Seafarers Log: Vol. 19 No. 12 (1957-06-07)

Vol. XIX
No. n SEAFARERS LOG Juno 7

1957

• OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THI SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL CIO •

'Good Union Men
Never Crow Old'

Canada SIU Wins:

CO UNION
DEFEATED
ON SEAWAY

-Story On Page 3

M arine Firemen
Open New Hq.

Story On Page 2

Ask 75-25 Aid Bill
Story On Page 2

-

Oldtimers from all SIUNA affiliates in the front-line of the coal beef
are once again showing the trade union savvy and spirit with whkh
they helped build today's maritime unions. These are the old-line
fighters from the Sailors Union of the Pacific, Marine Firemen's Union,
Marine Cooks and Stewards and SIU-A&G District who took part in
historic maritime beefs of yesteryear, in the fights for the first union
contracts and hiring halls. Like these SIUNA crewmen on the coal
ships Cleveland Abbe (above) and Martha Berry (right), they are
coming forward again to take part in this joint effort. This is why
their brothers in all the districts are applauding their efforts.

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Pas:e Two SEAFARERS tOG jime 7, .1957

y'i-

Front view of the new Marine Firemen'» Union headquarters in San Francisco, which is to be offi­
cially opened today. The new building, located at 240 Second Street, includes a restaurant, recrea­
tion facilities and an ample parking lot.

MIFOW Dedieafes New Hq.
SAN FRANCISCO—The Marine Firemen's Union is now comfortably established in

its new headquarters building here after a three-day moving job. Dispatching and opera­
tion out of the new hall began last week, with formal dedication of the building taking
place this afternoon.

Representatives of the
A&G District and all West
Coast aflFiliates are scheduled to
attend the dedication as well as
a large turnout of the SIU of NA
membership.

The new hall is located at 240
Second Street in San Francisco. A
two-story affair, it replaces the
hall at 150 Broadway which is
scheduled to be torn down to make
way for a San Francisco highway
project.

Constructed of reinforced con­
crete, the hall includes a restau­
rant with capacity for 180 people,
hiring hall, dispatchers' office and
committee room on the first deck.
The second deck includes union
offices, the MFOW welfare plan
offices, a library, recreation room,
and office space which can be
rented out. A garage is provided
in the basement of the building,
as well as parking space in the
rear. The garage is leased out as
a commercial operation.

The old hall was opened in 1949
but was doomed by the State of
California when the State decided
it wanted the property for a down­
town freeway.

Work on the new building was
started only last August. Most of ]
the cost is covered by state com­
pensation paid to the union.

'Full Ahead'

Spirits High, Coai Ship
Old Timers Report

It's "full ahead" on the engine
room telegraph of the coal
ship Martha Berry and ditto
for the SlUNA on the whole
coal beef, says Seafarer Okal
Jdhes, oiler. 55, he's the
youngest man on the ship.

Coming home now from their first voyage to Europe on
two ragged old American Coal ships, oldtimers from all SIU
of NA affiliates are proving that age and experience can go a
long way on any beef.

"Rest assured that we. are
holding the fort," advises Okal
Jonts, oiler on the Martha Berry.
"Our men conducted themselves
very nicely on the voyage and dur­
ing our short stay in Antwerp . . .
Things in general look good."

His view is echoed by cook and
baker Marcelino Makatangay, also
on the Berry. "The trip is fine in­
deed," he writes. "The only thing
is, this Liberty ship is rocking the
whole trip . . . (and) . . . the crew
members are very old. The oldest
man on here is 86 years old and
the youngest is 55. It's kind of
funny, but they make out."

Jones and Makatangay are the
youngest men on the Berry, weigh­
ing in at 55 and 56 respectively.

United Nations Ship
Aboard the Harry L. Glucksman,

similar conditions prevail. Veteran
Seafarer William I. "Professor"
McKay, 69, with a half century of
sailing time behind him, reports
from France that this is a "regular
United Nations ship. The guys who
turned out for this beef originally
came from all over.

"We have seamen from Ireland,
Arabia, Hawaii, India, Sweden,
Brooklyn, China, Persia, Chile,
West Indies, Norway, Spain, Italy
and many more. Everybody is hold-

SEAFARERS LOG
Jui,.7, 1957 Vol. XIX No. 12

PAVL HAXX, Secr«tary-Trea«urer
HEBBERT BBAND. Editor. BERNARD SEA­

MAN. Art Editor. HERMAN ARTHUR, IRWIN
.SriVACH. Ah MAJOTIH, Jonii fliiAzii.,
WritBTi. Bnj. UoooT. Gulf Area Repre­
sentative.

PubllthRd bIwMkty ar. tha haadquarters
of lha Saafarara Intarnatlonal Union, At­
lantic a Gulf District, AFL-CiO, 675 Four .1
Avenua. Brooklyn 12, NY. Tel. HYacin.h
y-6600. Bntarad as second class matlei
at tha Post Office In Brooiciwn, NY, under
the Act ef Aua. 24. itix.

120

ing up his end." McKay is steward
utility on the Glucksman.

Oldtimers from the Sailors Un­
ion of the Pacific, Marine Fire­
men's Union, Marine Cooks and
Stewards and the SIU-A&G are
all working together on the coal
beef through a coordinating com­
mittee consisting of Morris Weis-
berger, SUP; Sam Bennett, MFOW;
Ed Turner, MCS, and Paul Hall,
SIU-A&G. "The tremendous front
line job" done by sea veterans
from all the unions involved has
been lauded by them time and
time again. "If spirit alone can do
it, we'll take this beef hands down,"
the committee declared this week.

Butler Proposes
75-25 Bi
US Aid Cargoes

WASHINGTON—Senator John Butler,, author of the "SO-
SO" cargo preference law, has called for an amendment which
would require at least 75 percent of all Governmient-firtanced

to be carried cargoes to be carried on
American flag vessels.

In an address to the Pro­
peller Club of Washington, DC,
the Maryland Republican offered
two reasons for this change. First,
he said, it is only fair that cargoes,
owned or financed by the US
Government should be carried in
major, not equal, part by privat;ely-
owned vessels flying the American
flag. His second justification was
his hope that there would be a
sharp cut In non-defense foreign
aid Items In the near future.

"If foreign aid declines," he
said, "thereby making it possible
to give some long overdue tax re­
lief to our people, there wilT be
less giveaway cargoes carried by
our own vessels unless.we boost
their share."

Can Waive 'SO-SO'.
Under the present "50-50" law,

50 percent of Government-financed
cargoes must be carried on Amer­
ican-flag vessels. If there are no
American vessels free to carry the
goods, the agency in charge of the
shipment may waive this require­
ment and ship it by way of a for­
eign ve.s.sel,

Butler also attacked what he
termed "administrative abuses" in
the handling of the cargo prefer­
ence law by Government agencies.
He said there were rumors that
some of them construed the bill to
mean only 50 percent of such car­
goes and no more, are to go in US
bottoms. Others, he claimed, were
offering 50 percent of the tonnages
to foreign flag vessels first and
then offering the balance on a
short-notice basis to Amei-ican
ships. Such a practice would not
give American ships enough time
to prepare schedules, and would,
in turn, allow the agency to recom­
mend waivers, thereby permitting
the rest of the cargo to go in for­
eign bottoms.

It was the intention of Congress,
he said, that the 50 percent re­
quirement be the minimum and no

the maximum amount to be carried
by American vessels. "If admin­
istrative abuses are taking place
in disregard of the spirit of Con­
gress and the expre^ language of
the statue, now is the time for the
Congress to take appropriate steps
to put an end to these' practices
and omissions."

Del Monte
Wins Award
For Safety

NEW ORLEANS—Another SIU-
manned ship to enter the charmed
circle on shipboard safety is the
Del Monte of Mississippi Shipping,
The vessej won the Delta Line's
1956 safety, award by recording
only one lost time accident for the
full year.

In doing so, the Del Monte
matched the achievement of the
Wild Ranger (Waterman) which
also recorded just one lost time
accident in 1956. This was good
enough to take the Waterman
fleet honors. The Robin Tuxford
(Seas Shipping) was the unchal­
lenged leader in this area with its
record of 502 days without a lost
time accident. The Tuxford has
since been sold to Isbrandtsen.

The Del Monte gang was pre­
sented with an engraved plaque
by the company's president, H. T.
Kelly, commemorating its record.
Captain H. C. Brote accepted the
award in behalf of the crew. It
will hang in the ship's saloon.

Seafarers on the ship's safety
committee included chief steward
John W. Picou, bosun Wilson
Thomas and chief electrician Keith
Winsley.

Top 1956 safely award for Delia Line fleel goes to SlU-manned-Del Monte, as company president
Horry X. Kelly ' ^ 3rd from left) presents plaque to Copt. Henry C. Brote. The ship had only one lost
time accident' during the year on the African run. Looking on (I to r) ore T. R. Knight, chief mote]
Seafarer Keith "Honolulu" Winsley, chief electrician; Copt. Edgar Seamen, safety director; Sea­
farer John Picou, steward; chief engineer N. Esquerre; J. V. Thorton, Ist assistant; Seafarer Wil­
son Thomas, bosun, (rear), and E. Hansen, 2d mote (kneeling).



Jniie 7.1957 SEAFARERS LOG Pare Thirjee

Over 400 years of seoHme is represented by these SlUNA oldtlmer^ who ore in Norfolk to pitch in
on the cool beef. The men, members of all three ship's departments, are (I to r) Moses A. Lucas,
H. W. Muches, Jesse W. Puckett, Jomes D. Parker, Joseph Green, Tom Bubar, John AusHpz, Chor-
les Hortman, and Walter J. Wright. They are standing by to throw in for jobs as replacements on
incoming cool ships.

Replacements Join Four Coal
Ships; SlU Leading 100-96

A temporary breather has been reached in the American Coal Shipping struggle as the
last of four ships inXfor replacements completed crewing on Thursday, May 30. The supply­
ing of replacement crewmembers to the Thomas Paine finished a week of grim battling for
coal ship jobs. It ended with>
the SIU "still maintaining a lead,
now 100 to 96, despite the
built-in NMU handicap of six jobs
aboard the Coal Miner.

The six jobs on the Miner were
frozen in under the terms of the
court order governing hiring. In
actual competition then, the SIU,
bolstered by oldUmers from the
pacific District unions, Is leading
the NMU 100 to 90.

The Miner itself was delayed for
five days while necessary repairs
were taken care of, including re­
pairs to a large number of burned
out tubes in the boilers. It was one
of the four ships in for replace­
ments.

The next ship will be in about
a week from tomorrow according
to present schedules, which, of
course, are subject to change.

AFL-CIO Committee
Meanwhile, AFL-CIO President

George Meany has appointed a
committee of two to mediate the
dispute. The committee consists of
Jacob Potofsky, president of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America and George Harrison,
president of the Brotherhood of

Railway Clerks. Meany's action
came after the last AFL-CIO Coun­
cil meeting heard a full report on
the dispute from Meany and from
representatives of all the AFL-CIO
unions involved in the fight.

On the legal side, the National

Labor Relations Board has again
postponed action on the SIU's com­
plaint against the company. It was
"this complaint which led to the
court order governing the hiring
of oldtimers for the American

(Continued on page 15)

Behind On Jobs, NMU
Calls For NLRB Election

The National Maritime Union announced this Wednesday
it had called for a National Labor Relations Board vote in the
American Coal Shipping fieet. The vote would determine
whether the SIU or the NMU
has a majority of the un­
licensed crews on the coal
ships. At present the count stands
SIU 100, NMU 96.

The vote is the inevitable out­
come of the action initiated by the
SIU last November in its com­
plaint against American Coal for
discriminating in hiring against
Seafarers. It was the SIU's posi-

Seafarer Don. R. Catlin, fire­
man, back from Norfolk after
trying for coal ship job, hits
the deck at SIU New York
membership meeting. Though
he started sailing in 1920, he
said he was "a baby" com­
pared to the oldtimers taking
part in the beef.

Pension Facts
NMU President Curran's to­

tal inability to stare a fact in
the face was again revealed in
the last "NMU Pilot." On page
3, the "Pilot" reported that the
coal ship score was tied 98 to
98. On page 13 the story was
"NMU Pulls Ahead." Actually
of course, neither of these state­
ments was true since the SIU
was leading at the time and
still does at this writing.

Similarly the "Pilot" an­
nounced that the SIU has "no
pension," and then went on to
laud the NMU's pension plan
while carefully omitting any
details. The facts of the pen­
sion situation are as follows:

• A&G District — $150 a
month disability - pension pay­
able at any ag^,

• SUP, MFOW, MCS —$100
a month pension, with an in­
crease now in the works.

• NMU—$65 a month pen­
sion.

No wonder Curran feels it
necessary to falsify, in light of
the record.

tion from the outset that the men
in the fleet should be entitled to
the right to choose the union of
their preference via the ballot.

Attacked SIU _

The NMU at the time viciously
attacked the SIU for proceeding
against the company with a collec­
tive bargaining election in mind.
In fact, NMU President Joseph
Curran charged that such SIU ac­
tion for fair and equitable hir­
ing leading to an election was "at­
tacking the hiring hall."

Maritime observers were at
loss to explain why the NMU had
filed its petition at this time when
it was trailing in the fleet instead
of at an earlier date before the
SIU had steadily cut down and
surpassed the NMU in total mem­
bership on the ships. In fact, the
NMU tacitly admitted It is trailing
in the dompetition for coal ship
jobs, since according to the "New
York Herald Tribune" report,
"NMU officials are counting on de­
fections from the SIU ranks to
give them the majority."

