oved merchant marine medals. Aug. 31, 1956 PAUL HALL, secretary-Treasurer firmed by the New York Court of Three awards were approved by HEBBEHT BHAND, Editor; RAY DENISON, Appeals, the highest court in the an act of Congress which President Managing Editor; BERNARD SEAMAN, Art. Eisenhower signed last week. Editor; HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN SPIVACK, state, in July, 1955. It was an Staff Writers; The awards are a Distinguished Representative. BILL MOODY, Gulf Area outgrowth of a test case begun back in 1949 by the Calmar Steam­ Service medal, Meritorious Serv­ ship Company. ice medal and a service ribbon for Among Affiliates ....Page 7 In addition to filing the test case work aboard merchant vessels dur­ Directory of Halls ...Page 15 oh behalf of a Seafarer who got ing a national emergency. The Final Dispatch Page 15 off a Waterman ship, the Union period covered is since June 30, Inquiring Seafarer ... Page 5 has taken up a beef with Water­ 1950 when the Korean War Meet The Delegate ..Page 4 man over the company's practices erupted. Men In Hospitals Page 12 on unemployment benefits. Men Personals ....Page 15 The highest award, the Distin­ paying off under the, 60-day con­ Recent Arrivals .....Page 15 guished Service medal, will go for tract provision, or for other reasons Shipping Round-Up .. Page 4 heroic aicts beyond the line of duty. for that matter, have been listed Your Dollar's Worth .Page 7 Similar awards for heroism in as paying off under mutual consent, merchant service were offered tb implying that they .quit the ship seamen in World War II. However, voluntarily. This automatically these newest awards will also apply ruled out benefits for them. to peacetime efforts, such as rescue Published biweekly at tne headquarters As a result, Waterman has in­ work in sea disasters and similar of the Seafarers. International Union, At­ structed its ship masters to list the lantic & Gulf District, AFL-CIO, 675 Fourth Reproducflon of a new 3c US stamp which will go on sale for Incidents. ' NY. Tel HYacinth reasons why ,inen have paid off, Foreign ships and seamen ' will' 9-6600. Entered as second class 'maftOr Where the 60-day riile'is respon­ the first time this Mondav, Labor Day, in Camden, NJ. Cambe eligible in some cases^ sible, tha ihtfn vtrill: be listed as ,den Was the honre of labor jaloh.eer Peter J. McGuire. - SIU Wins Delaware Jobless Pay Case, Tests Alabama Rule Drop Anchor 24,600 Feet OK Medals For Heroes Of Maritime SEAFARERS LOG K'fC'. »i"Kl""' US stamp Honors Labor Day �Avgvat 31, 195S SEAFARERS LOG Pare Tliree 51U Shipping "11 12-Mo, High '4 Snowballing for months, SIU shipping burst over the 1,500-job mark during the last two weeks for the first time since August, 1955. A total of 1,532 jobs were dis­ patched from A&G District boost from the US to the tune of halls in _the past period, an 15 miUions of coal while registration lagged thisestimated fail and winter, eliough for the staggering total of 1,500 Liberty at 1,426. A portion of the motorized caravan that has been touring the New York waterfront on be­ half of the International Brotherhood of Longshoremen, since the AFL-CIO dock union for­ mally petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a new longshore election. The IBL is seeking to win the right to represent the dockers now under control of the old ILA. NLRB Raps ILA Stalling; Early NY Dock Vote Seen The AFL-CIO International Brotherhood of Longshoremen has won the first round in its bid for an early test of its right to represent New York longshoremen. The National La­ bor Relations Board this week flatly rejected attacks on the IBL's petition for a new election and set a new hearing for-t next Wednesday. paign was largely nullified when of the ILA from the AFL still ex­ Action by the labor board the IBL notified longshoremen to ist, despite repeated promises by represents a major setback for the AFL-expelled International Long­ shoremen's Association which has refused to consent to an early vote among the port's longshore work­ ers. In turn, it has resorted to a series of legal delaying actions to postpone the balloting indefinitely. The ILA previously had pro­ claimed that it welcomed a vote challenge by the IBL, but its tac­ tics changed abruptly when the IBL submitted some 13,500 pledge cards to support its petition for a new election among approximately 20,000 eligible voters in the harbor. All of the pledges were submitted in the course of an IBL campaign conducted almost exclusively through the mails to protect long­ shoremen from retaliation. IBL Strength Affirmed As soon as the Labor Board es­ tablished that the IBL had more than the necessary 30 percent of pledges required under law, the ILA embarked on a pledgecard campaign of its own. ILA dele­ gates went from pier to pier sign­ ing up men "revoking" their IBL pledges. However, the effect of the cam- SCHEDULE OF SlU MEETINGS SlU membership meet­ ings are held regularly every two weeks on Wed­ nesday nights at 7 PM in all SlU ports. All Sea­ farers are expected to attend; those who wish to be excused should request permission by telegram (be sure to include reg­ istration number). The next SlU meetings will be: September 5 September 19 October 3 October IT October 31 sign everything ILA presented them in order to protect their Jobs and conceal their sympathies. ILA Charges Fall ILA attorneys also attempted to stall by seeking changes in the vot­ ing unit and other last-minute al­ terations. They had also charged "fraud" and "forgery" to the IBL but failed to supply the labor board with any evidence substan­ tiating these claims. .. IBL spokesmen believe the ILA's hesitancy over entering into a new election is based on the failure of ILA to deliver on promises made to the longshoremen. They point out that all of the outstanding abuses which caused the 1953 expulsion ILA leaders to improve the lot of the longshoremen. Enthusiastic suppoi*t voiced for ILA by Harry Bridges and the "Daily Worker" has also turned many longshoremen away from ILA. The hearing this Wednesday will deal with technical details of the forthcoming election, such as the composition of the voting unit, who is eligible to vote and is an attempt by the labor board to win agree­ ment of ali parties involved to speed an election order without delay. If no agreement can be reached, then the hearing record goes to Washington for action by the full board. The current job activity affirms a forecast in the SEAFARERS LOG a month ago that US shipping would continue booming right through the summer months and on into the normally busy fallwinter season. Bulk cargoes, including grain and coal, have shored up a sagging US merchant marine like nothing has ever done before, short of a full-scale national emergency in the US or a spectacular overseas disaster requiring huge shipments of food and relief materiais. Tank­ er movementis have suffered no letdown in spite of the calendar, and available tonnage of all types is hard to find. Previous Records Seafarers enjoyed a similar ship­ ping boom during one two-week period only four times in the last 32 months. In August, 1955, the peak was reached at the height of activity in the "Blue Jay" supply run to US military bases in Arctic regions inaccessible to shipping the rest of the year. Prior to that, a record 1,661 jobs were shipped late in Novem­ ber, 1953, and this was followed immediately by a 2,007-job period for the high mark of the preChristmas boom of 1953. But the present good shipping has the added asset of continued good job forecasts for many months to come. Depleted Euro­ pean coal stocks will require a Voting Changes Now Official Membership meetings in all ports have approved the headquarters tallying committee report on the 97 percent favorable vote for the new constitutional amendments. As a result, the new amendments automatically went into effect and became part of the voting proce­ dure to be used in the forth­ coming SIU elections. The changes in the consti­ Offices Open In SIU Eiectiens tution are designed to tighten up on the secrecy of the ballot and provide more specific qualifications for office. The voting period is also advanced to November 1December 31 as opposed to Novem­ ber 15-January 15 under the old regulations. Other changes call for nightly deposits of voted ballots in a bank vault; a "lame duck" amendment eliminating the 2^-month waiting period before newly-elected offi­ cers take over and specify that the three years' qualifying seatime must be as an unlicensed man, four months of it on SlU-contracted vessels iii the current year. The tallying of election ballots at headquarters will now be done by committee of 14, six from head­ quarters and two each from Balti­ more, Mobile, San Francisco and New Orleans. The credentials committee, which examines the qualifications of nominees, will be elected at the next membership meeting in headquarters. Seafarers will vote on 39 elec­ tive posts in the forthcoming bal­ loting. . The roster of poists to be filled is listed on this page. HEADQUARTERS 1 Secretary-Treasurer 1 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Deck) 1 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Engine) 1 Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (Steward) 3 Assistant Secretary-Treasurers (Joint) NEW YORK 7 Joint Patrolmen BOSTON 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman • •! Booms, Sets SAVANNAH 1 Agent 1 Joint Patroiman TAMPA 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman MOBILE 1 Agent 3 Joint Patrolmen PHILADELPHIA 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman NEW ORLEANS 1 Agent 3 Joint Patrolmen BALTIMORE 1 Agent 3 Joint Patrolmen HOUSTON* 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman NORFOLK 1 Agent 1 Joint Patrolman SAN FRANCISCO 1 Agent * PLEASE NOTE: Offices open In Houston consist of one agent and one joint patrolman. They were incorrectly listed as three patrolmen in the text of the pre-balloting report carried in the last Issue of the SEAFARERS LOG. All ships have already been notified of the error yia the regular bi-weekly airmail mailing. ship voyages to this area only. Of course, the bulk of such shipments will travel on foreign vessels. In addition, the Government's farm surplus disposal program has been doubled and then doubled again to permit shipment of up to $3 billion a year in these cargoes. On the SIU side, the shipping boom has kept all but a handful of ships in the SlU-contracted fleet constantly operating. Additional purchases, conversions, new con­ struction and the signing of new companies have steadily increased the number of job opportunities available to Seafarers. At the same time, 1956 is marked as the turning point in the history of major US ship lines, in­ cluding several SIU companies, who are rebuilding and expanding their fleets to meet the ever-in­ creasing competition from foreignflag and "runaway" fleets. ilF Elects Lundebei^ As Sea Rep SUP Secretary-Treasurer Harry Lundeberg, who is also president of the SIU of North America, has been re-elected as the representa­ tive of US seamen on the General Council of the International Transportworkers Federation. The action took place at ITF's 24th Congress, meeting in Vienna, as the ITF re­ doubled its efforts to fight the plague of runawaiy-flag shipping. Lundeberg was one of four US members on the general board, the others being Dave Beck, Teamsters Union president; Mich­ ael Quill, Transport Workers, and Arthur Lyons, Railway Workers. Reporting on the runaway prob­ lem, Lawrence White of the Special Seafarers Section said that despite successful action on a number of ships the runaways continue to mount at an alarming rate. Run­ away tonnage is now 11 million deadweight, almost half of it con­ sisting of ships less than five years old. The ITF has succeeded in estab­ lishing contracts and standardized working conditions for ships to­ talling 300,000 tons, but has only been able to touch the fringe of the problem, he said. As a consequence, the Seafarers section urged that action be taken on proposals to set up an interna­ tional agency for the shipping in­ dustry which would deal with en­ forcement of safety, manning scales and other problems raised by runaways. It praised the action of the Costa Rican government in suspending registrations of foreign flag ships under its flag. >v>i I • I •':3\ •J •4\ •.'-.ri �SEAFARERS Pige Fonr Amhist 31, 1953 LOG Laud SlU 'Work' Law Fight August 8 Through August 21 Registered Port ^ - Boston New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Tampa Mobile New Orleans ...; Lake Charles Houston Wilmington San Francisco Seattle If If- Deck A Deck ,B 3 23 4 30 11 2 4 5 19 8 16 8 11 15 12 102 19 78 14 9 5 32 57 7 35 5 32 .15 - Deck A Total Deck B 422 159 Eng. A En^g. 3 63 13 50 12 6 8 26 46 7 18 2 12 11 2 41 2 31 5 6 2 11 19 11 18 '7 8 8 Eng. A Eng. B Stew. A 171 286 277 Stevr. A 4 79 12 54 5 4 13 20 47 7 20 4 14 3 Stew. B Total B Total A 6 88 12 84 24 10 6 23 49 25 41 23 24 26 ToUl Reg. 25 332 56 266 55 29 32 101 199 46 114 34 82 55 2 0 7 11 6 7 8 5 3 19 244 44 182 31 19 26 78 150 21 73 11 58 29 Stew. B Total A Total B Total Reg. 985 441 1426 1 24 6 23 . 6 111 . Shipped Port Plaque commemorating the work done by Seafarers to help win repeal of the Louisiana "right to work" law last June is accepted on behalf of SlU by Port Agent Lindsey Williams during New Orleans branch meeting. The award was made by B. Raynal Ariatti Heft), president of the port's Labor League for Political Education, which spearheaded the suc­ cessful campaign. Williams was LLPE executive board chair­ man during the drive. Pick Belgian Port As Super liner Terminal Boston New York Philadelphia .... Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Tampa Mobile New Orleans .... Lake Charles ... Houston Wilmington San Francisco ... Seattle Total Deck A Deck B Deck C Eng. A 10 76 10 38 4 7 7 20 40 10 16 4 14 5 9 88 13 52 9 8 8 24 81 8 27 3 24 14 11 18 3 21 7 3 1 8 14 3 8 7 9 6 8 9 5 13 14 3 0 2 9 1 3 6 0 5 Deck A Deck B Deck C 368 119 78 Eng. A 261 Eng. B 6 30 5 28 4 6 1 12 22 7 13 7 17 6 Eng. B 164 stew. Total Stew. A Stew. B 8 14r 6 14 20 1 2 3 21 2 7 7 0 8 8 66 7 39 2 1 5 17 76 3 9 2 7 2 3 17 4 23 5 1 1 4 23 2 8 3 2 5 8 18 3 15 12 2 0 4 4 3 5 5 0 5 113 Stew. A Stew. B Stew. C 244 101 "If- Eng. C 84 A 27 . 230 30 129 15 16 20 61 197 21 52 9 45 21 Total A 873 . Total B Total Total Ship. C 20 24 65 41 12 14 72 42 16 46 10 6 3 2 24 9 59 34 12 6 29 . 15 17 18 28 0 17 18 71 336 56 243 77 32 25 94 290 39 96 44 73 56 Total B Total Total C Ship. 384 275 1532 As reported in the story on page 3, SIU shipping set a 12-month record during the past two weeks, although only four ports showed increases. Seven ports declined and three remained the same as before.-*New York, New Orleans, Energetically promoting his proposals for two 90,000-ton "Wilmington and Boston all passenger ships, hotel magnate H. B. Cantor has just com­ showed job increases, especial­ pleted a visit to Belgium examining sites for a European ly the last, which reached a 19month high. Tampa, Houston and ship terminal. As a result of"' The backbone of every SIU ship is its delegates. These Seahis visit, Belgium authorities mortgage bill at the last session of San Francisco remained the same, . farers, elected by the crew, are volunteers who represent the crew are reportedly considering es­ Congress would be of assistance in but still were above normal. to the officers, defend the Union agreement and shoulder the re­ m-> 'r 11 tablishment of berthing facilities at Zeebrugge. The project would involve a $40 million outlay for dredging and new pier facilities. When completed, the Zeebrugge terminal would be the European end of Cantor's proposed low-cost transatlantic service. The hotel operator is planning for ships of 5,000-passenger capacity at $50 per passenger one way fare. Accom­ modations would be Pullman-style, with passengers purchasing meals and entertainment at a variety of shipboard soda fountains, coffee shops, cafeterias, restaurants and night clubs. During his stay in Belgium, Can­ tor discussed the project with the Belgian Ministers of Foreign Af­ fairs and Foreign Trade, Belgian bank officials and other govern­ ment bodies. Three days were de­ voted to discussions of the Cantor program. English Site Rejected Before deciding on Zeebrugge, Cantor rejected two sites in Eng­ land and one in the Netherlands. He was due to go on to Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven in West Ger­ many but declared that the Belgain government had been highly cooperative, and if relations con­ tinue on these lines Zeebrugge would be the choice. Zeebrugge is right on the coast of the North Sea and as such has an advantage for big ships over Antwerp and other Low Country ports which are up-river. Cantor has already applied for US construction subsidy on his ves­ sels but would run them without an operating subsidy. Aside from normal passenger traffic he in­ tends to rely on large groups such as conventions which could take over the whole ship for single voy­ ages. Passage of the 100 percent ship financing construction of the ves­ Of the ports that declined, Bal­ sels, should his subsidy applica­ tion win Federal Maritime Board timore still shipped almost 250 approval. men and Mobile and Norfolk con­ tinued booming. Philadelphia, Savannah, Lake Charles and Seattle were the others that dipped somewhat. In terms of seniority shipping, class A went up to 57 percent, class B dropped one point to 25 percent and class C dipped to 18 percent. The following is the forecast port by port: Boston: Fair . . . New York: BALTIMORE—Barely 21 months Very good . . . Philadelphia: Good old, the SIU building here is being . Baltimore: Good . . . Norfolk: treated to a little facelifting these Very good . . . Savannah; Fair . . . days. Tampa: Good . . . Mobile: Good A Union maintenance crew Is . . New Orleans: Good . , . Lake doing a touch-up job on the hall to Charles; Slow . . . Houston: Good keep the walls and paintwork in ... Wilmington: Fair .. . San Fran­ trim. The effect is to keep the cisco: Good . . . Seattle: Very building looking brand-new at all good. times, thanks to the added coopera­ tion of Seafarers shipping through this port. Port Agent Earl Sheppard commented. Clean ships and payoffs are also the rule here, with no beefs other Under the Union constitu­ tl;an routine items in evidence. tion every member attending The SIU crews of the ships in port a Union meeting is entitled to have been going all-out in this nominate himself for the direction, he added. elected posts to be filled at the meeting—chairman, read­ Shipping itself has also held up ing clerk and recording secre­ well for quite a long time, round­ tary. Your Union urges you ing out a pleasant picture of SIU to take an active part in meet­ operations in the area. ings by taking these posts of The latest shipping figures re­ service. present a decline of only a small And, of course, all members fraction from the previous period, have the right to take the floor while shipping and registration and express their opinions on continues to run virtually neck and any officer's report or issue neck. Class C shipping stills runs under discussion. Seafarers relatively high here, however, be­ are urged to hit the deck at cause of the steady drain on avail­ these meetings and let their able SIU manpower. shipmates know what's on Nine ships paid off, four signed their minds. on and 20 were in transit during the past two weeks. Cleanup Keeps Hall In Balto Spic 'n Span Speak Out At SIU Meetings sponsibility of keeping a crew happy and beefs to a minimum dur­ ing a voyage. The success of a voyage often hinges on these efforts. Nick Nomikos, ch. cook A veteran chief cook with the SIU and an experienced depart­ ment delegate as well. Seafarer Nick Nomikos finds himself much in demand when he gets aboard a ship. He has been elected depart­ mental delegate more times than he can remember. Nomikos, who is 44, has been sailing steadily with the SIU since 1943. Before that he put in 14 years with the Greek merchant marine as cook and fireman. Hav­ ing spent all his life as a seaman he is well-acquainted by now with the run of prob­ lems that pop up aboard ships. As far as the steward depart­ ment is concern­ ed, he said, the major problems have always been lis questions of who 4 is responsible for Nomikos a particular job. The latest revision of the steward department shipping rules has been a considerable help in clarify­ ing these beefs. Nomikos is a firm believer in frequent department jneetings as the best place to thrash out diffi­ culties of this kind. "At the meet­ ing the delegate can explain just what a man's duties are and get everything straightened out within the family' without upsetting the routine or getting other depart­ ments involved.". Another difficulty which the galley has to contend with on occa­ sion, he remarked, is the tendency of self-Appointed culinary experts to get their paddles irr.,the broth. Good Union men, he emphasizes, don't overstep the bounds in this respect, but of course, the main defense is for the department to handle its own problems and its own routine in an efficient manner. Three Requirements He listed three major require­ ments for a good delegate: to be a good craftsman on his own hook so as to command respect from the rest of the gang; to be able to speak up clearly when he has deal­ ings with the skipper or anybody else in authority; and finally, to know the contract inside and out. Nomikos feels that the present shipboard delegate set-up should not be tampered with. While agree­ ing that some delegates do have difficulty maintaining their author­ ity, he maintains that it would be a mistake to give delegates added powers or preference. Give dele­ gates too much power, he feels, and "they will end up running the ship." "We get good backing from the Union all the time," he says, "so there is no need for more power, only for cooperation from the crew." Nomiko's flrst ship with the SIU was the John Henry for Eastern Steamship out of New York, in March,' 1943. The following year he was torpedoed on the Liberty ship Thomas G. Masaryk betweea Tobruk and Crete in the Mediter­ ranean, but he and other crewmembers were rescued by British craft. He still ships regularly out of New York and prefers to grab the shorter European runs so that he can get home every few weeks. ; , �itagmst St, 195« SEAFARERS IPG INOimtlNG SEAFARER . Question: Do you feel that watching the conventions on tele­ vision is helping you understand the election issues? J. Carbone, AB: Sura it helps. Samuel Clurman, AB: The con­ It explains what the parties want ventions make me very skeptical to do in the next about the whole four years and business because gives a pretty they strike me good idea of like a lot of prop­ what's going on. aganda and not You become ac­ much truth spo­ quainted with the ken at either one. party leaders and As far as I'm con­ cerned though, the members of the working guy Congress by see­ who votes Re­ ing them at the conventions and listening to them. publican is cutting his own throat. $1 $1 James Pamell, bosun: I can't say that they are clarifying any­ thing in partic­ ular. It looks to me as if each side is kicking dirt into each other's face. T h e r e's plenty of speechmaking but not much accomplishment involved. Personally, I feel we've fared better under the Dem­ ocrats. » 4^ Tom Boarman, AB: It's helpful in the sense of giving people under­ standing of what politics is like. Seeing politicians in action is worthwhile and gives seamen and other people an idea of how polit­ ical affairs are conducted and how elections are set up. ^ Mohamed Nasser, FWT: Each convention group toots its own horn and tells you they are the best. What hap­ pens at a conven­ tion doesn't help much in making up your mind. It's the conditions in the country that count and the Republicans seem to be following a conservative but safe policy. Paire Fir* Advice To Workworn: 'Join Union' One of the nation's leading "tell me your trou­ bles" columnists, Mary Hawortfa, has come out vig­ orously for union membership for exploited white collar workers. Miss Haworth, whose column is widely distributed by the Hearst newspapers, was answering a query from three elderly white coliar workers. The three are among six non-union office work­ ers in a unionized plant. They wrote that after 25 years they could not get a raise, but were given a variation on the old line "If you don't like it, quit." Meanwhile union workers at the same firm had re­ ceived a number of increases, plus pension, health and welfare benefits. This was far off the beaten path of Miss Haworth's usual correspondence which normally deals with misunderstandings of the heart. But she approached it with emphatic forthrightness. "If you aren't management nor a representative of management . . . then you come under the head- Turned Down OT? Don't Beef On $$ ing of labor . . , and perhaps ought to explore the possibilities of joining forces with organized labor . . What's more, she added, she consulted a spokes­ man for management who negotiates imion con­ tracts for a large business, and a spokesman for labor. They both suggested that the white collar workers try to join the union that represents the rest of the piant. "The mere fact of your being white collar workers doesn't deny you the right to unionize." She wound up by suggesting that the workers seek advice at the local National Labor Relations Board office and quoted the management, spokesman as saying "any employer who would punish you for taking such a step 'ought to have his head exam­ ined.' " To the best of anyone's knowledge no word to the contrary on the subject has come from Emily Post, Dorothy Dix or Doris Blake. Union Acts On Abuses By Offshore Co. Agents Headquarters wishes to re­ mind Seafarers that men who are choosy about working cer­ tain overtime cannot expect an Abuses of Seafarers' maintenance and cure rights in the equal number of OT hours with the rest of their department. port of Yokohama, Japan, have been charged to company In some crews men have been agents by several Seafarers. As a result, SIU headquarters is turning down unpleasant OT taking action to protect the> membership in that port from ' jobs and then demanding to further mistreatment in the injured and sick seamen." According to Lipkin, "in most come up to equal overtime when future. 4 » t cases, the seaman concerned pre­ Julius Gural, AB: I haven't been the easier jobs come along. The complaints are that some fers to take the eight dollars in watching it because I'm not in­ This practice is unfair to Sea­ company agents have been forcing cash and get his own lodging and terested in spend­ farers who take OT jobs as Seafarers to accept the worst avail­ meals. In Japan, a clean place to ing my time in able accomodations and are refus­ sleep and eat should not cost more front of a TV set. they come. ing the men the right to collect than four or five dollars a day. . . I don't particu­ The general objective is to maintej^nce and cure in cash. "Still when the seamen requests larly care for equalize OT as much as possible Under thd contract Seafarers are his eight dollars a day in cash he politics except as but if a man refuses disagree­ entitled to eight dollars daily is practically always refused . . . regards local maintenance The next move is to send him to able jobs there is no require­ issues in Cart­ while awaiting a third rate hotel that is located in eret, New Jersey, ment that when an easier job repatriation, o r the very center of Yokohama's red where I live. Inci­ comes along he can make up the they can get light district . . . The accommoda­ dentally we have overtime he turned down be­ the equivalent in tions by American standards are a good man there, John Nemisb, room and board. of the poorest . . . fore. running for freeholder. The SIU Wash­ "If the seaman balks, he is told ington office is 'take it or leave it' ... a seaman seeking a list of who is broke has no choice. reputable Yoko­ hama hotels "The $64 question," he asks, "is through the what happens to the difference be­ The practice of following the runaway flag has now spread so widely among shoieside cor­ American consulate there. The list tween the eight dollars allowed porations that Uncle Sam's tax sources are being seriously undermined. That's the warning will be used to instruct and the actual amount of money for room and meals?" given by J. S. Seidman, a prominent tax accountant. Tax experts have already dug up pany agents to board mentheincom­ one spent Any who is so victim­ more than 30 countries which of the specified establishments and ized is Seafarer urged to report same to poration in New York and deposit­ reports in the Sunday August 19 cam serve as havens for cor­ no others. headquarters immediately. ing their income to the account of edition, that the burden of paying porations seeking to dodge taxes is being shifted onto the the corporation. There is no US SIU Welfare Service points out Uncle Sam's tax collector. But of that seamen on ships can do much all the countries, Panama and Li­ shoulders of those imwilling or un­ tax on a foreign corporation if it to minimize this practice if they has a deposit here. able to take advantage of taxberia are considered ideal. Other places cited as tax havens notify headquarters immediately Shipping companies, of course. dodging. are Curacao, the Bahamas, Ber­ when a crewmember is taken off One way the game works is for muda, Tangiers, and many other for medical care. an American company selling The latest to report on the situa­ smaller countries. But Panama and abroad to set up two subsidiaries tion, Seafarer Max Lipkin, de­ Liberia are considered the best— —^No. 1 in Liberia and No. 2 where scribed the practices as a "fraud on it sells its products. The US com­ and with good reason. pany sells its products to subsidi­ ary No. 2 at ridiculously low list They Made It-Believe It or Not! prices so that all the profits are racked up by the overseas cor­ America may yet launch the poration. Then subsidiary No. 1 in first atom-powered ship, but if it Liberia "loans" money to No. 2 at does, the French will be right on very high interest rates, or its heels. A $78 million passenger "charges" No. 2 for "technical ad­ liner now on the drafting board vice" or "supervision." One way may have a nuclear reactor in­ or another the profits are fun­ stalled by the time it gets into the nelled into tax-free Liberia. construction stage. Afterwards, subsidiary No. 1 can The 55,000-ton liner is being "loan" its profits back to the designed so that it could be con­ parent company at a very low, or verted to nuclear power by rela­ non-existent rate of interest, giv­ tively simple replacement of its have long since discovered the ad­ ing it the use of taxfree earnings. conventional steam power plant. As Seidman points out, Liberia vantages of dummy corporations The potential of an atom pow­ has no currency of her own and overseas, as a way of evading US ered ship was further revealed in taxes, wages and manning scales, uses the US dollar, which im­ a dry-land run of a nuclear re­ but now shoreside companies are mensely simplifies matters. A Liactor. The Atomic Energy Com­ following the practice in increas­ berian subsidiary can be set up mission reports that the engine within 48 hours simply by paying ing numbers. ran 66 days and nights on one the necessary fees. $100 Enouffh To Start charge of uranium. When it was Companies controlled from The SEAFARERS LOG reported stopped it still had fuel left over. on January 6 that Liberia in par­ abroad pay no taxes tb Liberia on The dry-land model is similar ticular was reaching out for shore- their earnings outside the country; to the power plant of the subma­ side US business registrations. The pay no estate taxes; no taxes on rine Nautilus. Under similar cir­ LOG pointed out that a $100 bill dividends paid to stockholders, or cumstances in actual operation, Safe in an English harbor last week after a trip that started and an annual fee of $175 was suf­ on royalties or interest obtained the Nautilus could have gone in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 24, this trio of French-Cana­ ficient to establish a subsidiary from outside of Liberia. The direc­ around the world underwater at dians drifted across the Atlantic for 87 days on their 35-foot company in Liberia which paid no tors of the company can meet any­ top speed, and have fuel left for raft made of planks and rope. They drank rainwater for 30 taxes to that country or to Uncle where in the world. thousands of miles of cruising. days after their supplies ran out. A fourth man was taken off Sam. / The French passenger ship is Even individuals can play the Now the "New York Times" game, Seidman says, by setting up sicK by a passing ship in June. The raft is called L'Egare II due to be launched in 1960 and financial editor, quoting Seidman, a Liberian or Panamanian cor­ 7"The Lost One"), will be similar to the Normandie. • 1 m US Tax Runaways Crow French May Build Atom Superiiner mm �Vkffe Sis SEAFARERS Here is another selection of pho­ tos of Seafarers' children at their homes. They are just a handful of the many hundreds received by the SEAFARERS LOG show­ ing glimpses of the family life of Seafarers. Watch future issues for further picture stories on Seafarers' fami­ lies. Stan Cieslak admires daughter, A1 a n a, born in March, 1956. Frank Harper picks himself a puppy for a 3rd birthday gift. Breaking in the ranch hands, Paula (1) and Eileen, is Seafarer Tom Fleming. A third Is en route. That's Janice Elaine Gale, 21/2, of Savan­ nah, standing, rear. Aorust 31. 