If NMU had a "clear majority"
as it claimed in another news story,
it would have no need to count on
SIU "defections."

If all the men now on the seven
cOal ships are able to cast their
ballots the outcome can be pre­
dicted in advance as 100 SIU to 96
NMU. However, these figures are
subject to change in the light of
possible replacements, illnesses
and other factors which could
change the composition of the
crews before the Labor Board sets
a cutoff date on eligible voters.

SIU Routs
Co. Union
In Canada

MONTREAL, CanaiJa—Another major victory over;
company unionism was won this week by the SIU Cana­
dian District in its drive to organize St. Lawrence Sea­
way operations. The Que­
bec Labor Relations Board
meeting in Ottawa, has
thrown out a certification bid
by a company union and or-
d e r e d Marine Industries
Ltd., a major Seaway operator, to
stop promoting the company union
with the intent of depriving its em
ployees of their bargaining rights

The Labor Relations Board ac­
tion came after hundreds of sea­
men^ aboard tugs, barges, dredges
and other miscellaneous craft
walked off their jobs in protest
against the efforts of the company

SIU headquarters has just re­
ceived word that the Canadian Dis­
trict has won a contract calling for
a 20 percent increase, job security
and other benefits for the Seaway
workers. All men are now back on
the job.

to hang the company-sponsored un­
ion around their necks. Three hun­
dred of the men, about half of
the total crews working for Marine
Industries, went to Ottawa to tes­
tify of the company's relationship
with the company-sponsored^union.
After hearing testimony from doz­
ens of the men, the Labor Board
acted to block the company move.

As a consequence, the SIU Cana­
dian District has now presented
contract demands on behalf of the
six hundred men in an effort to
wrap up a first-time agreement
with the Seaway concern. Mean­
while, the entire Marine Industries
operation has been shut down
tight as a drum.

Hal Banks, SIUNA vice-president
declared that the Board's action
has "broken the back of the com­
pany's attempt to force a dummy
union upon the men. We have solid
support throughout the Marine In­
dustries force and are pressing
hard for a genuine contract."

Marine Industries is one of the
companies currently Involved in
the dredging and construction op­
eration on the Canadian side of the

SCHEDULE OF
SIU MEETINGS

SIU membership meef-
ings are held regularly
every two weeks on Wed­
nesday nights at 7 PM in
all SIU ports. All Sea­
farers ore expected to
attend; those who wish to
be excused should request
permission by telegram
(be sure to include reg­
istration number). The
next SIU meetings will be:

June \%
June 26
July 10
July 24

August 7

St. Lawrence Seaway. It has •
large number of boats in operation
on the job, including . some big
dredges with crews of 65 to 70
men each.

Simpson

Seafarer Is
Stanford U.
News Head

STANFORD, Calif. Seafarer
Wallace M. Simpson, a 1954 SIU
scholarship award winner, will
start his senior year at Stanford
University this fall as editor of
the student-published "Stanford
Daily."

Simpson had been associate edi­
tor of the college newspaper this
semester and won the top editorial
post in staff elections last week.
The paper is an eight-column, four-
page "standard" published five

days a week. It
covers campus
and local news.

This recogni­
tion for the 26-
year-old sea vet­
eran climaxes a
varied career. A
major in interna­
tional relations at
Stanford, he
spent eight of his

first nine years in China with his
missionary parents. Returning from
there just before World War II,
the family relocated periodically in
various US cities before finally
settling in Baltimore.

Accepted In 1947
Originally accepted at Stanford

ten years ago when he graduated
from high school, he found himself
unable to enroll because of finan­
cial needs and turned to the sea
to earn his way on the advice of. a
Baltimore tug skipper. Before long
he was sailing on deck with Ore
Line, Calmar and other SIU out­
fits, and later from the West Coast,
where his family lives now at
Riverbank, Calif.

His success in winning a $6,000
SIU scholarship settled his prob­
lem in 1954, after a seven-year
wait. He started school finally that
September.

Simpson's journalistic bent
showed itself at Sparrows Point
High, where he worked on the
school paper and was editor of the
first graduate yearbook ever pub­
lisher at the school. He promoted
the publication among the students
and faculty until the idea won
acceptance. He concedes that his
interest in it grew out of the fact
that all four of the other high
schools he attended had published
yearbooks and he didn't intend to
leave without one when he was
finally due for his sheepskin.

Right now, Simpson is also vice-
president of the Institute of Inter­
national Relations at Stanford and
is hopeful of a journalistic or
foreign service career upon gradua­
tion next year.



Pasre Four SEAFARERS LOG June 7, 1957

m

PL - ^

SlU Backs
Raises For
PO Workers

NEW YORK—SIU Secretary-
Treasurer Paul Hall has urged
members of the House of Repre­
sentatives to support a measure
which would increase salaries for
postal employees.

The measure, the Morrison Bill
(HR 2474) would give postal work­
ers their second increase in salary
In the last six years. The last in­
crease came only after two presi­
dential vetoes.

"We understand and appreciate
the efforts being made by Congress
to hold Federal expenses at reason­
able levels," Hall wrote. "But it
Is only fair that the post office
worker, who must buy his necessi­
ties in today's inflated market, re­
ceives his due consideration."

The measure, at present, is side­
tracked in the House and will not
come out for action unless the
members sign a discharge petition.
So far 147 members have signed
the petition. A total of 218 is re-
Quired to bring out the bill.

Father And Daughter Act

Not a bit camera shy, Patrice Pierce, 3, shows off her dimples In
a big smile for a LOG photpgrapher. Dad Jimmy Pierce also got
a kick out of the proceedings during recent visit to SIU head­
quarters. Patrice was just three.

Drive On For Ship Giveaways
WASHINGTON—"The dam has busted" as they say, and foreign nations are pouring

through the breach with requests for US surplus tonnage. Apparently feeling that the
time is ripe, foreign countries have various Congressmen sponsoring sale of no less than 86
Government - owned vessels, f
with more to come.

US maritime unions and the
maritime industry are alarmed by
the swelling scope of foreign ton­
nage bids and are preparing to
put up a hard fight against the
sales when the Senate Commerce
Committee opens hearings on the
measure.

At present, six countries have
bids before Congress—India, West
Germany, T u r k e y, Guatamala,
Mexico and Italy. Countries ex­
pected to be heard from are Peru,
Brazil (which already was sold a
dozen C-ls) and Austria fwhich
has no coastline and no merchant
marine).

Shipyards Choked

Two reasons are given for the
wholesale bids at this time. One
Js the fact that shipyards overseas
are choked with orders and It Is
tough to get any kind of new ton­
nage built. The second is that the
foreign nations ai-e hopeful of
making a quick profit by getting
US ships at less than world market
prices.

A Liberty, for example, is quot­
ed on the market for anything
from $725,000 up. The statutory
price under which they have been
sold under the Ship Sales Act Is
about $639,000.

Propose High Price

The administration is reported
preparing an omnibus bill which
would set a price under law closer
to what the ships can actually
command on the market.

Tonnage bids already in Include
the following:

• Twelve ships for India's coast­
wise trade.

• Thirty ships to carry coal to
West Germany.

• Fifteen ships for Turkey's
coastwise trade.

•Fifteen ships, including eight
Libertys, four C-ls, two Victorys

and one Liberty tanker for unre­
stricted use by Guatemala, a coun­
try without any marine industry
to speak of.

• Four ships for Mexico which
would run into California and
Texas ports.
• Ten ships for Italy.

Employees aboard Montreal har­
bor craft owned and operated by
the Montreal Harbor Board have
unanimously voted the SIU Ca­
nadian District as their bargain­
ing agent in an election held by
the Canadian Labor Relations
Board. The group consist of crew­
men aboard the tugs Sir Hugh
Allan, Glenkeen, a floating derrick
and a floating crane, the launch
Messenger N. IV, and watchmen
who guard the Harbor Board
properties. Since all Canadian har­
bors are under federal govern­
ment jurisdiction, actual control
over the harbor and employees Is
under the Department of Trans­
port at Ottawa.

$1

The Brotherhood of Marine En­
gineers announced that the first
payment under its retirement
benefit was made to former chief
engineer Fred Wickdahl. Wick-
dahl, who retired at the age of 66
after a sea-going career dating
back to 1901, received a check for
$500, covering payments from Jan­
uary to May, 1957. The plan. Ini­
tiated in 1955, pays a benefit of
$100 a month, exclusive of Social
Security payments. It was the
first retirement program for ma­
rine officers set up by an Ameri­
can maritime union.

•t 4<
The membership has unani­

mously approved the installation
of a new modern electric hiring
hall board for the Sailors Union
of the Pacific headquarters In San
Francisco, reports the "West Coast
Sailor." Also adopted was a
recommendation that modern
boards be placed in the other
ports at a later date.

Pension payments for the month
of April, 1957, the Marine Fire­
men's Union reports, reached a

total of $12,576.40 paid to 134
members. The payments are now
fixed to yield a maximum monthly
payment of $100. In addition, a
totJd of $13,940.72 was paid in
pensioner surgical and hospital
benefit claims for the month and
$11,937 in dependent surgical and
hospital benefit claims. Other fig­
ures released by the MFOW wel­
fare department Include the pay­
ment of $6,000 in life insurance
claims, and $1,500 in burial claims.

CC Oreship
Load Hules
Under Study

WASHINGTON — Coast Guard
plans to establish new regulations
for the stowage of ore and ore
concentrates have been delayed
pending appointment of a commit­
tee to study the entire subject of
ore carriage. The action was voted
by the Coast Guard's Merchant
Marine Council meeting May 7.

May Ban Cork Preservers
At the same time, the Council

postponed action to ban the use of
cork and balsa wood in life pre­
servers. The action was taken to
give manufacturers time to see if
they could develop cork and balsa
preservers that would meet inter­
national safety regulations.

The ore stowage committee will
consist of Coast Guard officials and
industry representatives. It will
develop a "code of good practice"
for the carriage of ore cargoes.

The proposed new regulations
were drawn up in response to the
smking of several US-flag ore ships
in recent years. Among them were
the SlU-manned Southern Isles
and Southern Districts, and the
Mormackite and Pelagia.

ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), April U
-.Chairman, T. Wasilukj Sacratary, R,
Griffith. San Juan agent wialies to
commend crew in recent cooperaUon
In trade union movement action in
San Juan. Largest fish caught by
Vante, (red snapper). Clem and Tony
were second. $14.19 in ship's fund.
Discussion on safety meeting, sugges­
tions not acted on. Oh. mate says
it is to expensive, to make suggested
changes. Bos'n requested porthole to
be in starboard bulkhead. Ch. mate
is not the one to decide which are
the suggestions on safety to change.
Company and union should decide.

also storing in SUouston. Safety con­
ditions have greatly improved during
the past few weeks aboard this ship.
Suggestion by all to keep water foun­
tains clean. Discussion on dates on
shipping cards when leaving the
Union hall.

ALICE BROWN (Bloomflald) April
3—Chairman, T. Fleming; Secretary,
T. Zlelinskl. Bought tape, dominos
and wire. $6.82 left in ship's fund.
Give ship's fund to patrolman to give
to some orphanage as ship is laying
up. Repair list to be- made up to
turn in tomorrow.

AMES VICTORY (Victory), April 7
—Chairman, C. Starling; Secretary, B.
Felly. Repairs taken care of. Water
tanks to be cleaned in Japan.

BALTORE (Ore), April 14—Chair­
man, N. Wslch; Secretary, J. Mehalov.
Repair list made up and turned In.
$8.25 in ship's fund. Tubs in laundry
to be kept clean. Discussion on ree-
reation room, suggestion to put extra
bench in. Linen change hours to be
changed so 12 to 4 watch may get
linen without losing their morning
sleep.

BIENVILLE (Pan Atlantic), March 3
—Chairman, C. Hughart; Secretary,
C. Martin. Telegram was sent to SUP
headquarters—to SUP officers and
members and to H. Lundeburg's fam­
ily, in sympathy in the passing of H.
Lundeberg, and we all mourned a
great loss In maritime labor. Man
made pierhead jump in Port of Tam­
pa. this man was cleared by patrol­
man on arrival in New York as being
ciass A seniority man. 2nd cook
missed ship in Tampa. Discussion on
eariy payoff in the port of New Or­
leans.

CARIB QUEEN (TMT), March Si-
Chairman, P. Dwycr; Secretary, S.
Schuyler. No beets as of now. every­
thing seems to be going along alright.
Would like to have department re­
pair lists to be turned in as soon as
possible by the respective delegates.
Minor repairs to be fixed aboard.
Discussion on ship's heat to be taken
up with boarding patrolman.

CAROLYN (Bull), April 14—Chair­
man, W. Smith; Secretary, M. Wright.
Dump trash In one barrel at a time
in port—see ch. engineer about more
pressure on toilets. No hot water
after 6.00 PM. Return all free towels
to steward. A better variety of night
lunch. Also, cold platters In hot cli­
mate. Port hole screens without
scoops.

CITIES SERVICE MIAMI (CS),
April 4—Chairman, G. Pease; Secre­
tary, L. Doty. All repairs being taken
care of. except messhall menu board.
Will see p.-itrolman about it again.
$11 In ship's fund. Suggestion made
to buy checker board and cribbage
board for all hands to use.

April 14—Chairman, J. Barton; Sec­
retary, J, Corry. Two men missed ship
at Lake Charles. Checker board was
bought. $10 left In fund. Ship's dele­
gate resigned. New slilp's delegate
elected. Coffee pot to be moved out
of way of draft. Washing machine Is
not being cleaned properly. Benches
to be made for sitting outside of
messroom in nice weather.

STEEL FLYER (Isthmian), Feb. 3—
Chairman, M. Machel; Secretary, R.
Ferrandiz. $59 in bank. Election of
ship's delegate. Wringer on washing
machine in need of repair. Same ma­
chine needs strainer. Vote of thanks
to third cook for taking care of TV.

April 14—Chairman, H. Thomas;
Secretary, L. McLendon. Captain will
put out a blanketvdraw of $50 before
we arrive in New Orleans. $59 in
ship's funds. Crew , needs new wash-
ing machine. ^ip Infested with
roaches. Recommend fumigation.

ALCOA PILGRIM (Alcoa), April 20
—Chairman, D. DISel; Secretary, W.
Thomson. Matter of ship coming Into
port light from foreign voyage to
load. Doesn't • „,e to pay off. Ship's
delegate to ask patrolman why.

ALCOA RANGER (Alcoa), May (—
Chairman, J. Jonas; Secretary, A.
Carpenter. Ship's delegate elected.

Safety committee resigned as beefs
are not taken care of. New salt and
pepper shakers needed. Deck dept.
asked to replace deck chair covers
after washing down. Steward dept.
asked to be sure to take garbage aft.
Please keep feet off chairs and set­
tees. Check with patrolman about
repairs not being done.

ALMENA (Pan Atlantic), April Si-
Chairman, J. Sweeney; Secretary, A.
Wllburn. Repair lists have been
turned In and some of the work has
been done. Checkeil headquarters
concerning disputed overtime, and

BEATRICB (Bull), May 5 — Sacra­
tary, A. Isaac. Chairs to be replaced
or repaired. Locks also. Crew Insist
that Ivory soap be changed as other
Bull line ships carry Lifebuoy, Lux
and PalmoUve soaps. Patrolman to
check with delegates about replacing
mattresses.

BRADFORD ISLAND (Cities Serv­
ice), April 28—Chairman, J. Molley;
Secretary, D. Knight. Ship's delegate
elected. Have mall to SIU Hall In
Lake Charles. Talked about smoking
on deck. Also about ruffing up clean
laundry when coming aboard ship.
And they should be reminded not to
carry fire arms aboard-.^ps.

CITIES SERVICE 'MIAMI (Cities
Service), May 7 — Secretary, A. Kea-
Inskl. There will be a cot for each
man and benches will be made for
hot run. $10 in ship's fund, Medicine
chest to be checked and to have
menus typed.

CITY OP ALMA (Waterman), April
21—Chairman, F. Alrey; Secretary, C.
Crabtree. To raffle off ship's r.idio.
All small change at payoff Is to go
into ship's fund. Ship's delegate to
remain same till next crew up. Coffee
to be made in urn. This is one of the
best crews in at long time.'

COALINGA Hl£ts (Pan-Atlantic),
April 28—Chairman, R. Arnold; Sec­
retary, P. Sheldrake. Vote of thanks
to' steward department.

COEUR D'ALENE VICTORY (Vic­
tory Carr.), April 21—Chairman, R.
McCulloch; Secretary, L. Lewis. Read
letter concerning safety meetings. $5
in ship's fund. Vote of thanks to
steward and department for good
chow and service.

COUNCIL GROVE (Cities Service),
April 28—Chairman, K. Hcllman; Sec­
retary, E. Caudlll. A beef delayed
sailing several hours. $2.46 in ship's
fund. Ship to have fans according to
agreement. Check of locker and
screens.

DEL MAR (Mississippi), April 28—
Chairman, E. J. Rivers; Secretary, C.
Dowllng. Elected new ships dele­
gate. $174.35 in ship's fund. Elected
athletic director. Motion to give sick
crew member $50. He Is unlicensed
and had to get off ship In foreign
port. Have two ball games coming
up and anyone wanting to play ball
to see director. Turn off washing
machine when through with it.

DEL NORTE (Mississippi), April 2$
—Secretary, H. Crane. $50 to be given
to Brother in New Orleans who Is
sick. Beefs in engine and steward
departments. To be brought to patrol­
man. Ship's projector is available to
us If one of the electricians will
handle It. Four movies ordered for
next trip. $22 left over in movie
fund. Donations as follows: deck. $42,
engine. $40, steward, $60. - $154.18 on
hand from last trip. $50 given to
brother when taken to hospital In
Buenos Aires. Donations: engine,
$19, delegate, $20, steward, waiters
and messmen, $16, galley delegate,
$15. $30 derived from selling arrival
pools.

STEEL EXECUTIVE (Isthmian),
April 27—Deck department doing a
lot of work In evenings. Shortage of
cigarettes. Stewards requested to be
in mess hall at meal time. To go on
record that this ves.sel is the worst
feeder in the Isthmian fleet. Bad
menus, no baked meats.

MV DEL VIENTO (Mississippi),
March 4—Chairman, E. Fain; Secre­
tary, P. Plasclk. Reports on icebox,
washing machine and other repairs.
Reported the donation of $27.50 to
tugboatmen on strike In Gulf area.
Discussed safety first items and asked
the crew to observe safety first at all
times. The incumbent ship's delegate
reelected with a vote of thanks for
a Job well done. It was agreed that
an arrival pool was to be made to
raise money for ship's fund. All
hands were asked to stop smoking
near hay and cattle. New washing
machine was requested. Old one is
constantly on repair list.

GOVERNMENT CAMP (CItlei Serv­
ice), May 2—Chairman, J. Tanner; Sec­
retary, H. Westphall. New washing
machine needed very badly. Agitator,
welded too many times. No money
In ship's fund.

JOHN B. KULUKUNDIS (Martis),
May 3—Collection for widow of Bill
Hood taken. $10 collected. Crew pro­
posed new washing machine. One re­
fused to donate to widow. Juices
available in port upon request. Dump
garbage. Declare soap and matches
In France.

JOSEFINA (Liberty Nav. Co.), April
24—Chairman, L. Carreon; Secretary,
B. Wentworth. Delegate to check
stewards' store list next time ship
takes stores. Captain to get ship
fumigated as it Is overdue. Captain
also to replenish slop chest.

MONTEBELLO HILLS (Western
Tankers), April 7—Chairman, E. Go-

igs; Secretary, C. Rasmuson. $17.29
in ship's fund.

April 25—Chairman, E. Goings; Sec­
retary, L. McNalr. $17.25 in ship's
fund. Discussion on steward depart­
ment and concluded to have all hands
try for harmonious relations.



•f—

June 7, 1957 SEAFARERS LOG Page Five

QUESTIONi SlU fhipi may won be going to Polish ports. Would
you be Interested In going there? How do you feel about this trade
yylth an Iron Curtain natign?

Dan Butts, bosun: Since I was in
(he port of Danzig in 1933,1 would

like to revisit it
and see how the
people fared un-
d e r Communist
control. This
food might be
Just the thing
necessary to ad­
vance democracy,
and the Seafarers
who go there

should conduct themselves in the
proper manner and not leave a bad
impression.

i. Z. ^
John Llstun, AB: If the cargo Is

food, I would be interested in go­
ing to Poland.
Since the Com­
mies are over
here trying to in­
fluence us, why
not send food
over to influence
them? Poland
did not want to
go C o m m u-
nist, and I think
that the country can be turned
toward democracy.

John Jackson, OS: I'am not so
sure I would like to sail food to

Poland. Why
should wo send
food to a nation
that is supporting
Red China? If
the food was for
the Polish people
only, and would
not go to Russia
in any way, then
I might think it

worthwhile to carry it to them.

J. B. Garrison, bosun: If the
Government and Union agree to it

I would like to
sail for Poland.
It may be good
advertising for
the US. So long
as the cargo does
not contain some­
thing that could
be thrown back at
us later, or aid
in the build-up of

any other Communist nation, I
would not object.

if P
Duke Livingston, AB; If it is the

national policy to send food to Po­
land, who am I
to argue and not
man the vessels?
It's the Union's
policy to do what
the Government
thinks best, and
so we should
ship them. Be­
sides, we are
feeding everyone
else, BO why not the Polish people?
I have no beef with them.

^
Adrian Remyn, bosun: Why not?

It's a Job. Just as long as we are
deliyering food
only, I don't care
where the ship
goes, even if it Is
to Mao Tse-tung's
backyard. If the
Government OK's
it, I'll sail it. I
would object
though if they
were sending

ammo, and not something for the
I common good of the people.

BaltTugTalks Underway;
Crews Ignore District 50

BALTIMORE—Organizational activities in the Port of Bal-
timore are continuing in high
port agent. The SIU's Harbor
gion now represents most of ^
the port's major tug and small
craft companies, he said, and
is currently In negotiations for an
agreement.

There is still some die-hard op­
position from United Mine Work­
ers District 50 which has set up

glcket lines around Curtis Bay,
altimore Towage and Harper

Bros., but to no avail. Although
there was some confusion at Curtis
Bay, Sheppard continued, nearly
all of their tugs are now sailing.
Kone of the other companies were
affected, he added.

The UMW catch-all local had
gone all out last month urging
crewmembers of the tugs to vote
"no • union." But despite their
efforts, the tug men voted 146 to
9 in favor of the SIU, at six tug
companies.

Job activity also has continued
In high gear even though registra­
tion has ' outnumbered shipping.
But most of those registering, he
reported, were new "C" cards.

There were 35 vessels in port
during the last period. Fourteen
paid off, 7 signed on and 14 were
in transit.

The Mankato Victory (Victory
Carriers); Evelyn, Emilia, Edith,
Mae, Jean (Bull); Massmar, Tex-
mar, Losmar, Bethcoaster (Calmar);'
Venore, Cubore (Ore); Hurricane

gear, reports Earl Sheppard,
and Inland Waterways Divi-

(Waterman) and Council Grove
(Cities Service) paid off while the
Baltimore, Venore, Cubore (Ore);
Massmar, Losmar (Calmar); CS
Baltimore (Cities Service) and the
Carib Queen (TMT) signed on. The
Bethcoaster, Alamar (Calmar);
Valley Forge (Penn. Nav.); Cubore,
Chilore, Santore, Marore, Baltore
(Ore); CS Baltimore (Cities Serv­
ice); Alcoa Pegasus, Alcoa Partner,
Alcoa Runner, Alcoa Partner
(Alcoa) and the Robin Sherwood
(Robin) were in port to be serviced.

Operator Of Runaway Tankers
Named To Top Cabinet Post

The operator of a large-scale runaway-flag tanker venture has been named by Presi­
dent Eisenhower to be the next Secretary of the Treasury. In that post, he will be in direct
charge of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and have a major voice in the administration's
tax and budget policies.

The runaway flag operator
is Robert' B., Anderson, who
formerly was Secretary of the
Navy and Deputy Secretary of De­
fense before he resigned his Gov­
ernment post in 1955 and went
into the runaway shipping busi­
ness. Anderson is also active in
several other business enterprises,
including a Canadian holding com­
pany, Ventures Ltd., and is a trus­
tee of the Ford Foundation.

It was in May, 1956, that the
newspapers carried an announce­
ment telling of the formation of
Trinity Tankers, a new tax-dodging
runaway flag operation with "am­
bitious plans and extensive finan­
cial backing. The company was
formed by Anderson; Roger Kyes,
another former Deputy Secretary
of Defense and a General Motors
man who went back to that cor­
poration as vice-president (Sec­
retary of Defense Charles Wilson
is also from General Motors), and
Lee White, former Assistant Sec­
retary of the Air Force.

$42 Million Program
The new corporation said it was

undertaking a $42 million con­
struction program involving six
40,500-ton supertankers to be built
in Sweden. It purchased another
20,000-ton tanker then under con­
struction in Japan and took op­
tions for construction of four more
supers in the Swedish yai'ds.

All this was before the Suez
crisis broke out. The press for
tanker shipbuilding space since
then has undoubtedly put Trinity
Tankers in a very enviable po­
sition.

A check by the SEAFARERS
LOG at the time indicated that
the new venture was privately fi­
nanced as there were no public
bond or stock issues outstanding.
The likely source of such enor­
mous sums as the company had
available would be one of the ma­
jor American oil companies. As
the LOG said at the time, "Some
of the circumstances suiTOunding
the deal have a hint of unusual
'business' dealing inasmuch as all
three men as Government officials
were in the position of being the
world's biggest customers for oil.
The 'Gov't Alumni' company al­
ready has charters from an un­
named major American oil com­
pany for the tankers it has yet to
build."

Actually, not only is the US. Gov­
ernment the world's biggest oil
customer but the Defense Depart­
ment, representing the armed
forces. Is by far the largest con­
sumer of oil in the Government.

Under the circumstances, it would

^ E A A

PORT 0'CALL

e75'--4^xAvEMCP 'izte

How Runaway Gimmick Operates
Uncle Sara is losing enormous quantities of revenue because of

the operations of runaway fleets by American citizens. The way
the gimmick works is this:

A US citizen pays a trivial registration fee to a Liberian office
(Liberia maintains an office in New York just, for maritime affairs)
and places a foreign flag on his vessel, which is operated under
a Liberian corporation.

That immediately exempts him from payment of taxes on the
ship's earnings to the United States government. He pays no taxes
to Liberia either because his ship never touches that country.