1958 LOG Carmen Antonia Hernandez lives in Perta de Tierra, PR. Erie, 4, and Judy Cruz, 2, live in the Bronx, NY. Their proud dad is Seafarer Manuel Cruz, who likes those winning smiles. Seafarer Bill Kennedy's pride and joy is l9-mo. David Earl. New Orleans is the home of Nelson A. Wells, age 4 mos. Jeremiah McKnew and big sister Jean live in Philadelphia.' Another Mobilian is David, 1, son of John Nordstrom. Ik r T^is healthy-lookmg family brfongs to Seafarer Robert Graham of Mobile. He's currently chief dectncian aboara the Alcoa Polaris. They are (1 to r) Robert Jr., 8; Sheila, 6; Eugene, 5, and Frank, 2, all dressed up for a family celebration. • �SEAFAKEnS Ailffost 3i, i9$8 r»gt Serea EOG YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH All's Well In Suez Canal Seafarer's Guide To Better Buying By Sidney Margolius UtiLon-Made Goods Clue To Quality An Investigation by this department finds that contrary to much popular belief found even sometimes-among union people, union-made and sold goods In general are no more expensive than non-union goods, and sometimes even cost less. Moreover, our research reveals, the fact that an Item Is union-made Is an indication that It is more likely to be good quality. In fact, these findings indicate that the union label is actually a more reliable guide to good quality than the seals of commendation or "guarantee" given their advertisers by commercial magazines such as Good Housekeep­ ing and Parents Magazine. During the past year, this department has investigated comparative quality and values in shoes, several clothing and apparel items, two types of electrical equipment, and eyeglasses. In addition we have taken the ratings of three independent organ­ izations that make laboratory tests of consumer goods and checked to see how the union-made items compared with non-union items in the same tests. N» Added Gost On Union Products The results will surprise many consumers who have the notion that a union-made product costs more, even though they may be willing to • pay nnore to further union conditions. You don't really pay more, our . findings indicate, and are likely to get better quality. . Here are the facts revealed by this investigation: 1—In one organization's rating of men's dungarees, the non-union brand placed last on the list in terms of quality. In terms of price without considering quality, this inferior brand was the same price as two higher-quality brands. In another rating of work garments, the two non-union brands in a list of nine brands, fell into the bottom half of the group in terms of qual­ ity and one actually proved to be poorer quality than four unionmade garments that cost less money. In fact, the top-quality garment, which turned out to be union-made, was priced 20 percent below the non-union lower-quality garment. If anything can destroy the legend that union-made goods cost more, this revelation shouid. 2—The shoe industry was also surveyed to determine how union and non-union brands compare in quality alone, and in value (qual­ ity in relation to price). In the industry, its a maxim that the bestquality shoes come from areas like Brockton, Mass., Chicago and Wisconsin. The fine.st women's shoes traditionally are made in the New York City-Brooklyn shoe center. Top-quality mass-produced footwear comes from the St. Louis area. Ail these are unionized areas, while the lower-quality footwear is often produced in non-union plants in the South. Much of the unbranded footwear, which is usually cheaper in price and quality both, is made in non-union plants, often by marginal pro­ ducers, one industry expert reports. The marginal producers try to make a profit from cheap labor, lower-grade materials and inferior construction. This analysis is confirmed by the comparative tests of shoes per­ formed by independent testing organizations. In one such test, of the nine best-quality models, eight were union-made and one was non­ union. Of the eight lowest-quality models, five were from non-union factories and three from union shops. In the case of two large-yoiume chains, which have shoes made up for their own private labels by other factories, both union and non-union factories make the shoes. Sig­ nificantly, they retail at the same price. Union-Made Appliances Superior 3—The third item investigated was a group of electrical equipment rated by two testing agencies. Of nine household appliances the four top-quality brands were all union-made. In another rating, of four brands of electrical switches, the only one not rated satisfactory qual­ ity was made by a non-union house. The acceptable ones were unionmade. 4—The fourth field investigated was eyeglasses. As this department previously reported, we found that union-made lenses manufactured by one large company were the same price and in several instances cost less than non-union lenses. In the case of eyeglass dispensers (who prepare the eyeglasses in accordance with examining doctors' pre­ scriptions), there was a great variation in price and some in quality. But in general, the more reasonable prices were charged by large unionized dispensers. ' 5—Another example destroying the legend that union-made goods cost more, supplied by the New York State Union Label and Service Trades Department, is that one leading brand of steel-wool soap pads (Brillo) is union-made but the other (SOS) is not. Yet both generally sell for the same price. 6—Hidden value consumers get from union-processed goods is the sanitation factor. In at least two cases this department has recently observed, unions insisted on sanitary conditions for handiing goods affecting public health. Why, if one manufacturer pays higher labor rates than another, can he sell for the same price? These are the reasons: labor production cost actually is only a fraction of the retail price of an article; union­ ized workers are generally the more experienced, competent and proiJuctive workers (example is the higher production rates with fewer, rejects in unionized shoe fs;;tories); the better-organized, more effi­ cient manufacturei^s are also more likely to have , union contracts. Shipping continues to move through the Suez Canal imdisturbed but diplomats who ara wrestling with the problem of Egypt's seizure of the canal are still far from a solution. The 22-nation conference in London broke up with 17 nations supporting a US plan for interna­ tional control and four nations * ^ — against. One country, Spain, was on the sidelines. The Egyptians, on their part, indicated hostility to both sides' proposals. At the scene itself, US ship operators report that Egyptians are making every effort to keep the canal traffic moving without a hitch. However, difficulties may develop at a later date because of an impending shortage of trained pilots to handle the vessels. Pilots Take Leave The majority of pilots are for­ eign nationals and many of them are British and French. The Suez Canal Company, which was dis­ possessed by the seizure, has been advising those piiqts who are on vacation to take an indefipite leave of absence. Should other pilots now working seek to take vacations they could slow down canal traffic. There is always the possibility that the British and French would order their nationals home in event of failure of negotiations with Egypt. The Egyptians, in turn, have threatened to bar British and French ships if the pilots leave. The Egyptians are seeking to meet the pilot problem by adver­ tising in US papers for pilots. They are offering $1,000 a month to men with master's licenses. US Plan Supported At the London conference the Western nations and several Asi­ atic countries, including Iran, Tur­ key and Pakistan, supported the US move. It called for Egyptian ownership of the canal itself and international control of shipping operations. India, Indonesia, Rus­ sia and Ceylon proposed an alter­ nate plan which would limit inter­ national participation to an ad­ visory capacity. A five-man committee consisting of representatives of Australia, the US, Ethiopia, Iran and Sweden is to meet Monday willi Egypt's President Nasser to negotiate a set­ tlement on the basis of the US plan. While conditions in the Suez area have calmed down consider­ ably, Seafarers in Egypt are ad­ vised to exercise all possible cau­ tion to avoid unpleasant and dan­ gerous incidents. Seafarers aboard the supertanker Cities Service Baltimore take part in final tribute to company marine superintendent Richard Priestly, who helped design the Baltimore and her two sister ships. Priestly's final wish when he died last De­ cember was that his ashes be scattered at sea from the first of the three supertankers completed. Capt. H. C. Hunter leads the service. Tex Gillespie, deck delegate, sent in the photo. Launch Third CS Supership BALTIMORE—The last of three Cities Service supertankers, the Cities Service Norfolk, was launched at the Sparrows Point shipyard on August 22. Launch­ ing of the ship completed the Cities Service construction pro­ gram under "trade in and build" legislation. Meanwhile, the second ship, the Cities Service Miami, is now com­ pleting her shakedown cruise and is due at Linden, New Jersey, this Sunday for crewing out of the New York hall early next week. The Cities Service Baltimore is already in operation. The three ships can each handle about twice the capacity of the standard T-2, 271,000 barrels apiece. All of them feature in­ dividual foc'sles for crewmembers. Nab Seven In Riesel Attack; Dio Accused Seven men have been arrested, including the accused ring­ leader, Johnny Dio, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US attorney's office in New York announced they had solved the acid attack on la-"^" bor columnist Victor Reisel. tion is the position of the New York District Attorney's office. Riesel suffered loss of eye­ The New York authorities have sight after the attack on him the morning of April S outside a New York restaurant. The FBI named Abraham Telvi as the actual attacker. Telvi's body was subsequently found with a bullet in his head on July 28. It was charged that Telvi was paid $1,000 by Dio and his associates to hurl the acid. Other men arrested were accused of being participants in the plot. They include Dio's brother, Thomas Dioguardi, Charles Tuso, Domenlco Bando, Charles Carlino, and two accused gobetweens, Joseph Carlino and Gondolfo Miranti. According to the FBI, Telvi was done away with after some of the acid he hurled at Riesel splashed into his own face.' However, one element of confusion in the situa­ expressed doubt that Telvi was the attacker, noting that he did not fit the physical description of the at­ tacker supplied by Riesel and Miss Betty Nevins, an assistant who was with him at the time. Sign Name On LOG Letters For obvious reasons the LOG cannot print any letter or other communications sent in by Seafarers unless the author signs his name. Unsigned, anonymous ietters will only wind up in the waste-basket. If circumstances justify, the LOG will withhold a signature on request, > v , L The welcome mat is out for qualified engineers at the head­ quarters of the Brotherhood of Ma­ rine Engineers in New York. The BME announced that it had re­ cently placed 26 new men. a num"ber of them former SIU and SUP unlicensed men, and is on the lookout for more. 3* 4* The California State Federation of Labor has reelected Harry Lundeberg, secretary-treasurer of the Sailors Union of the Pacific as vice-president of the State AFL. The election took place at the 54th annual convention of the or­ ganization in Long Beach, Calif. 3" 4" 4" Thirteen passengers and crewmembers aboard the burning mo­ tor yacht Humko were rescued by SIU Great Lakes District members on the Wabash, a Lakes carferry. The 87-foot yacht went down in Lake Michigan after all aboard were saved. 4> 4> 4' Two refurbished passenger lin­ ers for Matson, the Mariposa and Monterey, will be crewed in Port­ land, Oregon, the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union reports. Registration in the Portland hall will get first crack at the Matson jobs. The MCS will crew a third ship, the Matsonia, next spring 4' t 3^ A construction bid in the amount of $470,500 has been let by the Marine Firemen's Union to start work on its new San Francisco headquarters. Additional costs of heating and ventilating will bring the total up to around $491,000. Work has already begun with the target date for completion being next April. J, 4- Seven motor vessels of the Donnacona Paper Company have been tied up by a strike of the SIU Canadian District. The strike fol­ lowed upon demands for recogni­ tion and a first-time contract. The .compainy handUs pulpwood. and pa­ per shipments. �race Eicht SEAFARERS LOG Aociut 31, 1956 '•I W: Agriculture inspector checks quality of potatoes at supply house. Looking on is Isthmian commis­ sary superintendent Ted Voelter. All produce is weighed to see that boxes conform to minimum weight markings. Short weight means a ship would be short stores. Lard gets "sniff test" at meat supply house. Off odor would disqualify it for shipboard use, but this shipment won by a nose. Inspectpr refected celery because of Improper ackaging. While of good quality, celery would eve spoiled before long. Knife is Inserted all way into hambone marrow. Ham spoilage can. start there even if outside looks okay. Here again, nose tells all. Pre-packaged and pre-fabricated meats come dir{ Agriculture Dep't inspector (left) and then go on prevent tampering. .r • E at: At Erie Basin terminal, checker with carbon copy of supply list checks off items as they are un­ loaded from tijck. �Angnst 81. 1956 r [E dinner plate a messman places in front of a Seafarer while a ship is in mid-ocean is the end-product of a complex ship-storing opera­ tion/ How well it is done plays a large part in determining whether it wUl be "good trip, happy ship" or loaded to the Plimsoll line with beefs. Shipping companies as well as Seafarers have a stake in proper storing because a well-fed ship tends to be a good working, well-maintained ves­ sel. And proper storing makes the cost account­ ants happy by reducing haphazard wastage and getting the most out of the company's food dollar. While the old two-pot system of cabin food and crew food is dead, until recently storing methods had not changed much. But now the revolution in food processing, with pre-fabricated meat cuts and new packing methods, is having a marked effect on the quality and keeping powers of ship's stores. What many Seafarers do not realize is that a third party participates in the storing procedure— Uncle Sam. Department of Agriculture inspectors play a key role in assuring that ships are supplied with properly-processed, fresh and sanitary food supplies. Pictured here are some of the procedures in­ volved in storing the 25-ship Isthmian fleet, which at any meal will be serving over 1,100 people. With few exceptions all the company's storing is handled through its New York headquarters. The nature of Isthmian runs is such that there are few ports of call where decent supplies can be pur­ chased with the exception of Hawaii and West Coast ports. When an Isthmian ship comes in, the port stew­ SEAFARERS Pas«Nin« LOC ard hits it on arrival armed with the standard stores list. Together with the chief steward he takes a physical inventory of the ship's stores as a basis for ordering replacement supplies. The usual procedure is to store for the length of the voyage plus a ten percent safety margin. The extra ten percent comes in handy when ships are hung up in a second-rate port with inadequate berthing and cargo-handling facilities. The standard list serves as the key to storing, but not every ship is stored the same way. A look at the crew list may show that most of the gang hails from the Southland, so she is stored heavier than average on grits, cornmeal, rice, kale and turnip greens. Itinerary counts also. A Per­ sian Gulf run calls for plenty of canned juices and fresh frozen and canned produce. All long-run ships get a goodly share of condensed, powdered and evaporated milk, as no whole milk goes aboard except from US ports. Long runs require selection of stores with good keeping powers. For example, on the Steel Ap­ prentice, pictured here, interior Florida grape­ fruit were stored instead of the Indian River variety since the latter are more fragile and tend to go bad more rapidly. Seasonal considerations also bear heavily. Summertime means melons, peaches and similar produce, and a reduction in pork stores. Once inventory has been taken and the ship's needs determined, the orders go out among the company's 25 to 30 suppliers. All supply specifi­ cations are rigidly detailed to assure a uniform product and uniform quantity. Beef, veal, mutton and pork are all pre-cut, trimmed and pre-pack­ aged to a specific size. The grade of butter, the number of sausage links to the pound, the size of poultry (all eviscerated), the container size of hams are specified in the order. In turn, these detailed supply specifications re­ flect the constant trend to fresh-frozen pre-fabri­ cated meats and produce. The pre-fab foods are rated as much more economical because the waste has been removed beforehand and the cook knows exactly how many portions he has to the box. They also keep better on long runs and do away with a good deal of heavy and time-consuming preparati'^n on board ship. The traditional method of putting sides and quarters of meat on board is inferior on several counts. Once a quarter is unfrozen it has to be used up, which means a constant run of the same cuts. That in turn, means monotony, leftover por­ tions and, of course, waste bone and fat. The pre­ packaged meats virtually eliminate leftovers, trim­ ming and butchering and keep excellently be­ sides. Standing between the suppliers and the ship are the Department of Agriculture inspectors. They are assigned on a rotating basis to the various supply houses. It is their duty to see that the sup­ plies offered meet both US inspection standards and the specifications in the company order as to weight, variety, style of preparation, size, quality and so on. But just to make sure, the conscientious port steward drops around now and then and takes his own look-see on whether he is getting what he ordered. .'