As the Internal Revenue Bureau has pointed out, taxes are only
paid on such earnings where the actual earnings are transferred as
cash to the United States owner or owners. But the clever runaway
operator escapes this impost. He can—

• Withhold earnings and reinvest them foreign.
9 Have the earnings ti-ansferred to h!m here as an ipterest-

free "loan" and invest the proceedings of the "loan."
• Sell stock in the parent corporation to the Liberian cor­

poration and get the profits that way.
• Escape the capital gains tax on a transferred ship which

he "sells" by accepting a stock transfer instead of cash, with
the stock value grossly understated at less than true value.

As a consequence, over 229 tankers and untold hundreds of dry
cargo ships have been transferred foreign, plus millions of tons of
new shipping built for runaway flags. The greatest bulk of this
shipping is owned by Americans.

be reasonable to expect that the
oil company which gave Trinity
the charters would supply a good
deal of the financing for the opera­
tions.

Anderson hhnself was a prac­
ticing attorney representing a ma­
jor Texas oil operator for a num­
ber of years and subsequently was
the general manager of the same
oil enterprise from 1941 until 1953
when he was appointed to the post
of Navy Secretary.

Two Years In Gov't
After two years in the Defense

Department, he went back to pri­
vate business and engaged in the
runaway shipping venture among
others. Now he is^ heading back to
Government service again.

With Anderson riaing herd in
the Treasury Department, chances
are that runaway operators will
have little to fear in the~way of
a tax crackdown on their opera­
tions and others will be tempted
to exploit the same tax loopholes
which have made these operations
immensely profitable.

Just a week before the Ander­

son appointment. Secretary of La­
bor James P. Mitchell assailed the
runaways as undermining Ameri­
can shipping and the wage stand­
ards of seamen. "Unrestricted
transfers . . . could serve to in­
tensify the reduction of shipping
opportunities for United States flag
ships," he declared.

However, the Navy, which An­
derson previously represented, and
the Maritime Administration of
the Department of Commerce have
taken the position that it's okay
to transfer ships as long as they
are under the "effective" control
of the US. Neither has shown much
concern over the tax loss to the
US, or the impossible competitive
position in which American-flag
shipping is placed by the runaways.

Now with an ex-runaway opera­
tor in charge of the Treasui-y De­
partment, objections of the Bureau
of Internal Revenue to the tax
losses will slowly "fade away,"
leaving Mitchell the only top Gov­
ernment official to support the
Magnuson bill restricting ship
transfers.

La. Senate Nips Attempt
To Revive 'Wreck' Law

Attempts to enact "right to work" laws in Connecticut and
Louisiana were overwhelmingly defeated in both state legis­
latures. In Louisiana, the senate voted down by a 25 to 8
margin an attempt to restore"*"'
the "wreck" law that had been
repealed last year. In Con­
necticut, a large turnout of labor
representatives at early hearings
helped swing sentiment against the
proposal which was rejected by the
Republican-controlled house, ISO-
SB.

The Louisiana action was a last
echo of the campaign by the SIU
and other AFL-CIO organizations
which put an end to Louisiana's
two-year experiment with the
wreck law last year. Labor's League
for Political Education, which had
set up headquarters in the SIU
New Orleans hall, started the fed­
eration's political operations right
after the auoption of the measure.
In 1954 SIU Port Agent Lindsey
Williams had served as Chairman
on the League's executive board.

Union leaders and members

strove continuously to present the
facts of the Louisiana law to the
public. Candidates for election
were urged to make public com­
mitments of their stand, so the
issue would be clear cut for the
voters. As the State elections drew
near. Seafarers and members of
other unions started a door-to-door
campaign to bring labor's case be­
fore the public.

The result of the campaign was
an almost complete revamping of
the Louisiana State legislature.
Voters elected new pro-labor rep­
resentatives to almost 50 percent
of the House seats, while only 13
out of 39 senators were reelected.
Most of the senators and repre­
sentatives were elected on the
right to work issue. In June, 1956,
the repeal cleared the state senate
by a vote of 21 to 18, and the
house by 57 to 44.

.



rare SIX SEAFARERS LOG June 7, 1957

Limit Doctor Fees,
Frisco Unions Urge

SAN FRANCISCO—The San Francisco Labor Council has
called upon doctors and medical societies to set limits on fees
charged to union members and their dependents.

The council urged doctors to"^
set a schedule limit maximum
of $300 as a reasonable figure
"under present economic condi­
tions." George Johns, council
secretary, reported that the council
was very concerned with the con-
sistantly rising cost of medical
services. "Unions compromise im­
portant wage increases," he said,
"in order to negotiate health in­
surance plans, only to find the

Money Exchange
Rates Listed

The following is the latest
available listing of official ex­
change rates for foreign cur­
rencies. Listings are as of
June 6. 1957, and are sub­
ject to change without notice.
England, New Zealand, South Africa:

$2.80 per pound sterling.
Australia: $2.24 per pound sterling.
Belgium: 50 francs to the dollar.,
Denmark: 14.45 cents per krone.
France: 350 francs to the dollar.
Germany: 4.2 marks to the dollar.
Holland: 3.7-3.8 guilders to the

dollar.
Italy: 624.8 Ure to the dollar.
Norway: 14 cents per krone.
Portugal: 28.75 escudos to the dollar.
Sweden: 19.33 cents per krona.
India: 21 cents per rupee.
Pakistan: 21 cents per rupee.
Argentina: 18 pesos to.the dollar.
Brazil: 5.4 cents per cruzeiro.
Uruguay: 62.63 cents per peso.
Venezuela: 29.85 cents per bolivar.

negotiated benefits insufficient.'
The San Francisco Medical So­

ciety, an affiliate of the American
Medical Association, retorted that
such a limit is "neither reasonable,
adequate, nor realistic, and inter­
feres in the relation between doctor
and patient." The medical groups
have long opposed any type of
limit on medical costs.

Over 100 physicians, Johns an­
nounced, have already agreed to
accept a more realistic schedule
limit.

Charge Any Rate
In a study of average medical

fees across the country early last
year, Redbook Magazine reported
that it is the practice of most
physicians to charge what the
traffic will bear. Patients, the
magazine suggested, should discuss
fees with their doctor in advance
of surgery or any prolonged medical
treatment. They should, if possible,
shop around among other dO'Ctors
and surgeons and compare fees.

Jack Up Fees
Some doctors, on finding that the

patient has hospitalization and
surgery insurance, have jacked up
their fees to take in this added
benefit.

In discussing the amount of the
fees, the report stated that doctors
averaged better than $13,000 a year
as compared with $7,800 for a
dentist and $8,700 for a lawyer.

Learn About Hiring At The Source

Brooklyn staff examiners and officials who process seamen's claims
for New York State unemployrnent benefits tour SlU hiring hall to
learn about rotary shipping first hand. SlU headquarters dis­
patcher Scotty Aubusson (behind counter] explains hiring pro­
cedure to them, while Seafarer Joseph Sullivan (foreground, wear­
ing dark glasses) takes it all in.

Painters Still Out In Lk. Chas.
LAKE CHARLES—The Painters Union has voted to con­

tinue picketing contractors here aftej>-a failure to reach an
agreement. The painters have turned down two employer
offers as unsatisfactory. The-*-
Retail Clerks, however, have
pulled off their lines.

While shipping has picked up a
bit in this area during the past
two weeks, reports Leroy Clarke,
port agent, it is still a bit slow
with plenty of men available to fill
any expected jobs.

The Bradford Island, Council

Grove, Cantigny, Chiwawa, Gov­
ernment Camp, Winter Hill (Cities
Service), Val Chem (Valentine),
and The Cabins (Texas City Re­
finery) were in port during the
past period. Also calling in were
the Ideal X and Almena (Water­
man) on the piggy-back run. All
were reported in good shape.

P-A Permit
On Coastal
Run Upheld

WASHINGTON —'"The US Su­
preme Court has upheld an Inter­
state Commerce Commission ruling
extending a temporary operating
certificate for Pan-Aflantic Steam­
ship Corp. on its iritfeircoastal run.

The SlU-contracted operator had
been granted a temporary certifi­
cate to operate its vessels in in-
tercoastal trade for 180 days while
awaiting approval of its application
for a permanent certificate. When
the ICC found that it would not
be able to complete its considera­
tion of the approval within the 180
days, it granted another extension.

A group of railroad companies
filed suits charging that the com­
mission had overstepped its author­
ity under the law in giving an ex­
tension over the 180-day limit.
They were upheld by a lower
court.

Justice William O. Douglas,
speaking for the court, overruled
the lower'decision and upheld the
commission's extension. The act,
he said, could be invoked "to
protect a person with a license
from the damage he would suffer
by being compelled to discontinue ,
a business of a continuing nature,
only to start it anew after the Ad­
ministrative hearing is concluded."

Under the act, the Commission
can grant extensions up to a maxl-
miun of 180 days.

¥•

lilEI

Whenever anyone gets around to collecting fig­
ures on shipboard accidents, he is sure to coihe up
with one melancholy total. It represents the num­
ber of bruises, and broken bones which came from
slipping on a wet deck.

When it comes to safety, this is one area when
a little precaution goes a long way. It's simple—
so simple in fact, that it often gets overlooked.
That precaution is, "wipe 'em up I"

That slogan applies to all slick spots, great or
small—an oil dripping on an engine room grating,
a water puddle on deck, a hit of mashed potato un­
derfoot in the messroom. Even a single green pea
can cause an accident. Ask the man who slipped
on one.

Keep the decks skid-proof wherever you work,
and you will be saving yourself and your ship­
mates from painful injury.

! An SlU Ship is a Safe Ship ]
r.:



Jtin* T. UST SEAFARERS tOG Page Setea

YOUR DOLLAR'S WORTH
Seafarer's Guide To Betier Buying

By Sidney Margolius

Answers To Buying Questions
CAR TRANSMISSIONS: I want to buy a new car. f can't afford a

new car every year and want to know if I ahould buy the standard
ahift or the automatic transmission. I know we would (et a better
trade-in on the automatic transmission but would it .rive us a lot of
trouble?"—Mrs. F. B., Quincy, 111.

Repair experts report automatic transmissions are standing up well,
so you need not fear a lot of trouble. Cars with automatic transmission
have better trade-in value than standard transmission. However, they
do cost more to buy, operate and service. The suggested list prices
of automatic transmission on the three most popular makes of cars
is $1C0 to $188. According to a specialist, periodic adjustment of an
automatic transmission costs about $7.50, and as much as $12.50,
compared to $1.50 for adjusting an ordinary clutch. You also have to
follow carefully the factory recommendations on changes of fluid and
adjustments, and have your mechanic inspect the fluid level periodi­
cally. The major advantage of automatic transmission is in driving in
city tralfic.

RENT CRISIS: "A reader from Canada wants toi know about the
cost of living in San Diego. We are a family with three children. If
you have children it is almost impossible to get a decent rentaL When
one fiaally is found it costs $93 to $110 a month, rather high rent for
a man making $80 a week, and with actual take-home pay of $69 after
all deductions. A man making $80 cannot buy a house unless he has
$5,000 fcr a down payment. Mortgages are very tight here. We came
here from Boston eight months ago and money for housing is easy
to get there. Another problem is medieai expense. We are covered for
hospital bills, but not fbr ordinary illnesses that require visits to the
doctor's office. Seven dollars for an office call is about average here
plus $7 more for the smallest amount of medicines. Dental bills are
very high."-^Mrs. W. C., San Diego, Calif.

This leport portrays the growing housing crisis in industrial centers
on the Pacific Coast, Midwest, Southwest and some parts of the South.

For the country as a whole, rents
have risen on the average of about
five per cent a year for the past
seven years. But increases have
been especially sharp in such cities
as Cleveland, Seattle, Houston, De­
troit and other industrial centers.
Sol Shaviro, assistant secretary of
Amalgamated Housing Corp., re­
ports that the. national average
cost of constructing a four-room
apartment in 1950 was $8,450. To­
day it is close to $12,000. In 1950
mortgage money was available at
an interest rate of 3V2 per cent
for large apartment cooperatives.
Today the prevailing rate for such
buildings is 5 per cent. The in­
crease in the interest rate alone
adds $12 a month to the rental cost
of a four-room apartment.

Building of rental apartments
has been sharply curtailed by high
interest rates, Shaviro reports. In

1954, 90,000 rental units were built; in 1955, 86,700 and last year, only
75,000. Many of these were luxury apartments priced far beyond
the means of working people. The reduction in moderate-price apart­
ment building, coupled with a curtailed public housing program, has
accentuated the housing shortage.

FOOD COSTS: "Your column, 'Money More than Education Needed
for Good Eating' opened my eyes to a lot of things. We have seven
children. My husband brings home $65 a week. I have been trying
to feed my children and pay all other bills with it.. I wondered why
my children aren't fat like other chiidren and why they are al­
ways tired. Could you give me some advice on what food I could
buy for about $25 a week that would be the most nourishing for
them? The $25 must include milk."—Mrs. M. T., Rossvilie, Ga.

If you fear your children actually are suffering from nutritional
deficiency you should take them to the nearest clinic or a local doctor
for examination. This is not something you can determine or treat
yourself. The only way to feed this large family on $25 a week, which
is far below the average cost of $9 a week per person, is to rely
heavily on certain foods which generally provide the most nourish­
ment for the money. These include white potatoes, whole wheat bread,
rolled oats, beef and pork liver, peas, beans, rutabagas, carrots by
the pound, frozen spinach, milk (fresh, evaporated and non-fat milk
powder), dried prunes, canned peas, American cheese, cottage cheese,
canned tuna fish, canned corned beef hash, codfish or haddock, eggs
and hamburger.

That doesn't i^ean your family needs only these foods. You need
to include in your meals every day foods from each of these seven
groups; (1) milk; (2) tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit or green cabbage;
(3) leafy green or yellow vegetables; (4) other vegetables or fruit;
(5) eggs, lean meat, poultry or fish; (6) cereals and bread; (7) fats and
sweets. The low-cost list above does Include some of the best values
in most of the seven groups. Milk is your big problem. Since the 60-65
quarts a week your family needs alone would take over $15 of your
$25', you need to supplement what whole milk you can buy with evapo­
rated and non-fat dry milk. The dry milk can be a big nutritional help
at small cost if you add it to other dishes such as soups, casseroles,
baked goods, meat loaf, etc. You can get .a free copy of a useful booklet
"Getting Enough Milk" by writing the Office of Information, U S Agrl-
culttire Department, Washington 25, DC.

House Holds
Up US Aid
For Poland

WASHINGTON —A last-minute
snag in the House of Representa­
tives has delayed signing of a $95
million aid program agreement be­
tween, the US and Poland. A series
of parliamentary maneuvers by op­
ponents of the program has blocked
approval, but it is expected to be
cleared In the next few days.

Of the total, $75''million will go
under the farm surplus program,
with the rest financed as a long
term loan. As with other Govern­
ment aid programs, all shipments
will be covered by the "50-50" law.
This will mean the arrival of
American-flag ships at Polish ports
for the first time since before
World War II.

The aid program for Poland
makes it the second Communist
nation, to receive US Government
assistance. Yugoslavia was first
when the Tito regime there broke
with Joseph Stalin, the late Rus­
sian dictator.

Combat Communism '

Supporters of the Polish aid
program have argued that assist­
ance to the Red puppet states will
succeed in weaning them away
from Moscow domination and also
will fulfill a basic humanitarian
need to avoid hunger.

Opponents of the program, in­
cluding Senator William Know-
land, the GOP majority leader,
have argued that such aid only
serves to salvage collapsing Com­
munist economic systems.

Even supporters of the aid pro­
gram are cautious about results it
might achieve, since it is pointed
out that Russian troops are still
stationed in Poland as well as in
East Germany, and are in a posi­
tion to stamp out any drift away
from Communism.

It Looks Like Ladles' Day

Decked out in their Easter fin­
ery, Seafarer Millard B. Elli­
ott's four daughters (above)
make a pretty picture. The
young ladies (I to r) are
Frankie Mae, 8; Patricia
Ann, 6; Lifida Diane, 7, and
baby Deborah Paige, 20
months, front and center.
Elliott, whose home is in Mo­
bile, is now steward on the
Warrior. The ship is heading
out on a Far East run. At
right, Harriet Marie Svendsen
of Baltimore, age 2, holds the
stage. Dad Viktor Svendsen
is fireman on the Portmar.

Suez Seen Normal; Canal
On Isthmian Route Again

Further evidence of a return to normal, for the time being,
in the Suez Canal zone is the announcement that all Isthmian
ships are now transiting the canal again. The Steel Traveler,
heading westbound to Kara--*^

MEBA Votes $$
For Coal Beef

NEW ORLEANS—The Marine Engineers Beneficial Asso­
ciation has stepped up its campaign to organize the engineer­
ing officer jobs in the American Coal Shipping Company.

I The MEBA, meeting at its na­
tional convention here, voted

chi, Pakistan, was the first of
the company's ship to make it
through the Mediterranean and
Suez.

Previously several other Ameri­
can companies had started using
the canal again, including the
American President Lines and
many of the tanker operators. In
fact, ships of all nations with the
exception of France and Israel are
back on the route.

Final disposal of the canal prob­
lem is still a long way off and sliip-
owners are keeping their fingers
crossed. The Isi-aelis have been
threatening to send a ship through
the canal as a test of their passage
rights, but so far have not carried
out the move. Nor has any further
word been heard from the Kern
Hills, the SlU-manncd tanker which
made one trip through the Gulf of
Aqaba to the Israeli port of Elath
and touched off a storm in the
Arab world. The Kern Hills was
supposed to go back with more oil
cargoes.

Talk of additional pipelines to
bypass Suez has not yet been trans­
lated into anything substantial in
the way of announced construction
plans. The. latest move in this area

was a reported proposal by Suadi
Arabia for the Arabian nations to
organize their own pipeline com­
pany, and build their own lines
which would tend to compete with
any lines built by western oil com­
panies.

Pick Up 'Shot'
Card At Payoff
Seafarers who have taken the

series of inoculations required
for certain foreign voyages are
reminded to be sure to pick up
their inoculation cards from the
captain or the purser when they
pay off at the end of a voyage.

The card should be picked up
by the Seafarer and held so that
it can be presented when signing
on for another voyage where the
"shots" are required. The Ino­
culation card is your only proof
of having taken the required
shots.

Those men who forget to pick
up their inoculation card when
they pay off may find that they
arc required to take all the
"shots" again when they want
to sign on for another such voy­
age.

_

to appropriate $40,000 to help
finance its drive in the company.
The union's action decisively dis­
credited reports from the National
Maritime Union that MEBA had
tossed in the sponge in the beef,
and was secretly advising its mem­
bers to take jobs on the coal ships.

At the same time, the MEBA
adopted new procedures to screen
out Communists and fellow trav­
elers who have applied for read-
mission to MEBA locals. The
changes, written into the Union's
constitution, provide for the crea­
tion of three-man screening com­
mittees to review the applicants'
qualifications. The committees are
empowered to question the appli­
cants in person and to make recom­
mendations to the local. Appeals
from the committee's ruling may
be taken to Lhe annual MEBA con­
vention. The procedure is expected
to prevent screened-out members
from rejoining the Union.

The demand fot* readmission
follows from a 1955 court order
outlawing the Coast Guard's
screening procedure for merchant
seamen. The court ruled that the
procedure was illegal because It
hsed informants and denied the
accused, the right to face their
accusers. MEBA said a number of
engineers expelled for Communist
activities had asked for the right
to rejoin the locals.

The Convention also established
a $202,000 organizing fund, raised
dues from $6 to $10 a month, and
voted to penalize shipboard per­
formers. The organizing fund will
allocate $117,000 for general or­
ganizing, $45,000 for the Great
Lakes drive, and $40,000 for the
American Coal beef.



m

Page Eight SEAFARERS LOG June 7, 1957

Growing Giant Frogs' Legs
Is SIU Electrician's Meat

Messroom coffeetime sessions on ships are almost guaranteed to turn up one Seafarer
who talks about the chicken farm he is going to retire to. But Seafarer Douglas Reynolds
has come with quite a switch on the old saw. Instead of raising chicken and hen fruit,
Reynolds is doing fabulously
well with a five-acre bull
frog farm.

With frogs' legs a popular eating
delicacy in many restaurants, Rey­
nolds quick-frozen bullfrogs are
very much in demand. Those frogs
who can't make the grade for the
dinner table are sold to labora­
tories where frogs are tradition­
ally used for tests and medical
experiments.

Reynolds got into the frog-rais­
ing business by accident—his acci­
dent. An electrician on board SIU
ships, he was working ashore as a
lineman in 1952 when he took a
jolt of 13,000 volts. Somehow he
survived, but he spent many
months in Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore.

Learned In Hospital

While recuperating at the hos­
pital he became friendly with one
of the physical therapists who was
convinced that frog farming could
become a profitable enterprise.
Reynolds happened to own some
tobacco acreage in Whiteville,
North Carolina, which he figured
would be ideal for that purpose,
as there was plenty of water close
to the surface.

Arkansas-Newfoundland Cross
He dug the first of his frog

ponds in 1953 and then set about
finding the proper kind of frog for
his project. "Most of the frog legs
you eat in restaurants are gigged
wild in Southern swampo. A great
many legs are imported from Cuba
and some from Japan. What I did
was to get hold of a big frog called
the Newfoundland which had. been
bred by a frog farmer in New
Orleans. I bred this with an Ar­
kansas swamp frog and mated the
offspring with an imported breed

Make Checks
To'SIU-A&G'

Seafarers mailing in checks
or money orders to the Union
to cover dues payments are
urged to be sure to make all of
them payable to the SIU-A&G
District.

Some Seafarers 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.

A gentleman frog farmer, Seafarer Douglas Reynolds shows off
a 15-inch specimen bred on his North Carolina frog farm. Some
of the frogs he produces have legs weighing a half-pound each.
The legs are frozen and packed for sale to restaurants.

. Eventually we came up with
the frog my father and I now
raise. We call it the Giant Food
JFrog."

Now Reynolds produces frogs
which weigh up to two pounas,
some having legs weighing a half-
pound each. At any given time he
will have as many as 30,000 bull­
frogs croaking in the ponds—not
conducive to sleep, perhaps, but
soothing to the pocketbook.

Each of the frog ponds is divided
into breeding and growing areas.
The tadpoles live off vegetation
while the larger frogs eat carp
minnows. The ponds are seeded
with the carp, which do very well
on stale bread and produce huge
quantities of minnows to keep the
frogs happy.

Commutes By Air
When the frogs are ready for

market, they are dressed, quick-
frozen and packed in five-pound
boxes which wholesale at $1.65 to
$2 a pound. The business is doing
so well that Reynolds now com­
mutes in his own airplane be­
tween his farm and Baltimore,
where he operates an electrical
business.

Reynolds sailed with the SIU
from 1946, when he came out of

the Navy, until 1952, when he
went to work ashore. He still
maintains his membership in the
Union.

Any Seafarer who is interested
in frog farming instead of chicken
farming is invited to write him at
Box 3556, Baltimore. 14, Maryland,
or at the Carolina Frog Farms,
Route 4, Whiteville, NC. "I will
be glad to send a free brochure
about my frog farm and answer
any questions," he concludes.

Your Gear
for ship • • . for shhre

Whafever you need, In work or dress
gear, your SIU Sea Chest has it. Get top
quality gear at substantial savings by buy­
ing at your Union-owned and Union-
operated Sea Chest store.

Sport Coats
Slacks
Dress Shoes
Work Shoes
Socks
Dungarees
Khakis
Frisko Jeens
CPO Shirts
Dress Shirts
Sport Shirts
Belts
Ties
Sweat Shirts
T-Shirts
Shorts
Briefs
Swim Trunks
Sweaters
Sou'westers
Raingear
Caps
Writing Materials
Toiletries
Electric Shavers
Radios
Television
Jewelry
Cameras
Luggage

the SEA CHEST

LABOR ROIINR-IIP

Frog breeding farm owned by Seafarer Douglas Reynolds near
Whireviile, NC, sometimes has as many as 30,000 bullfrogs on
tap. Tadpoles live off vegetation, while larger frogs eat carp
minnows. The ponds are seeded with carp.

Labor and management bargain­
ing representatives for 45 Pacific
Coast pulp and paper mills have
reached agreement for an aver­
age wage increase of cents per
hour for some 19,500 employees
in Oregon, Washington and Cali­
fornia. The agreement, whiclr
will go into effect June 1 if ap­
proved, will also increase employ­
er contributions to the health and
welfare plans to about 80 percent
of the cost. The bargaining was
between representatives of the
United Papermakers and Paper-
workers, , the International Broth­
erhood of Pulp, Sulphite and
Paper Mill Workers, and the Pa­
cific Coast Association of Pulp and
Paper Manufacturers.

i
Members of the Air Line Pilots

Association in good standing
shared a cash dividend of $314,000
on dues paid into the union. The
association constitution places a
ceiling of $2.5 million or $275 per
active member, whichever is the
greater, on ALPA net worth. Any
surplus over operating expenses is
to be returned to the membership
as dividends. This year's return
was-estimated at 17 percent.

t> t> ii
Workers in the General Electric

Tube Plant at Anniston, Alabama,
members of the International
Union of Electrical Workers,
adopted a strike authorization vote
in protest to the company's plan
to make them wear "monkey
suits." The company plans to
dress the 700 employes in pre­
scribed uniforms; girls in all

white, and the men in either a
white shirt with gray, blue or tan
pants, or a gray shirt with gray
pants, blue shirt with blue pants,
tan shirt with tan pants. Each
employe was to be given two $10
certificates with which to purchase
their "monkey suits."

$• 3« 3"
Construction has begun on the

$2.6 million ILGWU - financed
Puerto Rican housing develop­
ment program. It will consist of
250 houses at a cost of $1.6 million
in the Reparto Santiago Iglesias,
honoring Santiago Iglesias Pantin,
a founder of the Puerto' Rican la­
bor movement. The other $1 mil­
lion will-go into units being built
in the adjoining Altamesa project.
About one half of the 400 homes
being built will be available to
ILG members on the island.

4" J" 3"
About 150,000 members of

Georgia labor unions have merged
their former state federation and
industrial council, into a state­
wide AFL-CIO central federation.
Under the terms of their new
charter, William A. Cetti, former
president of the state federation,
was elected president and W. H.
Montague, former head of the
state CIO group, executive vice-
president. In pi'esenting the char­
ter, R. J. Thomas, special assistant
to AFL-CIO President George
Meany, emphasized that despite
the "delicate problem of equality
of the races," in the south, "the
policy of the AFL-CIO is that any­
body who pays . dues has equal
rights.'V ^

Free Polish
Fjeet Plan
In Lay-Up
. The first post-war ship to fly the
flag of free Poland has gone out of
operation after 15 months of world­
wide tramping. The Liberty Wolna
Polska (Free Poland) paid off last
month and was returned to the
American owners it had been
chartered from last year. The
opprat'ors said they were giving it
up because current cargo rates had
made profitable operation impos­
sible.