.I M •^1, ,r , i ; Itly from deep freeze in truck (right), are inspected by Icond truck which heads to ship. Inspector seals truck to Chief cook Sebastino Pires also has stores list handy and checks packages as they come down from main deck. Double checking, Pires opens package and takes look at beef rib roast before having it stowed away. •••••si iiliiPliiillii ' if 1 •i\ •'^1 .^1 Shore gang starts stowing stores in chill boxes. Old stores and fresh foods are used before frozen and canned goods, - Object of careful storing is contented and well-fed crew. SlU shipboard feeding system and new steward department working rules are designed to make best possible use of supplies'and to encourage shipowifiers to use modern storing methods. �SEAFARERS LOG Pace Ten GOVERNMENT CAMP (Cities Serv­ ice)/ Juiy 11—Chairman, C. McMuilen; Secretary, W. Cassldy. Ship running smootlily, repair list turned in and most repairs to be taken care of in Galveston. No beefs. Motion carried to accept recent communication unan­ imously. Foc'sles to be sougeed. Locks and keys for all foc'sles wanted. Ships fund to be donated to LOG. HURRICANE (Waterman), July IS— Chairman, W. Harrell; Secretary, P. Plascik. Discussion held about repair list. Ship's fund—$31.14. No beefs. Two men missed ship. Motion car­ ried to accept communications from headquarters. Conditt.c>n o£ laundry sink was discussed. Men to turn in all reading matter. Vote of thanks to steward department. MADAKET (Waterman), July « — Chairman, J. Urian; Secretary, J. Sumpter. No beefs. One man missed ship in Oakland, California. Ships fund—$299.60. Some disputed over­ time. Motion carried to accept conimunications. Table to be repaired and new chairs put in crew s lounge. Cots needed aboard. Poor job of feed­ ing aboard and poor grade of meat. MANKATO VICTORY (Victory Car­ riers), June 2»—Chairman, M. Kopenhagen; Secretary, J. O'Nell. Plenty of stores aboard. Motion carried to accept recent communications from headquarters. Changes to be effected in upper bunks. Discussion held on various duties aboard ship. MARGARET BROWN (Bloomfleld), July 15—Chairman, B. Sanchez; Sec­ retary, J. PIcou. Messman room to be painted. All other repairs were taken care of. Balance of ship's fund is $2.73. No beefs. Ship's delegate elected. Chief Electrician explamed trouble with washing machine. MARORE (Ore), July 11—Chairman, T.Drzewickl; Secretary, S. Wojton. Everything okay. Washing machine to be repaired upon arrival. Ship s fund—$57.50. Some disputed over­ time. Motion carried to accept com­ munications from headquarters. Flat iron to be purchased with ship's fund. Iceboxes out of order, to be repaired. Stores to be checked prior to ship leaving dock. MASSMAR (Calmar), July 11 — Chairman, T. Hanson; Secretary, W. Hammond. No beefs. Ship's fund was given to brother whose wife had an accident. Some disputed overtime. Motion carried to accept communica­ tions from headquarters. Vote of thanks to Union officials. Menu to be discussed at Union hall, poor variety of meat. MAXTON (Waterman), July 1$ — Chairman, E. Yates; Secretary, N. Barnes. Minor beef was settled. Sea chest not aboard yet. Some disputed overtime. Motion made and carried to accept communication from head­ quarters. Ship's fund and repair lists to be made up. Ship's delegate elected. ORION STAR (Orion), June IBChairman, N. Lambert; Secretary, G. Craggs. New delegate elected. Bosun failed to join ship due to illness. Re­ pair lists to be made up for submis­ sion to patrolman. Third mate per­ forming work of unlicensed personnel. HASTINGS (Waterman), July 3— Chairman, H. Randell; Secretary, J. Wells. Two men logged. Repair list turned over to captain. Ship's fund, $32.00. Few hours disputed overtime. Suggestion that wiper be turned over to patrolman as being unfit to sail on SIU ship. Two brothers had a beef—to be taken up with patrolman. Discus­ sion on transportation and sea chest. Station numbers to be stencilled over bunks. July 7—Chairman, W. Blskas; Secrtfary, M. Kamlnskl. One AB hurt in New York prior to departure. Beef among firemen concerning watches. All coffee cups to be returned to pantryman. ALCOA ROAMER (Alcoa), July I— Chairman, D. Clark; Secretary, P. Calebaugh. One man missed ship in New York. Repair lists made up. Ship's fund, $15.00. One man logged. To speak to patrolman about this. Report accepted. Requisition for food not filled. STEEL EXECUTIVE (Isthmian), June i—Chairman, D. Hall; Secretary, Pounds. Some disputed overtime. Two cartons of cigarettes per man. Ship's treasurer, secretary pnd dele­ gate elected. Night lunch to be im­ proved. Draw suggested by captain. ALCOA POLARIS (Alcoa), July IS— Chairman, J. Crawford; Secretary, C. James. No results from steward re­ garding fresh fruit. Motion carried to accept communication from head­ quarters. Ship's delegate elected. ALCOA CORSAIR (Alcoa), July ^ Chairman, M. Costello; Secratary, J. IS?--;.. Nalton. Everything okay. Thanks to Coal Liberty Breakout Denounced By US Co's ship's electrician and aU movie op­ erators for repairing and keeping movie machine in good working or­ der. One minor beef in deck depart­ ment. Motion carried to accept recent communications from headquarters. AMEROCEAN (N. Atlantic Marine), July IS—Chairman, R. Peebles; Secre­ tary, P. WItthaus. Repair list twothirds completed to satisfaction, re­ mainder to be completed in shipyard. One man missed ship in Istanbul and rejoined in Iskenderen. Ship's fund— $4.50. No beefs. Patrolman to see that enought paint is provided. Mo­ tion carried that any man drunk at payoff be fined $50, WASHINGTON—A large body of American flag operators have flled strong protests over a Federal Maritime Board ex­ aminer's favorable finding on behalf of American Coal Ship­ ping Inc. The examiner rec--*^ommended the chartering of the fear that American Coal Ship­ 30 Liberty ships to the newly- ping couid fix an artificially low CAMP NAMANU (US Patrolaum), July 21—Chairman, E. Dora; Secratary, N. Merrick. No draw in Singapore. Ship's fund—$14.61. No beefs. Some disputed overtime. Letter from head­ quarters about transportation. Motion carried to give headquarters and West Coast representative vote of thanks for prompt replies. Lengthy discus­ sion held on crew shortage. CANTIGNY (Cities Service), July 11 —Chairman, R. Thomas; Secretary, N. Wexler. Ship's delegate elected. Ship's fund—$17. No beefs. Motion carried to accept recent communica­ tion from headquarters. Everyone to contribute $1 to ship's fund. Vote of thanks to steward department. Repair list to be completed at payoff. CHICKASAW (Pan Atlantic), no data —Chairman, S. Ruiyski, Secretary; J. DIosco. Check being made on chief cook quitting at last minute in New Orleans. Everything okay. Motion carried to accept communications from headquarters. Deck delegate elected. Vote of thanks to cook. Re­ port was made on defective washing machine hose. COE VICTORY (Victory Carriers), July 11—Chairman, N. Leone; Secre­ tary, H. Franklin. One oiler was dis­ patched from Tampa and will be turned over to patrolman because of performing. No other beefs, every­ thing else okay. Motion made and carried to accept and concur in com­ munications from headquarters. Deck department need shower curtains. Water runs slow in washing machine. BRADFORD ISLAND (Cities Serv­ ice), July 19—Chairman, E. Callahan; Secretary, E. McMaster. Informed new santiary men of duties. No beefs. Recent communication from head­ quarters read, posted, accepted and concurred. New fan needed for messhall. Toaster to be repaired. Vote of thanks to steward department. ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), July 11 —Chairman, J. Galendez; Secretary, T. Wasiluk. Incident which happened aboard was taken up in San Juan. Representative to write charges against both men. Any injuries to be reported immediately to department heads. No more reading while on gangway watch. Watch is for safety measure. One man paid off in San Juan due to illness; hospitalized in Ponce: joined ship in Aguirre, PR. Ship's fund, $14.00. One man with 60 days will have to pay off. Reports accepted. MARIE HAMILL (Bloomfield), July 18—Chairman, L. Cartwright; Secre­ tary, W. Young. Disputed overtime to be settled as promised by patrolman. One man in engine department missed ship in New York. New secre­ tary-reporter to be elected. Ship's fund, $5.50. Steward will accept re­ quests for special dishes and see that they are put on menu if possible. THE CABINS (Mathiasen), July 9— Chairman, H. Houston; Secretary, M. Ohstrom. Delegate contacted agent in Houston to improve quality of stores in northern port where there is a port steward. Ship's fund, $21.60. Steward reported quality of meats much improved. Two cases of milk spoiled from standing on dock too long. Message to be sent to headquar­ ters requesting permission to pay off at sea. ROBIN GOODFELLOW (Seas Ship­ ping), July 15—Chairman, W. Swartjls; Secretary, F. O'Neill. Repair list turned in and taken care of. New list turned in. Twenty hours disputed overtime. Several hours late meals disputed. Reports accepted. Steward to check stores and also low grade of stores put on aboard. All beefs to be taken up with department delegate. OCEANSTAR (Triton), July 17— Chairman, W. Millison; Secretary, R. Noren. Nomination of ship's delegate. Everything running smoothly. Dis­ puted overtime for chief cook. Li­ brary to be changed THE CABINS (Mathiasen), July 19 —Chairman, H. Huston; Secretary, M. Ohstrom. Ship's fund, $21.60. One man missed ship in Texas City. No beefs. Two men missed ship in Texas City. Pumpman man to meet ship at next port. This is against SIU shipping rules and matter to be taken up with headquarters. Reports accepted. New delegate elected. Delegate to contact headquarters regarding clarification of rules concerning members who miss ship and attempt to rejoin. Discus­ sion on questionable crew changes okayed by Houston hall. August 6—Chairman S. FotI; Secra­ tary, M. Ohstrom. Captain consulted concerning pumpman's overtime beef. To be taken up with patrolman. Mat­ ter of two brothers fighting aboard ship to be taken up with patrolman. Ship's fund, $21.15. One man missed ship; one man got off on account of illness. Three men getting off. Stew­ ard to be turned in to patrolman for failure to order sufficient basic stores such as bread, milk, lemons, etc. Dis­ cussion by steward as to reasons for shortages. Motion that ship hot pay off before patrolman comes aboard. Delegate to see about awning for poop deck which needs repairs or replace­ ment. Aoffost 31> 1956 Seafarer Sy Sypher arrives at SIU heaiJquarters after overnight motorcycle trip from Illinois. He said he "just had to get on a ship again" after getting out of the Army. He made the High Point Victory three days later. Wanted Ship Fast; Ex-GI Zooms To NY There's none more anxious to ship out than the returning service man and Seafarer Carroll C. Sypher, DM, was no exception. Sypher ate up several hundred miles between Illinois and head­ quarters in one day's furious mo­ torcycle traveling so that he could grab a ship. He was back in har­ ness aboard the High Point Victory three days after he picked up his membership book and registered. En route to headquarters he slept overnight alongside the high­ way making use of camping gear strapped to the rear seat. But chances are he didn't waste too much time snoozing on the long haul to New York, While in service, Sypher was sta­ tioned at the Atlantic tank depot, Atlanta, Georgia. For a while he was "commodore" of the cabin cruiser owned by Lieut. General Boiling, 3rd Army commander. The rest of his time was spent as in­ structor at the ordinance automo­ tive school giving tank trainees the basic lowdown on mechanics, phys­ ics and electricity. He had quali­ fied for Officer Candidate School but was turned down as over-age. Sypher sails AB and deck main­ tenance and has been with the SIU since 1947. In November, 1951, when the new SIU hall opened, Sypher's arrival in NY at that time was pictured on the front cover of the new SEA­ FARERS LOG put out to celebrate the momentous occasion. Only In-Patients Get 3Q-Day Cards Seafarers who have to enter a hospital from a ship are en­ titled to get a shipping card dated the day of entry to the hospital, up to 30 days, provided they report to a Union dispatch­ er within 48 hours of leaving the hospital. However, men who go to the hospital only for out­ patient treatment are not en­ titled to these cards. Seafarers already registered at SIU halls who have to be hos­ pitalized for over 30 days, can get a new card for 30 days only, from the dispatcher. formed corporation for carriage of export coal to Europe. At the same time, the company itself also filed exceptions to those sections of the examiner's ruling which would restrict the operations of the company. Those lining up strongly against the operation included the Ameri­ can Tramp Shipowners Association, US Lines, Bull Steamship Com­ pany, Luckenbach Steamship Com­ pany and a number of other opera­ tors. The tramp shipowners said that the chartering of US reserve ship fleets would destroy their opera­ tions by depressing coal rates. They declared that anybody seeking to move coal could find existing tramp ships to charter at the present time. The private steamship com­ panies posed similar objections, declaring that space was available in liner services for carriage of bulk cargoes and that American Coal Shipping could charter pri­ vately-owned ships if it so desired. Company Includes UMW In its turn, the new corporation, composed of coal companies, coal carrying railroads and the United Mine Workers, objected to the terms of the charters proposed by the FMB examiner. These terms v/ould involve minimum rate fixing by the Maritime Administration; refusal of permission to carry any­ thing but coal; limit the charters to a year and require the company to pay breakout and lay-up ex­ penses. The examiner's recommendation for a minimum rate was based on rate which would put other ship operators out of business. The new company argued, in turn, that foreign-flag shipping has been monopolizing almost 99 per­ cent of the coal export trade. It cited this as the reason for the entry of a new company into the field with relative freedom of aiition on rate fixing. SF Shipping Remains Good SAN FRANCISCO—Shipping held its own during the past two weeks, upholding an earlier forecast. Job activity remained at virtual­ ly the same pace as before, as a total of 73. jobs were dispatched. The outlook is more of the same. Port Agent Leon Johnson indi­ cated. One scheduled payoff, the Rbbin Hood (Seas Shipping), came in' for payoff and sign-on as expected. The Jean LaFitte also signed on, helping to keep the level of re­ placements high. Seven in-transit vessels arrived during the period, including the Steel Fabricator, Steel Traveler (Isthmian), and the Young Ameri­ ca, Beauregard, Madaket and Kyska (Waterman). The Young America came in twice. No major beefs were encountered on any of the ships in port. SEAFARERS IN ACTION In the knife and fork department honorable mention this week goes to chief cook Frank Soriano of the Steel Vendor for "tasty food throughout the trip." Aboard the Marymar, stew­ ard H. M. Guinier rated as doing "an excellent job aboard this ves­ Soriano sel" whiie on the Del Mar it was chief steward Phil N. O'Conner who drew all the ap­ plause. And to top it all off, the Orion Planet now has piped music in the crew messhall under ar­ rangements made by the chief steward of the supertanker. ^ The compliments were flying thick and fast on the National Liberty when the ship was last heard from. First the skipper asked the ship's delegate. Fete Loleas, to express his thanks to the crew for their fine behavior throughout the trip. Then the chief steward chimed in to say that it was the best creW he had ever sailed with. Finally, crewmembers themselves noted that Mike Toth was the "best messman on SIU ships." All in all, it sounds^ like a pretty happy trip. t i" 4" The ship's delegates have been busy, as usual, with a variety of chores on the ships. Aboard the Pacific Ocean, ship's delegate Ernie Such has been on . the 6o. He get the gang an SIU shipboard library from the Norfolk hall and then got the gang to contribute extra dough with which he pur­ chased more books and magazines. It looks like there will be plenty of reading matter throughout the trip. He also checked the slop chest to make sure that there were adequate supplies aboard and got after the mate to have the passage­ ways painted out—all in all the kind of service a good delegate gives his shipmates. t 4" 4" t t The Robin Locksley crew has a punching bag to practice on from now on as Sal Di Bella, second electrician, willed it to the gang v/hen he got off. Everybody should be in top-notch shape from now on. Aboard the Steel Worker, car­ penter Byron C. Barnes voluntarily added another duty to his regular ones when he took on the Job of ship's lilnrarian. Barnes got a vote of thanks from, his shipmates for his efforts. �SEAFARERS Aofftut SI. 1956 l^cre Elevea LOG Tor SlU Men... 'Our Shipping Is Red Hot/ Seattle Boasts -3 •'J SEATTLE—Barring a major calamity, shipping here can be expected to skyrocket for the next four weeks or more. Four payoffs were due this week and two more are already slated for September, in addi­ tion to whatever ships happen visited in transit. A few beefs to "sneak in" unexpectedly. on overtime were settled smoothly. ^ One of the prime objectives of the SIU since the days it was first formed has been to provide sufficient job opportunities for seamen who sailed regularly for a living. The one way that this could be done in the maritime industry, with sea­ men going from ship to ship and company to company, was to aim for at least one contracted job for every regular seaman. With the ups and downs of the maritime industry, this has been a tough order, but more often than not this objec­ tive has been realized. One way it has been achieved is through vigilant and energetic organizing and alertness in SAN FRANCISCO—The Coast Guard's effort to continue with­ obtaining newly-formed companies under Union contract. Today, thanks in large part to this consistent Union policy holding seamen's papers from 300400 West Coast seamen barred the job ratio is an extremely favorable one offering a very from ships under a now-unconsti­ tutional screening program has high degree of job security to men with seniority in the SIU. been rejected by a high Federal The proof of the pudding lies in the shipping figures which show job totals pressing ever higher. What's more, they also court once again. A ruling by the United States reveal that even men with class C seniority, who have had Court of Appeals here ordered the no previous experience with SIU companies, have been able papers returned "forthwith" in to ship in considerable numbers, because there are more than compliance with an earlier finding enough jobs available for class A and B men. by a lower court. The latest rul­ Seafarers can rest assured that despite the fluctuations for ing criticized the Coast Guard for which the industry is notorious, the Union will continue to "trying to give effect to the old regulations by which they denied maintain its job ratio policy to the best of its ability. • those men employment." 3^ 4 3^ Court Again Revokes CG Screen Rule Held Back Papers The Coast Guard had sought to hold back the men's papers while it decided whether or not to file new charges against them under an amended screening proce­ dure. The old program was ruled illegal last October on the ground that it was based on secret testi­ mony and denied the men the right to confront their accusers. A new screening procedure was then announced which would bar secret testimony in most cases. But the agency refused to return the men's papers so that they could resume sailing, while it de­ cided whether to file charges against them under the new proce­ dure. The appeals court declared that such a procedure could not be allowed, thus making it mandatory for the Coast Guard to allow the seamen in question to sail peqding jtossible new -chargM> agatost them. Whose Opportunity? The only sour note in these pro­ ceedings, said Jeff Gillette, port agent, is the shortage of manpower to handle the boom. The short­ age is expected to get even worse in all ratings next month. Bosuns and stewards are the only ratings in abundant supply; all others can get out as fast as they want. Scheduled to come in this week were the William A. Burden (Westem Tankers), Battle Rock (US Pe­ troleum), Coeur d'Alene Victory (Victory Carriers), and Afoundria (Waterman). On tap for Septem­ ber are the Coe Victory and Lewis Emery, Jr., also for Victory Carriers. Two Full Crews Both the Burden and the Battle Rock are scheduled to be in drydock about two weeks, then will take full crews for a year's stay in the Far East. An added starter is the Arthur M. Huddell (Bull), which has been serving as a warehouse ship for an Army cable ship laying a line be­ tween Seattle and Alaska. She has had only a standby crew aboard for some time, but is due to take a full crew next week for a trip back to the East Coast to pick up more cable. All in all, Gillette pointed out, shipping looks very good for the future. Anyone who finds things slow in another port and wants to get out quick should make it with ease from here. The Kyska (Waterman) and Ocean Nora (Ocean Trans) paid off and signed on during the past pe­ riod, while the Alamar and Yorkmar (Calmar) and the Young America and Madaket (Waterman) Keep Draft Board Posted SIU headquarters urges all draft-eligible seamen to be sure they keep their local Se­ lective Service boards posted on all changes of address through the use of the post cards furnished at all SIU halls and aboard ships. Two years after the National La­ bor Relations Board ruled the Na­ tional Carbon Company was guilty of unfair labor practices, the NLRB has "reaffirmed" its original ruling. In the meanwhile, the company has been battling the is­ sue in the courts. The company has now been ordered to bargain with the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union. The case rates as a classic example of delays made possible by the Taft-Hartley law. There is no doubt that the shipping industry and patterns of shipping activity are now undergoing radical changes. The US will shortly begin construction of an atom-powered ship and the French are following with talk of a nuclear su3^ 3> perliner. Plans for new "aircoach"-type passenger ship Former Army Secretary Robert travel are very much alive. Huge new super-duper tankers Stevens, head of the J. P. Stevens up to 100,000 tons are in the offing. A vast new trade, carry­ textile company, has been accused of anti-union tactics by the United ing coals to Newcastle and other European ports is fast- Textile Workers of America. The becoming a permanent fixture. The St. Lawrence Seaway company notified Local 54 of the is knocking on the door. Roll-on, roll-off ships are around the union that it was terminating the agreement and asked elimination comer. All of this presents a vast opportunity and challenge to the of security and arbitration clauses. 3^ 3^ 3^ US government and the maritime industry. But much of A thriee to one vote of 16,000 the opportunity can evaporate unless steps are taken to pro­ Boeing aircraft workers ratified a tect shipping from the ever-growing inroads of the runaways. two-year agreement between Boe­ Both political parties have pledged support of a strong US ing Airplane Company and the In­ merchant marine. It's up to Congress and the next adminis­ ternational Association of Machin­ tration to plug the loopholes and assure US-flag ships of a ists. A basic five percent wage boost is provided plus seven cents fighting chance to take advantage of new developments. All else is fine, including the weather, which has been near-ideal for the last five months, with little or no rain at all. No Letdown Seen In NY Ship Boom NEW YORK—Shipping was just one short of the record for the year during the past two weeks, with still no letdown in sight. The total number of regular jobs shipped, 336, plus a dozen standby jobs, brought the actual total up near the 350-mark for the period, according to Claude Sim­ mons, SIU assistant secretarytreasurer and headquarters port agent. Predictions of a continued good outlook are fortified by the im­ minent return of several Libertys from long offshore runs, and the near-completed purchase of up to three new ships by one operator already under contract. The first of the new ships is expected to crew up early next month once the transaction goes through. Also due to take a crew about the same time is the Seatrain Sa­ vannah, which is still in the ship­ yard. No major beefs have been en­ countered during the period, ex­ cept for one item which was straightened out on the High Point Victory, a Bull Line ship on the Blue Jay northern supply run. The crew refused to sign on for another trip until it received as­ surances from the company that the first assistant engineer wouid cut out hardtiming the crew or do­ ing unlicensed men's work. A total of 23 ships were paid off, five were signed on and eight were serviced in transit during the period. They were all generally in good shape. an hour additional in the second year. Vacation and shift improve­ ments are also included. The set­ tlement covers Boeing's B-47 and B-52 plants in Kansas. 3^1 ^ 3^ Throwaway clothes made of pa­ per are on the way to market, the International Brotherhood of Pa­ per Makers reports. One of its contracted companies has devel­ oped a waterproof flexible paperbase material which can be sewed or pasted. The first use of the material will be for such items as doctors utility coats, nuclear plant workers and the like. 3> t 3JI Steel workers have returned to their jobs with a 45V^-cent three year package contract covering wages, and fringe benefits. The bulk of gains are concentrated in the first year. The contract in­ cludes cost of living adjustment figures. With the steel plants humming again, the United Steelworkers Union called out 26,500 men at Alcoa and Reynolds Metals. The union got much the same terms there as in the steel industry. • .-Ki| �SEAFARERS Paee Twelre Pay Formula Can Speed Trip To Booby-Hatch Happy Days |l r The above might seem a bit formidable to the novice but, based on the researches of Seafarer Gordon L, Peck and the LOG staff, it presents a simplified (???) formula for figuring one's payoff. Peck admits he dreamed P is cash payoff; B, base pay per this up while sitting out a month; n, number of days worked; Of all the sailors who shipped from thee, Capetovm, do you remember me? It's there I chose this life, A sailor I must be; While on your beaches, I played and serfed With my girl Maureen; Alas, she could not keep me from my calling. Although the days at sea Are long and sometimes weary. Life on the oceans I cherish dearly. When time comes, for the sun to set in the West, When all men ashore get home to love—and rest, I take my turn on the bow at night To watch for an on-coming light. It's then the time is lonely, dear. And I wish you could be here. Yet here at sea I will stay hntil my days are done. Although with each end of a watch I'll love you more and more— I could never live this life ashore. N, number of hours of overtime; R, overtime rate; X, miscellaneous (meal allowance, penalty pay, trans­ portation, bonuses); d, number of dependents claimed; A, amount of allotment per time unit; p, number of time units; S, slopchest deduc­ tions; D, draws, and, s, special state deductions. The ".98" calculation of total earnings represents a two percent deduction for Federal Social Se­ curity payments, while 18 percent of total earnings plus 2.3d repre­ sents the amount of US tax with­ held based on the number of depen­ dents claimed. In most cases aboard ship, 18 Pecic percent of gross income less $2.30 for each depen­ dent claimed will yield the with­ holding tax figure or close to it. Peck adds his findings that since most of the terms of this formula remain fairly constant or are be­ yond our control, "the only way to increase 'P' is to cut down on 'D', unless you also happen to be a big slopchest customer. I've also had an uneasy suspi­ cion since formulating this recipe for uneasy confusion that there were one or more flaws in it. "There must be something wrong with it," he added. I can't seem to make 'P' cover 'Le' (living ex­ penses)." USPHS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE, MO. Maximino Bernes James T. Moor* Francisco Bueno John A. Morris Johnny Nettles Rosario Copani William S. Porter Leo A. Dwyer Alphonsus Galdikas Roy R. Rayfleld Gerardo Riviera Gorman T. Glaze Edward Huizenga William E. Roberts Floyd Kurd Jr. Wm. Weatherspoon Eleuterio Magboo Jos. A. Williams Luther R. Milton USPHS HOSPITAL BOSTON, MASS. Anthony A. BarbaroJohn Farrand USPHS HOSPITAL GALVESTON, TEXAS Leland E. Ashley Francis L. Grissom Thomas Dalley Concepclon Mejla Eric Douget Alfonso Olagulbel 6th DIST. TB HOSPITAL MOBILE. ALA. David M. Barla William HaveUn USPHS HOSPITAL NORFOLK. VA. Francis J. Boner Claud E. Denny Flem A. Clay Alfred Sawyer Clarence Crowder USPHS HOSPITAL NEW ORLEANS, LA. James J. Adams WUliam Lawless Evit Ardoln Rene LeBlanc Agaplto Asencl John Linn Benjamin Baugh James M. Mason John G. Brady Michael O. Muzlo J. L. Buckelew Richard Pardo John Butler Wlnford PoweU Sebastian Carregal Abner Ralford Cloise Coats Randolph Ratcliff Floyd Cummlngs Wade H. Sexton Charles F. DorroughH. Leonard Shaw William Driscoll ToefU SraiglelskI Joseph T. GehringerWest A. Spencer . Clarence Graham Lonnie R. Tickle Carl Jones Luciano Torlblo WUUam H. Jones James Vallot Martin KeUy James E. Ward Edward G. Knapp Fritz Widegren Thomas Landa David A. Wright Leo H. Lang USPHS HOSPITAL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. Thom. A. Barracliff Martin M. Hammond Marcelo B. Belen Jobe E. MuUen Charles Dwyer USPHS HOSPITAL SAVANNAH, GA. C. C. Burkett Herman T. Nungzer Jlmmie Littleton freeze-in in Northern Greenland a while back. But once he thawed out after getting back home to New Orleans, he decided to send it in anyway. In the order of their appearance, LOG-A-RHYTHM; No Return A. R. McGree 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 subscriber and have a change of address, pleas* give your former address below: ADDRESS CITY ,... >*e*aee*ee***e*a< ZONE STATE Asks Meaning Of Sea Terms To the Editor: I would appreciate the help of SIU men in connection with a nautical dictionary I am writ­ ing. I am especially interested in a definition of the following words and terms: "Apron" with respect to the waterfront, but not with refer­ ence to the inside stem of Bn Bn P = .98(—+NR+X) —[.18(—+NR+X)]+2.3d—(Ap+S+D)—• 30 30 III Ancast SI. 1958 LOG Celebrating birthday at sea, ship's delegate Lonnie Cole on the Calmar poses with cake whipped up by the baker for the occasion. Reporter T. H. Jackson sent in the photo. Everybody shared a piece of the cake. letters To The Editor All letters to the editor for publication in the SEAFAR­ ERS LOG must be signed by the writer. Names will be withheld upon request. a sailing vessel; performer; gashoUnd; penalty cargo; scen­ ery-bum or bomb; steam schooner. I also would like a definition of a line with a small sewed canvas bag filled with sand, which is thrown to shore to puil the mooring lines ashore. I don't mean a heaving line. Anyone who can provide some of this information is invited t(^ write me at 48 Jan van Avennesstreet, Rotterdam, Hol­ land. L. Pleysier 4, t t Raps Aid Scheme For Liberia MM At the mercy of "barber" Pat Fox, Mac McCloskey gets a tonsorial "treat­ ment" during the intercoastal run on the Texmar, but still manages to keep smiling. USPHS HOSPITAL SEATTLE, WASH. L. Bosley Bard C. Nolan D. K. CampbeU David T. Raynes R. R. Cefarattl A. W. Sadenwater Edward F. McGowan Lacy H. Stuart VA HOSPITAL ALBERQUERQUE, NM Charles Burton USPHS HOSPITAL FORT WORTH, TEX Benjamin Deibler Edoardo Piscopo John C. Palmer Rossendo Serrano VA HOSPITAL MEMPHIS, TENN. Billy R. Hill USPHS HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND, NY Hussen Ahmed George Meltzer Andrew Bannon Isaac MiUer Joseph Burns Thomas Moncho Eddie Caravona Alonzo W. Morris George Carlson Eugene P. O'Brien Morgan Carroll Juan Pascual