At the same time, the operators
said that plans for keeping a free
Polish merchant marine alive had
not been dropped entirely, and
that the company was scouting for
another ship. ^

The Wolna Polska was operated
under Liberian registry, and
manned by an all Polish crew. It
was supported by a group of Polish
business men from New York and
Philadelphia. The ship had a man­
ning scale of 40, and paid wages
higher than standard on European
ships. Crewmembers were also
pai(^ overtime rates.

The crew was recruited from
Polish seamen who had fled Com­
munist Poland. Some had sailed
on American ships, and others w,ere
working in the British merchant
fleet, and on ships oif other Euro­
pean nations, ,

The Wolna Polska always flew
the flag of pre-Communist Poland.



V, p;,-.;, .._ ; - JN"' •;'••?.

June 7, 1957 HEAFARERS LOG TafSbf

SlU AFFILIATES CREW NEW PASSENGER SHIP

The fourth new US-flog Pacific liner to
come out in six months, the new Motsonio,
like the rest, is manned by SlU Pacific Dis­
trict crews. Deck chores are handled by
the Sailors Union of the Pacific, black gang
jobs by the Marine Firemen's Union, and
the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union
mans the galley and dining rooms.

Due to start on her maiden voyage from
Los Angeles to Hawaii next week, the
26,150-ton liner features a $20 million
beautifying job and is fully air-conditioned

jt her seven decks. She has a
speed ot 20.5 knots. Her dimensions ore
6^8 feet bow to stern, and 82 feet in the
beam.

Bosun Stan Kalino (left) and Pete Da
Catte, AB, both SUP men, apparently
find plush liner to their liking.

Reconditioned at cost of $29 million, the new Matsonia is the third ship of that
name operated by Matson. She will be a companion ship to the Lurline on
the popular Hawaiian run. She is shown In NY before leaving for special
Caribbean cruise on trip around to West Coast.

• • >
.1 '-Vn

-'i -

i
• "•"'J j

1
' I



Pagre Tea SEAFARERS LOG Jdie 7. UFI

; i

Three More Onassis Ships Co,
MA Gives Final Approval

NEW YORK—^Three more Onassis-controlled vessels, the Heywood Broun,, the Lake
George, and the last of the Western Tankers fleet, the Montebello Hills, have transferred
to the Liberian flag, reports Claude Simmons, port agent. The Heywood Broun, of Victory
Carriers, as r^orted in the
last SEAFARERS LOG,
switched while in Pireaus,
Greece, the Lake George (US Pe­
troleum) while in South AmeHca,
and the Montebello Hills while in
Corpus Chrlsti, Texas. The run­
aways were authorized under a
transfer-and-build agreement be­
tween the Maritime Administra­
tion and an Onassis-controlled
group of companies.

Under the agreement, the group
is authorized to transfer 12 tank­
ers and 2 Libertys to the Liberian
flag. In return, Onassis is to build
three supertankers, two of 50,000
tons and one of 100,000 tons.

The MA, on^May 23 of this year,
gave final approval for the trans­
fers, after the companies had al­
ready switched most of the 14 ves­
sels to the Liberian flag. Under
the terms of the final approval,
the receipts of the Liberian cor­
poration which will own the ships,
the Alexander S. Onassis Corpo­
ration, will be deposited with the
Grace National Bank, New York,
and held in trust until the fulfill­
ment of the contract for the build­
ing of the three tankers.

Final approval, and the setting
up of the trust agreement, came
after sharp criticism at recent Con­
gressional hearings over the lack
of adequate guarantees that con­
struction of the promised vessels
would be carried through. The
three "supers" are still on the
drawing board according to latest
reports.

Added to this, the Office of De­
fense Mobilization has granted the
Onassis group a 40 percent fast tax
write-off on the construction of
the 100,000-ton ship. The 40 per­
cent allowance is on an estimated
expenditure of $51,300,000.

The companies involved are Vic­
tory Carriers, US Petroleum Car­
riers, Western Tankers, and Tra­
falgar Steamship Company. With
these latest exchanges there are
only two ships left to be trans­
ferred. They are the Louis Emery
Jr. (Victory Carriers) and the Bat­
tle Rock (USPC). They are ex­
pected to switch flags within a few
weeks.

There was some difficulty filling
jobs and obtaining replacements
during the past period, Simmons
announced. Although shipping has
not been booming, it has held its
own and is now normal in this
port. "Registration and shipping
have been running neck and neck,"
he said. We paid off a total of 23
vessels, signed on five, and serv­
iced 10 in-transit ships.

The ships paying off were Alcoa
Puritan, Alcoa Partner, Alcoa
Planter, Alcoa Runner, Alcoa Peg­
asus (Alcoa); Seatrain's Georgia,
Savannah, Texas, Louisiana; CS
Norfolk, Bents Fort (Cities Serv­
ice); Dorothy, Beatrice, John C,
Kendell, Elizabeth, Ines, Frances,
Kathryn (Bull); Iteel Artisan, (Isth­
mian); Seatiger (Colonial); Max-
ton (Pan-Atlantic); Mary Adams
(Bloomfield) and the Robin Good-
fellow (Seas).

The John C. Kendall, Ines
(Bull); Robin Mowbray (Seas);
Mankatc Victory (Victory Carriers)
and the Hurricane (Waterman)
signed on.

The Seatrain New Jersey, Sea-
train New York (Seatrain); Robin
Mowbray (Seas); Alamar, Texmar,
Losmar, Marymar (Calmar); Coa-
linga Hills (Pan-Atlantic) and the
Alcoa Runner and Alcoa Partner
(Alcoa) were in transit.

16,700 TONS
t"] Copoclfy: 141,150 bbh.

46,000 TONS
Copodly: 395,588 bblf.

100,000 TONS
Capacity: 825,000 bbb.

Strides in tanker construction since World War II are typified in
scale reproductions of the war-built T-2$, present-day 46,000-ton
supertankers and the proposed Onassis super-supertanker of 100,-
000 tons. Onassis has won approval for transfer of 12 tankers,
mostly T-2s, plus two Libertys in exchange for construction of one
100,000-tonner and two of about 46,000 tons.

Rebs Hot As Yank
Ship Steals Show

The Mayflower II, beating its way leisurely across the At­
lantic at two to five knots is liable to get a somewhat mixed
welcome in the States, the "Wall Street Journal" reports.
Rebels from down Virginia •
way are a little miffed at the
impression left by Bostonians
that they got to America first, and
the New England Yankees are a
little unhappy over the way New
York promoters are cashing in on
the show.

The Virginians have been mak­
ing some nasty remarks in public
and private about the Mayflower II
because it's pretty well taken away
the play from the 350th anniver­
sary of Jamestown, Virginia, the
first permanent English settlement
in the New World. The James­
town people have worked up quite
a promotion including pageants
and other tourist attractions but
find that the Mayflower is stealing
much of their thunder.

Long After Pocahontas
An indignant Richmond news­

paper editor has blasted the whole
Mayflower sailing as a "phony."
After all, the Virginians point out.
Captain John Smith's head had
already been saved by Pocahontas
years before the Pilgrims weighed
anchor and headed for Plymouth.

So far, no word has been heard
yet from St. Augustine, Florida,
which can sneer down the end of
its nose at both Jamestown and
Plymouth since it was settled in
1565 by the Spaniards, 42 years be­
fore the English got around to the
New World.

The New Englander's peeve at
New York comes from the fact that
the ship will stop at Plymouth for
just one week on her arrival here
and will spend the summer at a
Manhattan pier entertaining visi­
tors at 90 cents a throw. Feelings
have been partially soothed by the
knowledge that the ship will dock
at Plymouth permanently, with one
New England paper declaring,
"Any Yankee who condemns the
British for wanting the vessel to
spend some time in New York for
the clear and time-tested and ad­
mirable purpose of making money
isn't much of a Yankee."

As for the ship itself, after ten­

tatively testing the North Atlantic
route, she hastily veered south and
set her course in semi-tropic lati­
tudes. Any Seafarer who has
ridden an empty Liberty back from
Northern Europe can tell you that
her skipper made a very sensible
decision. .

— for SlU
MEMBERS!

EveffiituHGybo
NBSVinSSAGEAd
ANOSrtCJReWEAK-
FfiQMATEOJHBIWSM

AUATSRECIAL-
seAomrpRKES

your
SEA CHEST
SHORE WEAR f SEA GEAR

SEA GEAR f SHORE WEAR

ROBIN HOOD («•••), Aarii If —
Chairman, M. Kaaenhatan; Secretary,
H. R. Dembrawikl. Disputed over-
tlma, man lossad tor aoing ts hos­
pital and tima off for tha steward
department to be taken up with the
patrolman at the payoff. The depart­
ment was not run very efficiently at
first but tha steward looked into it
and there has been an improvement.
Motion that the steward's department
be able to have time off by doubling

^up and making sure that the work is
'done properly. Discussion on the mo­
tion: This is so that the steward can
be able to give his men time off
without Interference from topside.
This can be done as the steward de­
partment has a certain amount of
work to be done and as long as it is
done to everyone's satisfaction there
is no reason why the men can't have
time off. Anyone fouling up to be
subject to action by the Union. Tliis

room, so all could see notices. The
water taken on board la Guanlca
should be changed if possible.

WARRIOR (Waterman), April 17—
Chairman, K. Beekerlchi Secretary, M.
Rlliott. Discussion on water pressure
aft. Ship came out of shipyard re­
pair and water tanks were cleaned,
water to be flushed out and changed
in New Orleans. Discussion on operat-
ing of washing machines'. Vote of
thanks to steward department for
good food and service.

May 7 — Chairman, K. Beckerlch;
Secretary, M. Riliott. Quarters need
painting. Suggested that the patrol
man see quarters and check on lios-
pit.-il. Ship's delegate to show patrol
man toilets and showers aft. Discus
sion on washing machines, that cur­
few should be made on it for 10 PM.
Suggested that garbage can not be
washed in sinks in iaundry.

CHICKASAW (Pan Atlantic), May S
—Chairman, J. Smith; Secretary, H.
B. Hastings. The ice making machine
is going to be repaired in port if it
is possible. If not here, it Will be

•fi-xed in Port Newark. Request to have
Icuk from water line, in crew passage­
way (Ixed. New delegate elected.
Plca.<;e turn off motor in wasliing ma­
chine when finished. Vote of thanks
to steward's department for fine food
and sei-vice. Vote of thanks to Brother

''Ballard fur a Job well done as our
ship's delegate for the past 2',s
muntlis.

motion -was passed 'unanimously. Mo­
tion that the ship's delegate write
hq and explain all the logs for men
-going to hospital, and all other in­
cidents so that they may have an
idea of what la going on this trip. -
Also, that the ship's delegate write
about the.first assistant turning him
to on day work after his arm was put
in a cast. One minute of silence fur
our departed brothers. It was decided
that the department beads should
know right after the election who the
delegates are. Deck delegate sug­
gested that deck head and showers he
scraped and painted. Discussion was
held about the menus. Steward said
that we had plenty of meat but were
short on vegetables and fruit because
they had a flood in Lourence Marquos
and he couldn't get any tlierc. Sug­
gested that screen doors be locked
and everyone help keep steveadores
out of passageways. A vote of thanks
given to the crew mess for doing a
good Job under trying conditions. Also
thanks given to the passenger mess
for helping out and thanks also given
to the chief cook.

. CITIES SERVICE BALTIMORE (CS),
May 5—Chairman, 6. E. Phlliipsr Ssc-
re.ary, H. Jamion. All disputed over­
time has been straightened out. All
repairs have been brought to the
captain's attention. All men are asked
to leave their rooms clean and take
any beef through their delegate so as
not to hold up payoff. Laundry is on
shipyard list. Clean rooms, bring all
beefs to delegate. No drinking or

' fouling up on payoff.

ALCOA CLIPPER (Aicos) May S—
Chairman, E. Moyd; Secretary, L.
Nicholas. Special meeting was called
to order by the ship's delegate in re­
gards to the Trinidad shoregang work.
Also a general discussion on whether
there is any overtime lost due to
tlicir work. Engine department finds
no discrepancies. Steward the same.
M, S/C that all if any shoregang be
slopped in Trinidad, only bau.\itc be
allowed aboard.

ALCOA PE9ASUS (Alcoa) May II—
Chairman, R. Danislsi Sacretary, R. J.
V/endsll. No beefs. Ship safety
mcccing held. Repair list turned in.
$M in ship's fund. $39.37 spent for
baseball equipment and chessboard.
$10.63 left in ship's fund.

CALMAR (Cslmsr), March 5—Chair­
man, T. Jackson; Socratary, A. Byr--
ant. New delegates elected.. Discus­
sion on fans in mess room,' also on
washing machine being fixed. Also
see if a fan can be put in ahip's
laundry.

April 1$—Chairman, ZaIaskI; Sacra-
tary, T. Jackson. Washing machine
has been repaired. Some fans to be
fixed. Have officers mess room door
repaired so that it can be closed
without slamming. Tubs in laundry
to he clean after use. There it a
leak in deck dept. toilet.

HILTON (Bull), May 4—Chairman,
P. Calebough; Sacretary, H. Dombran-
skl. Engine dept. repairs being taken
care of as fast, as possible. Painting
foc'sles and showers being done and
mess hall and pantry painted. Many
other repairs completed. New list
presented to mate. Wiper Took sick
from ptomaine poisoning while in Sun
Juan and was under doctor's care.
Reported to chief engineer and first
assistant with doctor's affidavit and
was excused for having missed ship
to Ponce. Safety meeting to be held
the second of each month and all
members of all departments are asked
to cooperate with ideas concerning
safety.

ALCOA PLANTER (Alcoa) May 13—
Chairman, C. Malettel; Secratary, A.
Anderson. Exerything running smooth­
ly. New washing machine placed in
Port of New York, at last voyage, no
major beefs. $63.23 in ship's fund.
Vote of thanks to steward department
for good show and service suggesting
steward not to use the washing ma­
chine for ship's linen. Steward asked
to request for more bath towels, and
to order more army cots.

COE VICTORY (Victory Carriers)
April 27—Chairman, J. Nicholson;
Secretary, J. Brighan. No beefs. $14.30
originally in ship's fund. $.30 spent
for stamps and telephone calls. Now
$14.00 In fund. New delegate elected.
Storm doors in need of repair. Keep
Koreans out of passage ways. Repair
lists to be turned in as soon as pos­
sible.

STEEL AGE (Isthmian), May S —
Chairman, J. Samtal; Sacretary, F.
Motus. NMU workaway died at lea
of a heart attack. Headquarters was
notified by radiogram. Repair list
turned in to dept. head. Few beefs
to be squared by patrolmen at payoff.

NATIONAL LIBERTY (American
Waterways), April 21—Chairman, P.
Lolaat; Secretary, B. Bryant Jr. Laun­
dry and recreation rooms to be kept
clean. Repair list to be turned in
two (2) weeks ahead.

DEL SANTOS (Mississippi) March 3
—Chairman, J. Bates; Secretary, E.
Sahuque. No beefs. New delegate
elected. $27.33 in ship's fund. Brother
Ernest Janosko was elected ship dele­
gate by all brothers and Brother Sa­
huque was elected in a secret meet­
ing. Put all excess linen in linen
bags. A vote of thanks to all brothers
from the steward for the flowers they
sent to his mother when she passed
away on .'!-26-37.

May 12—Chairman, Jack Batas;
Secretary, E. Sahuqua. No beefs, so
far but will see agent in New Orleans
about putting 120 days' stores on ail
Delta Line ships Instead of S3 or 90
days. Africa runs need 120 days and
lots of extra fresh vegetables.

EMILIA (Bull), April *—Chairman,
N. Ramlay; Sacralary, H. Plarca.
S18.23 in ship'a fund. S13.23 of this
money was taken to buy flowers for
one of the crew's kin who died. Ship's
delegate to aee patrolman at payoff
about getting a better grade of meat.
Discussion about preparation of soups
and menus. Discussion pro and con
pertaining to relocation of washing
machine. Crew not to ait in door­
ways. Discussion about safety aboard
ship.

HEYWOOD BROUN (Victory Car-
rlers) March 24—Chairman, P. Mal-
hsrth; Sacratary, S. Schrotar. Our
washing machine ii new and the main
beefs are that they have to leave
it clean for the next fellow. Ask
ship's delegate to get in touch with
radio operator to have loudspeaker
repaired in crew mess' for the news.
Inform about what kind of money the
captain will put in the next port.

ALCOA PURITAN (Alcoa), April IS
—Chairman, Dalman. Bosun spoka on
cooperation on flushing of toilets. Ex­
planation on ordering milk so there
will be enough of a supply for sail­
ing. Keys needed for mess rooms.
See delegate for repairs.

May 4—Chairman, A. Dalman; Sac­
ratary, T. Vaushan. Ona meeting only
should ba held on short trips.

ANGBLINA (Bull), March 17—Chair­
man, O. Walfar; Sacratary, J. Gat-
laghar. Safety committee elected with
one member from each department.
Vote of thanlu to tha steward'! de­
partment especially tha chief cook
and bakar. Discussiona wars held on
lockers naadlng repairs. Bulletin
boards to bo moved in to tho mesa-

WILD RANGER (Waterman) May S
—Chairman, C, tawson; Sacratary, D,
Ruddy. Brother Black asked all dele­
gates to cooperate in handing in re­
pair lists. S17.27 in ship's fund. A
motion was made and accepted
unanimously, to extend a vote of
thanks and appreciation to all the
Union officials who participated in the
recent eighth biennial convention.
Also to concur and accept minutes of
same.

ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa) April IS—
Chairman, T, Waslluk; Secretary, D.
W, Frank. Exerything is running
smoothly. No beefs. Ask the brothers
not to bring any mangos or trees
into the States unless the okay is
given by the Agriculture Department
in San Juan. The fishing was very
had this trip, we did not go to St.
Croix. Everybody was very sad, bet­
ter luck next trip. Motion made by
Brother Soto and seconded by Bro­
ther John that aupper ba put in
iaundr.v room also install port hole
in hos'n fos'sle. Brother John elected
chip's reporter.



'• '^pMyfr^^' •' Vi>;'

^rae 7,1957 SEAFARERS LOG Pace Elerca

\x..

'Over The Side'

In

<5i«l5Af^/ar-

"We have a top notch chief elec­
trician on board this tub," reports
Steve Bergeria, ship's reporter of
the Robin Kirk. The electrician,
Jim Banners, picked up three extra

movies to show
the men, and be­
tween reels en­
tertained them
with lively chat­
ter and cokes.
"He even ran
the movies two
nights in a row,
so all of the men
would have a
chance to see

can't beat that for
Manners

them." You
service.

3l» 4" 4"
Stewards again made most of

the ships' minutes news. Delegate
M. E. Mullins of the DeSoto writes
that the crew gave a vote of thanks
to "Scotty" Malvenan and the en­
tire stewards department for "ex­
cellent meals and service." From
the Florida State came a note of
appreciation to the galley depart­
ment for a job
well done and
for their culinary
efforts. Others
also mentioned
were stewards on
the Wild Ranger,
Mankato Victory,
Alcoa, Pegasus,
Ocean Evelyn,
Charles C. Du-
naif. Seat rain
Louisiana, Andrew Jackson, Rebec­
ca, Kenmare and the Seagarden. It
looks like the eating and service is
good wherever Seafarers are.

Malvenan

^ In the few short years of its existence, the SIU Canadian
District has compiled a notable record. After breaking the
Communist grip on Canadian seamen, the Canadian District
has driven ahead on both coasts and on the Lakes in an area
that has been infested in the past with an assortment of
company unions and "independent" outfits.

The tremendous growth of Canadian industry has been
fertile soil for the "independents" as Canadian workers come
off the farms, out of the fishing villages and the lumber
camps to get jobs in industry. With the development of the
St. Lawrence Seaway, a whole new area was opened up in
which the danger of company union penetration was very
real.

The Canadian District, however, has moved rapidly in
this area, as it has many times in the past few years, to as­
sure that Canadian seamen and boatmen get proper union
representation. The issue has not yet been decided, but it
looks like the eventual outcome will be a contract and union
protection for another group of Canadians under the Cana­
dian District banner.

4 4" 4

111 Doubt? Blame Unions
Operating on the theory that there is a little good in every­

thing, a "Reader's Digest" article this month ponders- what
"good" may yet result from the Stockholm-Andrea Doria col­
lision last July. The tragic loss of the Titanic, it recalls, pro­
duced the International Safety Patrol and consequent lessen­
ing of the ice hazard for ships at sea.

The article then notes the general agreement among mar­
ine investigators that a lack of internationally accepted safety
rules, too great reliance on radar and the companies' desire
for speed above all else all contributed heavily to the smash-
up off Nantucket last July 25. But now it abruptly sidetracks.
In a "smash" finish, it heaps the blame for ship safety prob­
lems on American maritime unions, quoting the usual anony­
mous disgruntled skippers who find it hard to accept the fact
that crewmembers have rights.

This is a tired old formula admittedly, for just where do
American sailors fit into the picture when an Italian liner
and a Swedish liner hit each other in mid-Atlantic? The
SIU, in fact, negotiated its own safety program over 18
months ago. Isn't it too early for the silly season, even up at
Pleasantville?

MA Orders Hearing
On Waterman Subsidy

WASHINGTON—^An application for subsidy on five serv­
ices by the Waterman Steamship Company has started on its
slow grind through the Governmental machinery. The Fed­
eral Maritime Board has taken
the initial step by ordering a
hearing on the application,
but no date has been set for the
hearing to begin.

Meanwhile, however, the Board
has directed one of its subsidiary
offices to gather information and
make a preliminary recommenda­
tion before the actual hearings
open.

If past subsidy hearings are any
indication, it will be many months
before final action is taken on the
subsidy bid.

The SlU-contracted operator is
asking for subsidy on the following
trade routes:
• US Gulf to the United King­

dom and northern Europe, 30 to 42
sailings annually.

• Atlantic and Gulf-California
service to the Far East, 18 to 30
sailings annually.

• Pacific Coast to the Far East,
30 to 42 sailings annually.

• North Atlantic to Northern
Europe, 18 to 30 sailings annually.

• US Gulf to Mediterranean and
Black Sea, 18 to 39 sailings an­
nually.

Since many of the Waterman
subsidy requests would overlap
routes already served by other sub­
sidized lines, it can be expected
that these other companies wiil

object strenuously to the Water­
man bid. A key element in any
subsidy is whether the service
currently provided by US operators
13 adequate.

Along with Waterman, other
major unsubsidized operators now
seeking Government aid are Isth­
mian, Isbrandtsen and States
Marine. If subsidies were granted
to all of these companies, the
action would eliminate, for prac­
tical purposes, any unsubsidized
offshore operation in the dry cargo
liner field.

» « « f » • « 1

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 as promptly as possible.

Jobs Plentiful,
Seattle Claims

SEATTLE—Although not com­
ing close to last period's four-year
record high shipping total, job ac*
tivity in this area has continued
to be very good. Shipping ran way
ahead of A and B registration with
more C cards taking jobs than
Class A men^

The Ocean Dinny (Ocean Clip­
pers), Fairport (Waterman) and
John C (Atlantic Carriers) paid
off and signed on. The Flomar,
Calmar, Yorkmar, and Pennmar
(Calmar) were in transit. All were
reported in good shape.

fair' Shipping
In San Fran.

SAN FRANCISCO—Shipping in
the bay area has continued to be
fair with little change expected.

The Jean LaFitte, Wild Ranger
(Waterman) and Longview Victory
(Victory Carriers) signed on while
the Chickasaw, Andrew Jackson
(Waterman); Steel Vendor, Steel
Flyer (Isthmian); Longview Vic­
tory (Victory Carriers), Calmar
(Calmar) and Ocean Dinny (Ocean
Transport) were in transit.

4-

Raft Sinks Short Of Goal

An attempt ot a sort of reverse "Kon-Tiki" comes to an end as
the bamboo raft Tahiti-Nui (top, right) begins to break up while
under tow by the Chilean frigate Baquedano. Five crewmen on the
raft, which later sank, tried to sail from Tahiti to South America
to prove that Polynesians could have migrated to South America
in the pre-Christian era. The raft was disabled obout 400 miles
from the. coast of, Chile. •J



Pag# Twelve SEAFARERS LOG Jiue 1, mi

m:
|sir'
I n-'-

I fr -
IS'.
'ft

FOIK MUSIC?

Crew Can't
Take It Or
Leave It

Music may have its merits
on a ship, but some of it isn't
going over too well with SIU
crewmen on the Afoundria.

The gang that lives back aft
doesn't mind too much when
ship's delegate Robert Walton
treats them to Beethoven, Bach
or Schubert through his hi-fi sys­
tem. They just figure he's going
a little too far when he makes his
captive audience listen tn Japan­
ese folk music, "especially when
the ship isn't going to Japan."

They went just about every­
where else on the Far East cir­
cuit, however, and hit different
extremes in weather each time.
Takoa, Formosa, was hot; Keelung,
Formosa, was wet; Naha, Okinawa,
was just right (the girls were
nice, too, they say), and Kunsan,
Korea, was too cold. The cargo
was assorted enough to match the
weather; they carried a variety of
vehicles ranging from new '57
Chryslers and Olds cars to light
tanks.

"The crew has been cooperating
fully on the safety program," Wal­
ton adds, "but that's as far as it's
going. Topside just doesn't seem
to care if any suggestion involves
spending a dollar, although the
company will scream when some­
one gets hurt and sues."

Tribute To A Skipper

Meeting is
Like A Tonic

There's nothing like a good
skull session to clear the air
aboard ship. This was aptly
demonstrated recently on the
Robin Hood, "as everybody
got 'inta'd'act' . . . discussions
ranged from gripes about pres­
ent purser to the price of
eggs," said ship's delegate Har­
old E. Rosencrans. "It was ac­
knowledged by most members
to be the most comprehensive
meeting called in many a day.
Everybody had a small quarrel
and now that the meeting's
over everybody feels better."
A less cheerful note concerned
the death of 2nd electrician
Sam Cornog at Beira, PEA, in
whose memory the traditional
one minute of silence was ob­
served. Cornog's body was
due to be returned on the
Robin Grey, which was in
Beira at the same time.