Albert Claude George Robinson Horacio Da Silva Jose Rodriguez Alberto DeLapaz Rafael Rodriguez Dominick DlFeo JuUo Sarayno Richard Ceiling P. W. Siedenberg Estell Godfrey Andrew Snyder James Higgins James Stickney Konstant Kaln Peter Uccl Alfred Kaju F. C. Vlllacorte A. Kazmlerskl Robert R. White Teolllo Lacson Yuen Yueng USPHS HOSPITAL MANHATTAN BEACH BROOKLYN, NY Edmund Abualy Leonard Leldlg Manuel Antonana Anthony D. Leva Eladio Arls Mike Lubas Fortunate Bacomo Archibald McGuigan W. C. Baldwin W. C. McQulstion Frank W. Bemrlck H. F. Macdonald Frank T. CampbeU Michael Machusky Joseph Carr Benjamin Martin William J. Conners Albert MartlneUl E. T. Cunningham Vic Mllazzo Walter L. Davis Joseph B. Murphy Emlllo Delgado Ralph J. Palmer Robt. M. Douglas George G. Phifer John J. DrlscoU James M. Quinn Dolan GaskUl George E. Renale Robert E. GUbert D. F. Rugglano William' Guenther Geo. E. Shumaker Bart E. Guranick G. Slvertsen Everett F. Haislett Henry E. Smith Talb Hassen Michael Toth Joseph If sits • Karl Trelmann Thomas Isaksen Harry S. Tattle Ira Kllgore Fred West L. Krlstlansen Norman West Frank J. Kubek VlrgU Wllmoth Frederick Landry Pon P. Wing James J. Lawlor Chee K. Zal Kaarel Leetmaa To the Editor: That editorial in the "Satur­ day Evening Post" (LOG, July 6, 1956) plugging the virtues of the Liberian 'merchant marine" gave some of the crewmembers on the Wild Ranger quite a jolt. It seems the giveaway of US ships and the policy of letting the operators put their ships under foreign flags isn't wreck­ ing the US merchant marine fast enough. Now they want the US to help them train scab crews to man those ships. All of us on this vessel pay a considerable amount of money each year in taxes. But this set­ up would bethe same as paying taxes to do ourselves out of jobs. Colloquially, it means paying someone to hit you on the head with a hammer. —and keeping up the payments until he drops you for good. What a deal that would be! R. S. Johnson Is, 4. ' i Hails New Gains Made By SIU To the Editor: I am writing to let you know that I want to discontinue re­ ceiving the SEAFARERS LOG as I am going back South. I want to thank you for send­ ing me the LOG for the past seven years since my husband, Herbert R. Bell, died in Septem­ ber, 1949. I have been keeping up with the good work and the news of what the SIU has done. The Union has really come up and gone a long way towards bettering the life of the seaman. Mrs. Floy Bell Says Skipper is Not His Master To the Editor: I believe the captains of US merchant ships should no longer be called "Masters," as this is a violation of the 14th Amend­ ment to the US Constitution. Crewmembers on a ship are not the "slaves" of the captain or anyone ellse. This amendment was adopted over 80 years ago. It's about time the Navigation Laws of the US caught up and abolished the term "Master" forever, as all Americans ar* free bom. Edmund J. Rocker 4^ 4. 4^ 'Let Joe Do it' Talk Aids No One To the Editor: It seems all of us have a "let Joe do it" mind; me too, I guess. But as we all know, that gets us nowhere. When the ship is taking water over the decks and the watertight doors should be closed, some guys just sit stiil and think "let Joe do it." When the food is not up to par, and help for the steward is needed, "let Joe do it" is the byword. But when there is grip­ ing to be done about the food or anything else, everyone gets into the act. Everyone has something to say about the guys who speak a foreign tongue in the messhall, about how they should only speak English. Then often these are the same guys who go. to the "rec" hall later and talkin another language altogether. Why don't all of us just use the language of this country and make it easy on ourselves instead of barking about some­ body else. We have the best Union and the best working conditions. Let's make 'em even better. Tom Collins SS Pennmar 4" 4^ 4" Baby Benefit A Great Help To the Editor: We wish to announce that we are the proud parents of twin sons, born on July 3, 1956, at the Somerville Hospital, Somerville, Mass. Both babies are still In the hospital because they were born prematurely. They will be there for quite some time, we understand, as they cannot be allowed to leave the hospital until they each weigh 5^ pounds. We are thankful now for the maternity benefit which we will receive for each of them. It will help to pay the hospital bill, which should amount to quite a bit. We have three other children also, who did not come under the maternity benefit. This is a wonderful plan the Union has. We don't know what we would have done without this to count on. All we can say is thanks to the Union once again. Maurice Olson ^ t, Thanks To Union He's Now An AB To the Editor: All professional ordinary sea­ men who desire their AB pa­ pers will find that Mobile is the place. Now don't get me wrong, they're not going to hand them to you and that's that. Go to the SIU upgrading school there in Mobile and brush up. "Jughead" Parker or Bill Wallace will give you all the informa­ tion and help you need. It's a good hall in Mobile and a nice bunch of guys there. To name a few there are "Jughead," Bill, Cal Tanner, Hal Fischer and Leo Marsh. Any one of these brothers will help you all they can. My thanks to the above-mentioned brothers for helping me. Don Rundblad (ex-ordinary seaman) �Ancust SI. 1956 ALCOA PEOASUS (Alcoa), July 4— Chairman, H. Laanay; Sacratary, L. Phillips. Repairs to be taken care of In Mobile. Ship's delegate to turn In report on messman not attending spe­ cial meeting. Ship's fund—4130. Soma disputed overtime. DEL CAMPO (Delta Line), July 1— Chairman, C. Duncan; Secretary, P. Lighten. Some disputed overtime. Everything running smoothly. Motion carried to accept communication as read. Steward met with an accident and was taken to hospital. Ship's del­ egate elected. WESTPORT (Arthur), July 7—Chair­ man, S. Krawczynskl; Secretary, S. Kollna. Stove door in gailey has been repaired. No beefs, some disputed overtime. Communications have been posted. All hands asked to keep pan- SEAFARERS retary, R. Pierce. No beefs. Motion carried to concur in communications from headquarters. Ship's hospital Is up-to-date. Including blood plasma. Crewmembers to take care of ship's property and stores. LOG Page Thlrteca Salvage Produces %ittle Mae' OCEAN ULLA (Maritime Overseas), July 7—Chairman, A. Lutey; Secre­ tary, D. Furman. One man missed ship, to be turned in to Union. Water shortage aboard. Some disputed over­ time. Mattresses and pillows needed. Vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment. Ventilators need repair. GATEWAY CITY (Waterman), July 12—Chairman, W. Sink; Secretary, H. Carmlchael. Everything running, smoothly; no beefs. Motion carried to accept communications from head­ quarters. Ship's delegate elected. Coffee to be made In coffee urn and also milk to be served three times a day. Electrician to turn fans off when not in room. SEA COMET II (Seatraders), July 1 —Chairman, T. Bolton; Secretary, R. Masters. Some disputed overtime. No beefs. Repair list to be posted. Vote of thanks to steward department. Gal­ ley to be painted. ROBIN SHERWOOD (Seas Shipping), July 4—Chairman, A. Harrington; Sec­ ratary, W. Moody. Some disputed overtime. Ship's fund—$20. Ship's fund to be turned over to ship's dele­ gate. try clean at all times. All screen doors to be kept locked. ARIZPA (Waterman), July 7—Chair­ man, D. K. Nunn; Secretary, O. Raynor. Everything running okay. Ship's fund—$10.50. No beefs; no disputed overtime. Cots and linen to be col­ lected before arrival In France. CHARLES C. DUNAIF (Colonial). June 14—Chairman, F. Aponte; Sec­ retary, F. Janklns. Three men were logged, to be taken up with boarding patrolman. Steward said we will get stores in port. Some disputed over­ time, no beefs. Motion carried to accept communications from head­ quarters. Motion carried to refer steward department beef to port pa­ trolman. Various discussions held. CAMP NAMANU (US Petroleum), July 1—Chairman, D. Hartman; Sec­ retary, N. Merrick. One man hos­ pitalized In Ras Tanura. Ship's fund— $21.14. No beefs, some disputed overtime. To write SIU headquar­ ters. It doesn't seem as though cap­ tain and company want full crew aboard vessel. Ship In poor condition. NORTHWESTERN VICTORY (Vic­ tory Carriers), July $—Chairmen, V. Porter; Secretary, S. Arales. All de­ partments in good shape and every­ thing running okay. Ship's fund— $30. Some disputed overtime; no beefs. Motion carried to write nego­ tiating committee requesting an In­ crease In the ammunition bonus from 10 to 25 percent. All men ashore the first night In Cherbourg, because they were not informed of gates being closed at 9 PM, put In for lodging for night. MARIE HAMILL (Bloomfield), June 14—Chairman, W. Young; Secretary, LA SALLE (Waterman), July i— H. Pierce. One man missed ship. Chairman, A. Fedele; Secratary, J. Ship's secretary-reporter elected. No Rodder. One man went to hospital. beefs. Motion carried to concur in Acting ship's delegate elected. Pre­ communications from headquarters. vious ship's delegate will return fund Steward department would be happy In San Pedro. .Some disputed over­ to put special dishes on the menu. time; no beefs. New ship's delegate Washing machine to be kept clean. elected. Vote of thanks to baker. FEDERAL (Trafalgar), July LAWRENCE VICTORY (Mississippi), Chairman, M. LIpkIn, Secretary, A. July 1—Chairman, H. Libby; Secre­ Hasklnt. Mall Is not coming in regular­ tary, S. Rivers. Everything going ly. Several men missed ship in Japan okay. Some disputed overtime; no and one man was hospitalized In beefs. Motion carried to concur in re­ Saudi Arabia. Vote of thanks to cent communications. Engine quar­ steward department. Motion carried ters have been painted, few minor to concur in communications from repairs to be done. headquarters. Washing machine agi­ tator and wringer in urgent need of STEEL SEAFARER (Isthmian), July repair or replacement. 13—Chairman, C. ADIson; Secretary, M. Carlln. Ship's delegate elected. No GEORGE A. LAWSON (Pan-Oeeanic), beefs. To contact patrolman about June 23—Chairman, C. Halla; Secre­ washing machine. Crew to be more tary, L. Cevette. One man missed sanitary. Crew not to slam doors any ship In Long Beach, California. No more. Bosun requested that everyone beefs. Discussion held about not keep decks clean and dump garbage returning overtime sheets within 72 aft. hours. All crewmembers asked to keep a record of their overtime. All McKETTRICK HILLS (Western Tank­ excess linen to be turned In. ers), July 14—Chairman, C. Thomp­ son; Secretary, J. Hough. Ship's fund CHIWAWA (Cities Service), July 17 —$8.08. One man missed ship and —Chairman, W. Splvey; Secretary, H. one man hospitalized. No disputed Sykes. Repair lists being made up. overtime. Motion carried to concur Praised constitutional changes and in communications from headquarters. asked for discussion under good and Laundry to be turned in when ship welfare. Some disputed overtime, no pays off. beefs. Motion carried to accept com­ munication. ALCOA RANGER (Alcoa), no data —Chairman, E. Carpenter; Secretary, STEEL TRAVELER (Isthmian), June B. Jackson. Ship's delegate elected. 2—Chairman, A. Melendez; Secretary, No ship's fund. Little disputed over­ B. Armstrong. Ship's fund—$16. Re­ time. Motion carried to accept SIU pair list turned In. One man missed communications. ship, picked up man In Singapore to replace him. Some disputed overtime. IBERVILLE (Waterman), July Motion carried to concur In commu­ Chairman, A.-Johnes; Secretary, J. nications from headquarters. Ship's Levin. No beefs. Coffee put aboard treasurer elected. In New Orleans not of good quality. Ship's fund—$36.05. Some disputed GENEVIEVE PETERKIN (Bloomfield), overtime. Not enough keys for July 8—Chairman, H. Aarlsen; Secre­ tary, D. Haskell. Letter from com­ foc'sles. pany agreeing to put up stack-ladder STEEL FLYER (Isthmian), July 7— on return. Ship's fund—$27.13. No Chairman, E. Parr; Secretary, E. Saul. beefs. Ship's delegate elected. Dis­ No beefs. Repair lists to be made cussion on new coffee urn. Steward to up. Ship's fund $136. Some disputed keep iron. overtime. Motion carried to concur In communications from headquarters. LEWIS EMERY, JR. (Victory Car­ Discussion held on hospital benefits riers), June 30—Chairman, P. Parker; regarding recent report. Motion car­ Secretary, F. Hicks, Jr. All repairs ried to donate $10 and smokes from being taken care of. No beefs. Ship's ship's fund to SIU man being repatri­ secretary-reporter elected. Everything ated aboard this vessel. No men to running okay. Motion carried to ac­ go in pantry and serve themselves. cept communications from headquar­ Discussion held on keeping laundry ters. Vote of thanks to steward de­ partment for services rendered. Dis­ clean. cussion held on movie films and DEL CAMPO (Delta Lines), July 1— records to be secured In San Pedro. Chairman, C. Duncan; Secretary, G. Lighten. Some disputed overtime. JOHN C (Atlantic Carriers), July 9— Everything running okay. Motion car­ Chairman, G. Sneeden; Secretary, G. ried to accept communications. To McCartney. Three men failed to join. get in touch with steward regarding No beefs. Some disputed overtime. ship's fund. Steward met with an Motion carried to concur In commu­ accident and was taken to hospital. nications from headquarters. Motion carried to have cU'inking water tank Ship's delegate elected. cleaned and cemented as water is YORKMAR (Calmer), June 30 — rusty. Sanitary men to rotate clean­ Chairman, C. Kellog; Secretary, H. ing of library and laundry. Reese. Everything okay. Definite ac­ OCEAN ROSE (Maritime Overseas), tion to be taken In port to get windJune 24—Chairman, V. D'India; Secre­ scoops and screens. tary, M. Ketola. No beefs. Five men REPUBLIC (Trafalgar), July 3 — paid off In San Pedro; replacements Chairman, F. Hartshorn; Secretary, A. received from hall In Wilmington. One Kubackl. Some disputed overtime. man taken off because of illness. Mo­ Ship's fund—$7. Tanks to be cleaned, tion carried to accept communications white clothes are being spoiled be­ from headquarters. Discussion held on cause of rust. Iceboxes to be sprayed. noise: more I'bnslderation requested of crewmer..'Ders. Washing machine to be kept clean, no water to be FORT HOSKINS (Cities Service), wasted. July 2—Chairman, V. KIchawlle; Sec- 1 Pictured with their salvage prize on the Mae (I to r) are Seafarers Chuck Hostetter, bosun; "Pinky" Hipp, AB; Jimmy Bonds, OS; Bill Scott, AB; Captain Hudgins; Joe Ruttkay, AB, and Willie Morris, utilityman. The boat was found in the Gulf Stream on the way north from Puerto Rico. 1 The gang on the Mae now has its own launch service as a of some fast teamwork on a recent run north from No OT Sheets? result Puerto Rico. A minor salvage job in the Gulf Stream netted ^ 12-foot boat which has-t 4 Shins C7111^9 Come everything but a name. Once the chief mate sighted ToTheReseue Out in the middle of a wa­ tery desert on the Persian Gulf-Japan shuttle, SIU crew­ men on the Stony Point found an oasis when they met four other SIU ships in Pusan, Korea. Lacking slopchest gear, soap, reading material and that most vital necessity—overtime sheets— the Stony Point stocked up thanks to the cooperation of the brothers on the Cecil N. Bean, George A. Lawson, C o e u r d'Alene Victory and the Steel Designer. The thanks of the Stony Point for this assistance were sent to the LOG by ship's Mulling delegate W. Mull­ ing, who noted the teamwork by the Bean, Lawson and Coeur d'Alene in supplementing its slopchest by the transfer of many items it was unable to purchase. In turn, the Designer "con­ tributed a large and well-kept li­ brary for our use which it may be assured we will take good care of and pass along to some other SIU crew before we return to the States. Due to our long shuttle out here, we had very little reading material and nothing at all to ex­ change." the bow of a boat bobbing in the waves, a smooth operation went into action. Bosun Chuck Hostetter had Joe Ruttkay get a heaving line and a meat hook from the galley, while Bill Scott got a boat hook and "Pinky" Hipp and A1 Espino a messenger. There was no sign of human life and no one knows yet where the boat came from. Once the skipper brought the ship in close to the craft, Ruttkay threw his heaving line with the meat hook attached and snagged the boat. It was then brought alongside where Scott and Ed Carlson could drop a line around the shaft of the boat's outboard motor and the craft could be hauled aboard. In no time, the Mae was under­ way again with a new boat and a 15 horsepower outboard motor. Jimmy Bonds, who had handled outboards during his hitch in the Navy, overhauled the waterlogged motor on the way north and," as soon as a gas tank can be gotten, expects the midget launch to be off and running. "All that remains," said Hostet­ ter, "is to select a name." Fanny Dunker, Little Mae and Wee Mae are leading the sweepstakes so far, but the crew is still open to sug­ gestions. Send your ideas c/o the Bull Line. Turkey A Dud; Sweetwater Raps $ Exchange, Prices Turkey really turned out to be just that when the Sweet­ water got to Iskenderun, at the northeastern limit of the Mediterranean. Gordon K. Grimes, OS and was on the exchange rate of 2.8 per dollar compared to the ship's reporter, said the crew iiras 9-11 liras per dollar the US Navy's received its first disappoint­ been getting. ment as soon as the ship anchored, when it found out the draw was to be in Turkish currency and would have to be picked up ashore at the company agent's office. "That was bad enough, but the biggest gripe Everybody But Shrimp Enjoyed it Shrimps come out on the short end in this picture from the Del Valle, where.these big, burly Seafarers made short work of a mound of shellfish during a shipboard party. There's no beefs on this ship, added reporter John Geissler (seated, right, without cap) and feeding is tops. . "Any brothers heading this way are advised to load up on Turkish money, either in the States or in one of the other Mediterranean countries. The exchange that way will run from 10-12 per dollar," Grimes pointed out. Unofficial rates quoted in the US this week were roughly eight liras to the dollar. City Under Curfew, Too Thus, the Seafarers were in no humor for their next discovery that "there is an 11 PM curfew here, and the night clubs, so called, are strictly clip joints. A beer in some of these places will run you $1.50 and up." The Sweetwater had one earlier mishap, when engine trouble forced a short shutdown of the plant, on the 4th of July. But the inconvenience turned out happily when they pulled in to a small island in southern Greece, which happened to be the hometown of the chief mate. Grimes said it "was a short but memorable stay, with Greek hospitality overflowing, friendly relations established on one more island, and an equal amount of visitors and hosts laid low. In such fashion did we cele­ brate Independence Day. Of course, it wasn't exactly the same as being back in the States, but we aU had a fine time." �SEAFARERS Pare Fourteen Tribute To A Shipmate LOG Lauds Kindness Of Robin Gray To the Editor: . I would like to express my appreciation to the captain and crew of the SS Robin Gray for their kindness at the time of my father's death. We were in Durban, South Africa, when he died, and the Captain arranged money and a reservation for me to fly back to Boston. I arrived there about Letters To The Editor AH letters to the editor for publication in the SEAFAR­ ERS LOG must be signed by the writer. Names will be withheld upon request. Heads bowed, Seafarers from the Westport stand at grave­ side during final rites for shipmate Frank T. Maher, who died of a heart attack. Burial was in Casablanca, Morocco. CASABLANCA—Assured of the best possible burial even though far from home, Seafarer Frank T. Maher, 52, was laid to rest here recently by his shipmates after he passed away peacefully of a heart attack "t Stanley Krowczynski, K. Skelly, while in his sleep. A veteran of almost 13 years R. A. Archer, L. Lowe and R. of sailing in the engine department Howell. aboard SIU ships, Maher was Maher is survived by a sister in found in his bed on the Westport Brooklyn, New York. near midnight on July 21. "News of his death came as quite a shock," commented ship's delegate Clarence Brockett. "Frank had seemed hale and hearty to all aboard and never had a single com­ plaint. He liked to kid the young­ sters about how he was one of the many oldtimers still around to keep an eye on them so they wouldn't go astray." Maher Services for Maher were held at the Ampitheatre Chapel here in Casa­ blanca, with the entire crew at­ tending. All the participants then accompanied him on foot behind the hearse in a procession leading to the Ben M'sik European ceme­ tery. "All of his friends around Bal­ timore," said Brockett, "which was Frank's home port for a good many years, will find consolation in knowing that nothing was spared for the final rites." Floral wreaths were sent by the SIU crew, ship's officers and the ship's local agent. The services at the chapel and Seafarer Phil Eldemire later at the cemetery were led by hangs on to a 37-pound the Rev. P. A. L. Meldrum and grouper (left) and a 20were assisted by the representative pound catfish caught from of the Danish Seamen's Union in the port. Seafarers who served the Steel Worker. Photo by as pallbearers included S. Kolina, Merwyn "Doc" Watson. A Good Catch Burly two hours before the funerai began. 1 want to thank the captain and each crewmember on this ship for their sympathy and help during that trying time. Tom Curran Urges Revamping Pension Set-Up To the Editor: I would like to discuss some­ thing that is really drawing a lot of conversation today, the question of a Retirement Plan. Actually, I and the majority of the members I've spoken to are of the opinion that we real­ ly don't have a retirement plan compared to most other indus­ tries todaj. Our present plan specifies that you must have 12 years of seatime ,on SIU ships and be physically disabled and unfit for duty in order to col­ lect monthly benefits of $150. Now don't get the idea that I'm knocking what we have, for it's a whole lot better than noth­ ing. We have come a mighty long way in the field of welfare bene­ fits and we have one of the fin­ est, if not the finest, organiza­ tions in the country today. I would be one of the first to de­ fend it to almost any length if 1 heard anyone abusing it. Be­ lieve me, I'm more proud of my SIU book than of anything else I possess. First of all, if a man puts in 12 years of seatime on SIU ships and is in good standing all that time, he should be eligible for a retirement pension with no strings attached. Whether he is physically disabled or in top condition, or 35 or 65, or wants to continue to go to sea, work ashore or just wants to lay back and enjoy life, when he gets that 12 years' of seatime, he deserves his pension. It will take the average man 18-20 years to acquire that much time and to me that's Advice la Cheap Anriut 31, 19Si comparable to 30 years' work ashore. Our present plan calls for $150 a month, but who or how To the Editor: can you live on that? I guess The Public Health Service yoii could exist alright, but it hospitals have always been a would be just barely, and only tried and true friend of Ameri­ on hominy grits, black eyed can seamen. peas and fatback. I say we The personnel of these hospi­ should receive at least $250 per tals have established a splendid month, so that you could at least record of achievement, and be fairly comfortable. every working seaman has a I maintain that a retirement high regard for this service. plan such as this, where each Anyone attempting to close and every member will receive these fine hospitals is either the same amount of pension re­ lacking a spark of humanitargardless of marital status or de­ ianism or is possibly a subver­ pendents, should come first be­ sive, although it is well to note fore everything else once he has that many subversives are not acquired the necessary seatime. necessarily Communists. Albert W. Dykes It would bt a goal to work for; SS Val Chem you would know you have se­ curity and won't have to worry (Ed. note: Brother Dykes and after you're advanced in years; Take, for example, the $6,D00 -. . all seamen will naturally be scholarships we give each year. pleased to know that the USPHS hospital program re­ They are very commendable ceived its full appropriation and certainly a worthy benefit. Just one of the five scholar­ this year without any of the struggles necessary in recent ships we gave this year would years.) take care of two retired sea­ 4- t 4< men's pensions for an entire year—all five would take care of ten retired members for a year. Now which is the more worthy? We could still have our^ hos­ To the Editor: pital-surgical plan for our , im­ Thank you for publishing my mediate families plus the $200 poem "Change" in the LOG of maternity benefit almost or ex­ July 6th. It was the cause of actly as it is now, if it was un­ some discussion aboard the Del der a group insurance plan as Norte. Here's one in a lighter vein: most industries have it today. Love Actually the plan as it now If to love you wisely, stands doesn't benefit the single Meant to love you less; man one bit, but he pays as Then I had rather love much dues as the family man. With /ooltshness/ As for myself, I would gladly I. C. Weisbrot pay a set amount a year for this insurance, and I'm sure the ma­ jority of the membership would agree that, if need be, in order to obtain a good, solid retire­ ment plan, they would be more To the Editor. than willing to do the same. I would like to take this op­ The Union itself could under­ portunity to thank the SIU for write such a plan. It's possible the prompt service given me by we wouldn't have to change any­ the Seafarers Welfare Plan thing to reach this goal, al­ while I was hospitalized for a though I wouldn't think that major operai(ion. probable. I'm proud to know that my I do think it would be one of husband is a member of such a the greatest advancements we Union, which stands by in time could ever hope to make, and it of need. ^ is certainly something worth Please extend my thanks to working for. I hope to read the the SIU offieials in New York comments of my brother mem­ and to the entire Union mem­ bers on this idea in future is­ bership. sues of the LOG. Mrs. Joe N. Atchison J. Thompson i J" S< (Ed. note: Very few group plans of any kind provide bene­ fits greater than $100 monthly at age 65. The maritime plans call To the Editor: for 20 years of qualifying sea­ Please publish this in the time, which is generally spread LOG so my SIU shipmates will over 30 or more years as a sea­ know how very much I appre­ man. The $150 SIU benefit is ciate the help and kindness ex­ the largest in the industry to­ tended to me at the time of my day. injury on the Del Aires. The cost of the plan outlined I cannot begin to express the would be astronomical; many dgpth of my appreciation. My times the cost of all existing fondest hope is that I may sail SIU welfare benefits available to again with those same men and Seafarers at no cost. in some manner reciprocate In addition, the advantage of their kindness and generosity. Federal Social Security benefits Louis W. Broussard should not be overlooked.) 1st Asst. Engineer PHS Hospital Work Applauded Poem In LOG Stirs Comment Wife Hails Job By Welfare Plan Engineer Lauds Del Aires Gang By Bernard Seaman �mmrr SEAFARERS Aumst 31, 1956 FINAL DISPATCH •41- The deaths of the following Sea­ etios is survived by his sister, Mrs. farers have been reported to the Katina Pavlou. Seafarers Welfare Plan and the 4" 4 3^ SlU death benefit is being paid to Albert A. Mountain, 36: A resi­ their beneficiaries: dent of Arlington, Masachusetts, Aurelio Gomez, 65: Brother Brother Mountain died of com­ Gomez died on February 11, 1956, pound fractures on August 3, 1956. of a hemorrhage Burial took place in Wyoming Mel­ in New Orleans, rose Ceetery in Bomston, Mass. Louisiana. Place 4 4 4 of burial is not Prentice R. Brandon, 53: A heart known. Brother attack proved fatal to Brother Gomez was a Brandon on May charter member 25, 1956 at sea : of the Union, aboard the Del joining in New Sol. Brother Orleans in 1938, Brandon was and sailing out buried at sea. He in the steward department. had joined the Union in New 4" 4" 4" Orleans in 1941 Teodoro Gonzales, 30: On Au­ and sailed in the gust 26, 1955, Brother Gonzales deck department. died of drowning in Bremen, Ger­ many. Place of burial is not He is survived by his mother, Mrs. known. Brother Gonzales joined Florence Brandon. the Union in 1955 in the Port of 4 4 4 Houston and had been sailing in James J. Finn, 58: Brother Finn the steward departmept. • ^ i died in the Fairfax Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia on June 9, 1956, 4i ^ -4* • • of a heart ailment. Place of burial Robert Kehrly, 28: Pneumonia is not known. was the cause of Brother Kehriy's Joining the Un­ death on July 3, 1956, in Galves­ ion in 1955 in ton, Texas. Place of bimial is not Seattle, Brother known. He had Finn had been been sailing with sailing in the en­ the SIU since gine department. 1944, joining the He is survived Union in the by his sister, Mrs. Port of Norfolk. Ann F. Carroll Brother Kehrly of Somerville, had sailed in the Massachusetts. deck department. 4 4 4 He is survived by Francis J. O'Neill, 68: On June his wife Santa 26, 1956, Brother O'Neill died in Kehrly of Port Arthur, Texas. the Hospital of the Holy Family in 4" 4" 3^ Brooklyn, New York of natural John Meletios, 60: Brother Mel- causes. Burial took place in Cal­ etios died of a circulatory ailment vary Cemetery in Queens, New on July 10, 1956, in Baltimore, York. Brother O'Neill had been Maryland. Burial took place at sailing with the SIU since 1941 in Moreland Memorial Cemetery in the engine department. He joined Baltimore, Maryland. Brother Mel-1 the Union in New York. Liberty 'Souped Up' To 17.5 Knot Speed BALTIMORE—Shipping experts got their first close look this week at a "souped up" Liberty ship that hit 17% knots on her sea trials. " The ship is the war-built can be modernized economically in freighter Thomas Nelson, one order to compete with new con­ of four Libertys being con­ struction. The tests could also have bearing verted for new power plants and cargo handling gear under the on conversion of privately-owned Maritime Administration's pro­ Liberty ships now in service. gram for upgrading the reserve fleet. The Nelson was alongside a dock here for inspection by indus­ try and Government officials. Its World War II hull has been lengthened by 25 feet and two new diesel engines have been instailed In placd of her recipricating enSIU, A&G District ginesL When new, the Libertys BALTIMORE.. 1216 E. Baltimore St. could make only ten knots. Few Ear) Sheppard, Agent EAstern 7-4900 of them come close to that today. BOSTON ;276 State St. The ship also features new cargo James Sheehan, Agent Richmond 2-0140 4202 Canal St. gear in the form of movable cranes HOUSTON C. TannehilL Acting Agent Capital 7-6558 on tracks running from side to CHARLES, La 1419 Ryan St. side, in place of conventional cargo LAKE Leroy Clarice, Agent HEmlock 6-5744 booms. MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. Cal Tanner, Agent HEmlock 2-1754 New Cargo Gear 023 BlenvlUe St One other Liberty converted un­ NEW ORLEANS Tulane 8626 der the program is already in Lindsey Williams, Agent 078 4th Ave.. Brooklyn operation. This is the Benjamin NEW YORK HYacinth 9-6600 Chew, which was equipped with NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. MAdlson 2-9834 a Victory ship steam turbine plant, Ben Rees, Agent 837 Market St. and hit 15 knots on her sea trials. PHILADELFHIA..... Market 7-1635 Two others still to be tested are S. CarduUo, Agent PUERTA de TIERRA, PR. .Pelayo 51—La f the William Patterson^ with a free Sal Colls, Agent Phone 2-5996 piston gas generator gas turbine, SAN FRANCISCO .......450 Harrison St Douglas 2-5475 and the John Sergeant, with an Leon Johnson. Agent. Marty Breltbofi, West Coast Representative open cycle gas turbin'?. .SAVANNAH .....8 Abercorn St Tests under the $11 million Gov­ E. B, McAuley, Acting Agent Adams 3-1728 ernment program will determine SEATTLS,... 2505 1st Ave. EUiott 4334 whether the nearly 2,000 Libertys Jeff GilTetie, Agent , TAM^.. .,-.,. ..1809-1811 N. Franklin St. laid u|»; ib>Gojern^ anchorages'^^ X0W.>Baniil&g, Agent Phone 2-1323 Pace Fifteen lOG Hub Rolls In Clover^ Short Of Rated Men George Joseph Berg Contract your father or sister. ' BOSTON—Shipping broke loose here during the last two 4 4 4 weeks, reaching a record high for the last 19 months. Harold H. McVay The job total of 71 was the highest for the port since the end Maritime Overseas, 61 Broad­ of January, 1955. It was> way, New York 6, NY, has vouch­ sparked by the payoff and SIU men, with the result that ers for you to sign re wages due sign-on of a pair of ships back New York was called on to supply from voyage 2 on the SS Natalie. from long foreign runs, and the 11 men for just one ship. 4 4 4 A shortage of rated men still manning of a new ship operated by a brand-new SIU company. Latest addition to the SlU-contracted fleet is the Murray Hill, a C-2, operated by the Fairfield Steamship Co. of New York. Fair­ field is one of a group of SIU com­ panies known as the North Atlan­ tic Marine Corp. One of them, Amerocean Steamship, operating the Chelsea, a Liberty, was ex­ pected to sell the ship this week. A third company, Rockland Steam­ ship, operates another SIU ship, the Mount Vernon, a T-2 tanker. The latest prosperity here was stirred by the arrival of the Fred­ eric C. Collin (Drytrans) in Port­ land, Me., and the John B. Kulukundis (Martis) in New London, Conn. The Collin went foreign again, while the Kulukundil went coastwise to Norfolk. Replacements and crews for these ships cleared the beach of exists in all departments here, said Port Agent James Sheehan, who urged nonrated Seafarers to up­ grade their certificates as soon as possible. Also in port during the period were the Cantigny (Cities Service), Michael (Carras), Robin Locksley (Seas Shipping) and Steel Vendor (Isthmian), all ships in transit. On one of them. Seafarer Armond Ramos learned he was the father of a seven-pound boy while he was still at sea, and arranged to have the $200 SIU maternity bene­ fit check sent to him care of the hall so that he could surprise his wife with it the same way she sur­ prised him. He grinned from ear to ear when he got his check Isidro D. Avecilla Contact E. M. Piccerill, State Tax Commission, 320 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn 17, NY or call MAin 5-1000, ext. 103. 4 4 4 Charles H. Tripple Get in touch with Billy Russell; c/o SS John C., Atlantic Carriers, Inc., 29 Broadway, New York, NY. 4 4 4 Ray Brown Your sister Eva urges you to contact E. Little, 123 Shuttle Meadr ow Road, Plainville, Conn., con­ cerning property. 4 4 4 James D. Warmack Get in touch with your mother at 8507 Brooks St., Tampa 4, Fla. REGENT ARRIVALS All of the following SIV families loill collect the $200 maternity benefit plus a $25 bond from the Union in the baby's name: PW5 imsss VRAWihiOzf RXiCLSS 'xhoero.'/ fact ^elcomedly your Harriet Elizabeth Oppel, born Dale Ervin Arudt, born July 25, April 16, 1956, to Seafarer and 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Orville Mrs. Earl G. Oppel, Baltimore, Md. L. Arndt, New Orleans, La. 4 4 4 4- 4 4 4 4. 4 Anne Marie Feely, born July 26, Irene Dawn Nelson, born May 1, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Bernard 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. James Feely, Bronx, NY. H. Nelson, Jr., New Orleans, La. 4" 4" Stephen Erwin Lehman, born Anita Coy Gay, born July 4, July 26, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Drew Otis W. Lehman, Mobile, Ala. C. Gay, Brooklyn, NY. 4 4' 4' Edward Russell Goddard, born 4 4 4 Steven Peter Zubovich, born July 18, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. July 20, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Edward Goddard. Seattle, Wash. 4' , 4« 4» Steven Zubovich, Masontown, Pa. Eric William Eilis, born July 23, 4 4 4 Mary O'Connor, born July 7, 1956, to Seafarer ^nd Mrs. Hal R. 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Thomas Ellis, Jr., New Orleans, La. 4* 4 4 J. O'Connor, Boston, Mass. Thomas Ralph Garofalo and 4 4 4 Leonard William Garofalo, born Lee Ann Perry, born July 22, July 13, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Bernard Raffaele Garofalo, Floral Park, J. Perry, Stonington, Conn. NY. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Mary Kay Richardson, born July Gary Joseph Friedman, born 21, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. August 3, 1956, to Seafarer and Roland K. Richardson, Beltsville Mrs. Bernard Friedman, Irvington, Md. NJ. 4 4 4 Cynthia Faye Manley, born Au­ Shirley Carol Johnson, born July 25, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. gust 3, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ernest Manley, Cardale, Pa. Hubert H. Johnson, Mobile, Ala. DIRECTORY OF SID RRANCHES 103 Durham St. WILMINGTON. CaUf 605 Marine Ave. PORT COLBORNE Ontario Phone: 5591 Reed Humphries. Agent.. Terminal 4-2874 HEADQUARTERS....675 4th Ave.. Bklyn. TORONTO, Ontario 272 King St. E EMpire 4-5711 SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul HaU VICTORIA. BC .61714 Cormorant St. Empire 4531 ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS J. Aigina. Deck C. Simmons, Joint VANCOUVER. BC 298 Main St J. Volpian, Eng. W. HaU. Joint Pacific 3468 E Mooney. Std. R. Matthews, Joint SYDNEY. NS 304 Charlotte St. Phone 6346 SUP BAGOTVILLE Quebec 20 Elgin St. Phone; 545 HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 THOROLD, Ontario 82 St. Davids St. PORTLAND ..211 SW Clay St. CAnai 7-3202 CApital 3-4336 QUEBEC 85 St. Pierre St. RICHMOND, CALIF. .810 Macdonald Ave. Quebec Phone; 3-1569 BEacon 2-0925 r. .85 Geimain St. SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St. SAINT JOHN NB Phone: 2-5232 Douglas 2-8363 SEATTLE .2505 1st Ave Main 0290 Great Lakes District WILMINGTON ..,....,..505 Marine Ave. ALPENA 1215 N. Second Ave. ' Terminal 4-3131 Phone; 713-J NEW YORK......678 4tb Ave.. Brooklyn BUFFALO. NY... 180 M^n St. HYacinth 9-6165 Phone; Cleveland 7391 CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave.. N^E Phone; Mam 1-0147 Canadian District 1038 3rd St. HALIFAX. N.S.; ....128V4 HoUis St. DETROIT..., Headquaiieri Phone; Woodward 1-6857 Phone; 3-8911 DlOiUTH .;.... 531 W. Michigan St. MONTREAL.....:.i84^iSt James St. West Phone; Randolph 2-4110 - PLateau 8161 3261 E. 9and St FORT WILLIAM 130 Siiripson St. SOUTH CHICAGO., .'Phone: Esse* 6-2416 Ontario , Phone:3-3231 Elizabeth Dryden, born July 22, 1956, to Seafai-er and Mrs. Hugh Dryden, Bronx, NY. Owen Busbee Sweeney, born May 24, 1956, to Seafarer and Mrs. Owen Sweeney, Tampa, Fla. List Details in Cables To Union When notifying headquarters by cable or wireless that a Sea­ farer has paid off in a foreign port because of injury or illness, ships' delegates should include the following information: The man's full name, his SIU book number, name of the ship, the port of payoff and the hos­ pital where he is being treated. The response of ship's crews to the Union's request for these notifications has been very good. Sometimes though, not all of the above information has been included. Be sure to list all of this data so that the SIU can act ag, promptly as possible. .)i �SEAFARERS • tt;-:: If' AWARDED FIRST • r •* • • * J ; I . •' PRIZE • GENERAL EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE • 1953 • OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION INTERNATIONAL LABOR PRESS OF • Coal-To-Europe Outlook: SO IMIIMoii Tons Yearly The coal shipping boom is not going to bust, but is here to stay. A steady long-range in­ crease in coal exports is in the offing which one authority thinks may reach the staggering total of 100 million tons—10,000 Liberty-size shiploads—a year. But even before that rosy day arrives, the new pattern of coal exports could drastically change US shipping and boost cargoes and employment for> us seamen, if US ships get and from then on a steady rise. has deprived the US of the pri­ any sort of a break on coal According to the Organization for vately-owned ships which could European Economic Cooperation, have given it a commanding posi­ cargoes. an agency of the foreign aid pro­ tion in the US coal trade. Amer­ However, while US tramp ships and others have been sharing in the coal shipping prosperity, the percentage of all dry cargo ex­ ports carried on US vessels plummetted in 1955 to a new low of 18.8 percent from 22.5 percent in 1954. A major reason for this de­ cline in the face of a rising tide of cargo offerings is the transfer policy of the Maritime Adminis­ tration, leading to the flight of US tramps to runaway flags in 1954. Looking at it from the short range, up until 1945, coal exports were around four million tons a year. By contrast, in July, 1956, alone, coal exports were 4V^ mil­ lion tons. That explains why Sea­ farers are riding the Libertys to France and Germany loaded down with West Virginia bituminous for Europe's factories and power plants. The long-term view sees 1956's total coal shipments surpassing the record 42 million tons of 1947. ft sees 1957 equalling that total Make Checks To 'SlU-A&G' •) A 5 • l-i Seafarers mailing in checks or monej- orders to the Union to cover dues payments are urged to be sure to make all of them p.iyaWe to the SIU-A&G District. Some Sea.^'arers have sent in checks and money orders in the names of individual headquar­ ters officials. This makes for a problem in bookkeeping which can be avoided if checks are made out to the Union directly. gram, Western Europe's needs will mount to 50 million tons. Addi­ tional tonnage would go to Japan and Asiatic countries. Walter J. Tuohy, president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail­ way, the country's leading coal hauler, is of the opinion that port and transport facilities will be modernized so that the US can hit the ICQ million ton mark. Most coal exporters are a little more conservative than that. Railroads Expanding In anticipation of the coal boom, the railroads are not sparing the horses in expanding their facili­ ties for dumping coal into Hamp­ ton Roads, Va. The companies have 50,000 new coal-carrying freight cars on order to add to the 800,000 now in service and are adding to their coalhandling ma­ chinery at the Virginia terminus. The expected increase in coai shipments is what prompted the formation of American Coal Ship­ ping Inc. by the railroads, coal companies and the United Mine Workers. American Coal Ship­ ping's bid for 30 Liberty ship char­ ters has run into bitter opposi­ tion from both tramp and liner operators who see the new com­ pany as a monopoly and a threat to existing rates. Threat or not, American Coal Shipping would never have come into being were it not for the transfer of half the US tramp ship­ ping fleet beginning in 1954 in a period of a temporary tramp ship­ ping slump. The short-sightedness of that policy has been pointed up time and again in recent months as spot shortages of shipping have developed, enabling runaway op­ erators to hold a gun on Uncle Sam. Far from aiding the US mer­ chant marine, the transfer policy ican seamen and the US treasury have lost heavily as a result. The steadily-growing demand for US coal overseas is made up of several factors. Europe's indus­ tries are growing and European coal mines, most of them old with thin seams, are unable to keep pace with the demand. At the moment the Suez crisis is stimulat­ ing thie stockpiling of coal in event oil supplies are cut off. And finally in Eastern Europe, Soviet industrialization is outrunning coal supplies there, drawing coal from Polish sources. In the Far East, Japan has al­ ways been a coal importer. De­ veloping industry there and in other countries leans on the United States for fuel. AMERICA ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO • HOW AMERICAN UNIONS SERVE EVERY AMERICAN Th* paid vacation and pcdd holidays hav* bocom* national hutitutiona •nioyed by milUons of AmMicona. thanks to tha afforta of US onions. Twanty years ogo or avan lass, thasa two banaiita wars ran itaaoa anioyad by o limited number of proiaadonal and salaried amployaaa. Workers wlm wanted vacations or who got holida^ off did it on their own hook and than had to scratch to make up for tha lost earnings. . ^ Now virtually every American is ac­ customed to receiving an aimual vaca­ tion with poy and anywhere between four and ten paid holidays a yeor, in­ cluding Labor Day.A whole new indus­ try. creating lobs for hundreds of thouscmds of people, has sprung up to meet the needs of vacationers. Here again, it was an iiutance of union benefits changing a whole nation's pattern of living—for the better. Push New 'Wreck' Laws Sho. 'down election battles ate shaping up in at least a dozen states this fall on the issue of anti-union "right to work" laws. Despite the severe setback the "right to work" backers took in Louisiana when the legislature there threw out the law, they are pressing hard for similar laws in several states-^ ^ not now affected. In turn, la­ about came up with enough sig­ headway. Consequently unions bor groups fighting the 'wreck' natures to get the measure on the consider the fight on the national laws are pressing repeal moves, and seeking the election of State legislators who support the union's viewpoint. In two stales, voters will get an opportunity to ballot on the "right to work" issues. In Nevada, which has a "right to work" law on the books, a referendum will be held on a repeal proposal. In Washing­ ton, on the other hand, supporters of "right to work" succeeded in getting a proposal on the ballot in that state. The Washington "right to work" drive is not given much chance of success because the anti-labor groups backing the proposal just Looks Like A Spaceman — But It's A Bosun "J;.. -• fe: "' f-. LOG That's no visitor from Mars on the right there; it's only Ballard Browning, bosun on the Ro­ bin Kettering, wearing special breathing apparatus. Seafarers on the Kettering urge peri­ odic instruction for all ships on use of this gear "which is worth its weight in gold during emer­ gencies." Pictured (standing, I to r) are Peter Christopher; George Aimer; Cecil Futch; Browning; C. G. Berens, chief mate, leading the instruction; kneeling, Paul Wilkinson, John Powers. Photo by Mike Cornias. ballot. They had less than 60,000 valid signatures out of a voting population of better than a mil­ lion. A "right to work" move in Wyoming flopped dismally with only 5,600 signatures procured throughout the state for a refer­ endum move. Kansas Danger Spot In other states, the "right to work" groupis are making more dangerous headway. One of them is Kansas, where a biil passed the legislature last year but was ve­ toed by the governor, Fred Hall. He was subsequently defeated in the state's Republican primary, in­ dicating that a new "right to work" measure will come up next year. Other states facing "right to work" drives include Oregon, Colo­ rado, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Mis­ souri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Mary­ land and Connecticut. In most of these areas, "right to work" backers are riot conced­ ed much of a chance. However, they are as well-heeled as ever, ac­ cording to all accounts, and have been prolific in setting up organ­ ized pressure groups state by state to promote their favorite legisla­ tion. Masterminding the campaigns in the various states is the Na­ tional Right to Work Committee of Washington, DC. It is headed by Rep. Fred A. Hartley, Jr., co­ author of the Taft-Hartley act. All of this activity means that from the labor point of view, the elections of state legislators this fall rate in importance with the national Presidential and Con­ gressional elections. In the nine years that the Taft-Hartley law has been on the books efforts to repeal the clause permitting "right to work" laws have not made, much level only one part of their efforts, which include combatting the laws state by state. The "right to work" laws out­ law any contractual provision call­ ing for a union shop or mainte­ nance of membership, but compel the unions to represent and serv­ ice non-unionists equally with their own members. The laws are cur­ rently in effect in 17 states in the south, southwest and middle west. Quick Pact Nips Cement Plant Beef LAKE CHARLES—Work on a new waterfront cement plant was halted last week over a jurisdic­ tional quabble, but a quick settle­ ment sent all hands back on the job again a few days later. A picketline posted by the local carpenters union shut down ' the job temporarily. The dispqte halted work at the site of what Seafarers and other local marine interests hope will spearhead the development of new shipping and jobs. Except for an injury to one Sea­ farer while the Cities Service tank­ er Bents Fort was docking here, everything else is running along smoothly on the local front, ac­ cording to Leroy Clarke, port agent. Shipping bas declined, however, and seems to move from high to low every other period. Five Cities Service tankers, plus the Del Oro (Mississippi) and the Suamico, an SUP-manned tanker, provided the only shipping activity of the 'past two weeks. � 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 31, 1956 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU SETS 12 MONTH JOB HIGH CG DRAFTS PLAN FOR REINFORCING OF WELDED C-3’S EARLY DOCK BALLOT SEEN AS LABOR BD. REJECTS DELAY BID CAPTAIN ADMITS EXCESS SPEED ON FAIRISLE SIU WINS DELAWARE JOBLESS PAY CASE, TESTS ALABAMA RULE ITF ELECTS LUNDEBERG AS SEA REP PICK BELGIAN PORT AS SUPERLINER TERMINAL ADVICE TO WORKWORN: ‘JOIN UNION’ US TAX RUNAWAYS GROW FRENCH MAY BUILD SUPERLINER ALL’S WELL IN SUEZ CANAL NAB SEVEN IN RIESEL ATTACK; DIO ACCUSED COAL LIBERTY BREAKPOUT DENOUNCED BY US CO’S ‘OUR SHIPPING IS RED HOT,’ SEATTLE BOASTS COURT AGAIN REVOKES CG SCREEN RULE HUB ROLLS IN CLOVER, SHORT OF RATED MEN LIBERTY ‘SOUPED UP’ TO 17.5 KNOT SPEED COAL-TO-EUROPE OUTLOOK: 50 MILLION TONS YEARLY PUSH NEW ‘WRECK’ LAWS 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 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/31/1956 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. XVIII, No. 18 1956 Periodicals Seafarers Log