Editor,
SEAFARERS LOG,
675 Fourth Ave.,
Brooklyn 32, NY

I would like to receive the
SEAFARERS LOG — please
5ut my name on your mailing
ist. (Print Information)

NAME

STREET ADDRESS

CITY ZONE ...

STATE
TO AVOID DUPLICATION: If you

• ro an old subscriber and have a
change of address, please give your
former address below:

ADDRESS

CITY ZONE...
STATE

A solemn gathering attended by all hands marked the recent
"Scattering of the Ashes" services held aboard the Texmar for the
late Capt. John Dunn, formerly of the Oremar. The ceremony was
conducted by Capt. Charles B. Dunn of the Texmar (reading in
foreground, left), a cousin of the deceased, southeast of Cape Hat^
teros while the vessel was stopped. Below is a poem sent along
with the photo, which aptly suits the ocasion. No names were
given.

Change Of Command
Proud the vessel, as it lies alight.
Still and solemn on this quiet night.
Save for nature's scattered sounds of might
As hawsers stir within their bight.
Fore and aft surge the lines.
Rhythmic, gentle swaying, to soundless chimes;
In tribute they sound their lasting tone
Farewell to a captain, who now sails alone.
Alone, no longer commanding an earthly ship,
Passage only granted, on this his final trip.
Pilot of pilots guides his spread of sail
Hands steady and firm, at the Downeaster's wheel.
The winds and weather will trouble him no more.
Nor need he look again to that faraway shore.
Or be beckoned by a familiar whistle buoy's moan
And the soft whispering of a friendly diaphone;
His profession no longer can demand.
For Cod is now captain, and in command.

SIU, A&G District
BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St.
Earl Sheppard. Agent EAstern 7-4900
BOSTON 279 State St,
James Sheehan. Agent Richmond 2-014O
HOUSTON 4202 Canal St.
A. Michelet. Agent Capital 7-6558
LAKE CHARLES, La 1419 Ryan St.
Leroy Clarke, Agent HEmlock 6-5744
MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner. Agent HEmlock 2-1754
MORGAN CITY 912 Front St.
Tom Gould. Agent Phone 2156
.VEW ORLEANS 523 BienvUle St.
Lindscy Williams. Agent Tulane 8626
NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn

HYaclnth 9-6600
NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St.
Ben Rees. Agent MAdlson 2-9834
PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St.
S. Cardullo. Agent Market 7-1635
PUERTA de TIERRA PR 101 Pelayo
Sal Colls. Agent Phone 2-5996
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St.
Marty Breithoff. Agent Douglas 2-5475
SAVANN.AH S Abercom St.
E. B. McAuley. Agent Adams 3-1728
SEATTLE 8505 1st Ave.
Jeff Gillette. Agent EUiott 4334
TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St.
Tom Banning. Agent Phone 2-1323
WILMINGTON. Calif 505 Marine Ave.
Reed Humphries. Agent Terminal 4-2874
HEADQUARTERS....675 4th Ave., Bkiyn.

SECRETARY-TREASURER
Paul HaU

ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS
J- Algina, Deck C. Simmons. Joint
J. Volpian, Eng. W. HaU. Joint
E. Mooney. Std. R. Matthews. Joint

SUP
HO.NOLULU 16 Merchant St.

Phone 5-8777
PORTLAND Ill sw Ciay St.

CApital 3-4336
RICHMOND. CaUf... 510 Macdonald Ave.

BEacon 2-0925
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St.

Douglas 2-8363
SEATTLE 8505 1st Ave.
> • • Main 0290

WILMINGTON 505 Marine Ave.
Terminal 4-3131

NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn
HYacinth 9-6165

Canadian District
HALIFAX. N.S 128H HoUis St.

Phone 3-8911

MONTREAL 634 St. James St. West
PLateau 8161

FORT WILLIAM 130 Simpson St.
Ontario Phone: 3-3221

PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St.
Ontario Phone: 5591

TORONTO. Ontario 872 King St. E.
EMpire 4-5719

VICTORIA. EC 617ti Cormorant St.
EMpire 4531

VANCOUVER. EC 298 Main St.
PacUic 3468

SYDNEY. NS 304 Charlotte St.
Phone: 6346

BAGOTVILLE. Quebee 20 Elgin St.
Phone: 545

THOROLD; Ontario 52 St. Davids St.
CAnal 7-3202

QUEBEC 85 St. Pierre St.
Quebeo Phone: 3-1569

SAINT JOHN 85 Germain St.
NE Phone: 2-5232

Great Lakes District
ALPENA 1215 N. Second Ave.

Phone: 713-J

BUFFALO. NY 180 Main St.
Phone: Cleveland 7391

CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave.. NE
Phone: Main 1-0147

DETROIT 1038 3rd St.
Headquarters Phone: Woodward 1-6857

DULUTH 531 W. RUchigan St.
Phone: Randolph 2-4110

SOUTH-CHICAGO 3261 E. 92nd St.
• • • - • Phone: Essex 5-2410

Passenger Lauds
Artisan Galley
To the Editon

Enclosed Is a letter from on*
of our passengers. Dr. Louis H.
Jentgen, who, with his wife,
made a trip around the world
on this vessel, the Steel Artisan,
along with other friends of his.

Dr. Jentgen was a friend of
every member of this crew. He
went all the way cut to treat
men who were sick and pro«
vided many types of medicines
which he carried along for this

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.

purpose. We arc Indeed grate­
ful to him.

Harry Banner
Ship's delegate

S' * *

"To whom It may concern:
"My association with the

steward and his department on
the Steel Artisan on our
round the world cruise leaving
New York on January 25th will
be a lasting, memorable occa­
sion.

"Richard Grant, the steward,
was the optimum of help­
fulness. His associates in the
galley were also helpful, kind­
ly men always solicitous of the
welfare of the passengers and
crew. It will be a long time
till I could forget Ambrose,
Darlo and Harry, the 1st, 2nd
and 3rd cooks, and I must not
forget Fernando and CoUliis
also.

"1 would sure like to go to
sea with such men again."

Dr. L. N. Jentgen
Columbus, Ohio

t 3)
Coal Oldtimers
Dig In On Beef
To the Editor:

I am writing from Norfolk as
one of the younger oldtimers
down here on American Coal,
trying to help our Union put
this beef over for good.

I must say the Union Is doing
Its utmost to please the men
who are answering the call. I
left my ship In Good Hope, La,
reported to SIU headquarters
in New York, was flown down
here and put in a good hotel
with excellent meals.

The special SIU coal beef of­
fice on Colley Street has all the
coffee, coke, sandwiches, cake,
cigars, cigarettes and even
snuff (for those who use It) you
can possibly use. There's free
transportation to and from the
hotel when we have to report
to the Colley St. office.

Men still arrive every day
from New York, Mobile, Frisco,
Seattle and all parts of United
States to help this Union of ours
put It over.

On Thursday (May 16—^Ed.)
two city transit buses were hired
to transport us for an interview
regarding jobs open on the coal
ship Caslmlr Pulaski. The
buses full of men were held up
until midnight before the hiring
was finished, but we did have all
kinds of refreshments brought
In for us. There were smokes,
sandwiches, coffee, soft drinks,
ice cream, etc., while the rival
union had nothing for Its men.

All next week we will be do­

ing the same. Even If It take*
all around the clock w* will b*
right behind our officlali her*
to help them put It over.

The reason I sat down to
writ* this Is because t
would Ilk* to convey something
to our younger members. 1
know you are sorry you can't
help at this time, because ot
your youth, as you would gladly
com* forward with tha aam*
spirit.

There are a great many men
down here, and I won't reveal
how many, but of the vast num­
ber of them from all over
America I can truthfully say
that they are all acting Ilk*
gentlemen. None are drunk, all
are orderly and they all hav*
respect for what they stand for.
They know they have a job to
do and they do It.

There were two police cara
at the company office but the
police sitting In those cars were
bored; they knew they weren't
needed. Even the police re­
marked how orderly the SIU
men were.

The next morning we re­
turned for standby hiring, but
before the SIU left with Its
buses full of men, we policed
the grounds by picking up all
.the trash, paper cups and wrap­
pers thatr might damage the
standing of the SlU.

In closing, I would like to say
It Is a privilege to be an SIU
man and a pleasure to be an
oldtimer. Everything that can
be done is being done, and is
a credit to our Union.

Charles J. Hartman

Union Welfare
Service Cheered
To the Editor:

As someone who has had oc­
casion to call upon the 'Welfare
Services Department for help I
can say that we are fortunate
to have this kind of set-up in
our union.

I was aboard the Hastings in
Europe when our son was born.
Two days after birth he suffered
a ruptured blood vessel In his
head and had to be hopitalized
promptly. Although I was not
around to file the benefits form,
Welfare Services saw to it that
the hospital bill was taken care
of promptly by checking on my
seatime through the headquar­
ters records.

Now the boy is getting special
treatment In a clinic back home
In Jacksonville for the condi-

Now 16 months, Ralph Jr.
Is pictursd Iii on *011/
photo.

tlon that he developed as a re­
sult of this Injury. But I can
ship out regularly, knowing that'
while I am out at sea <tny fam­
ily will be taken care of If any
emergency should come up.

It certainly Is a great com­
fort to know that we have such
service In the SIU and that we
can leave our families knowing
they are fully protected.

Ralph Bumsed



Johe 195? SEAFARERS LOG Facre Thirteen

MORNINe LI6HT (WatcrmanV May
I—Chairman/ D. Claussen; Sacratary,

"W. Moraa. Proper clothlna> cigarettes
and tobacco to be put aboard before
leaving port. Ship's delegate to get
In touch with library for new books.
Vote of thanks to steward department
lor a job well done.

Job security. He encouraged the old
timers to take a hand in it. This has
been a very pleasant trip because
every one is doing their share in mak­
ing it a pleasant trip. Discussion of
steward department heads. Discussion
on salads.

. MICHAEL (Carres), April 32—Chair­
man, J. Nuget; Sacratary, P. Cath-
eart. Used ship's fund to wire for
flowers. Oiler got burned on wash­
ing machine. New delegate elected.

ROBIN MOWBRAY (Seat), April 2*
—Chairman, N. Flowers; Secretary,
W. Handershot. Suggestion that each
man contributes to ship's fund at
payoif. Bequest clarification on who
has responsibility of issuing property
passes. Members of deck department
asked not to' use laundry for paint
stowage. Note presence of cock­
roaches. Request fumigation. Dis­
cussed poor menu for Easter Sunday.

ROBIN WENTLEY (Seas), May 4—
Chairman, L. Karaiunas; Secretary, C.
Mathews. Elected ship's delegate.
Each man to give SI to ship's fund.
Cofffee to be drawn from urn at night.
Two hour limit suggested for clothes
dryipg in fidley. Quiet requested in
passageways during day to protect
sleepers. Lookout changed to bridge
because of danger on deck cargo.

STEEL CHEMIST (isthmian), Dec.
23—Chairman, P. Spencer; Secretary,
W. Thompson. $5.20 in ship's fund.
The steward asks that any old torn
linen found on change day or time
of issue, be turned over to him and
he will issue new ones. The washing
machine is in bad shape. In order to
make it last, tlie crew is asked to go
easy on heavy washing.

Jan. 20—Chairman, W. LaNasa; Sec­
retary, W. Gillespie. Crew to cut out
drinking and arguing. Steward asked
about keeping leftovers in tin cans
over 48 hours limit. Said nothing can
be done about it. $5.20 in ship's fund.
Name caiiing to cease. A-B-C men
all have equal voice In meeting.

Feb. 22—Chairman, J. Norgaard.
Beef on night lunch. Stores seem to
be short. Food too highly seasoned.
Discussion on rationing cigarettes.
Liquor prohibited to the crew but
not to officers. Taxi passes given to
officers, and not to crew in foreign
ports. Sanitary work not being done.
Crew to come into messhall dressed
properly.

STEEL TRAVELER (isthmian), April
14—Chairman, R. Wentling; Secretary,
J. Gregory. Medical check-up for
crew. New mattresses are available.
Proper clothes to be worn at meal­
time. $11 in ship's fund. $3 used
for communication in Cochin, India.
Donation to be made by crew for
ship's fund. Vote"of thanks to stew­
ard department, and baker for his
coffee time snacks. Vote of thanks
also to captain and all topside officers.

STONY POINT (USPC), May 1 —
Chairman, E. Riity; Secretary, D.
Sheehan. Steward department given

a vote of thanks for the good food
and service. To raffle off radio and
Iron.

OCEAN EVA (Maritime Overseas),
March 3—Chairman, W. Johnson; Sec­
retary, J. Doyle. $10.4.5 in ship's ftind.
Saw captain in regard to getting more
cigarettes for crew, as officers are
receiving more than crew. Captain
will see purser on issue. Discussion
on alien riding ship. To see if we
can get him off at end of voyage.

TOPA TOPA (Waterman), May 3—
Chairman, P. Van Wygerden; Secfe-
lary, F. Kustura, $20 in ship's fund.
Discussion on getting wind shutes for
quarters aft. All dirty linen to be
turned in immediately.

PENNMAR (Caimar), April 28—Chair­
man, V. Monte; Secretary, W. Kohut.
Report on coal ships by delegate and
his inspiring taiks on trying for this
new organizing jobs for our future

VALCHEM (Valentine Tankers),
April 28—Chairmen, T. Hinson; Sec­
retary, W. Netta. $30 in ship's fund.
Water fountain to be checked. All
crew members that do not have bulk­
head shelves and locker shelves to
report to the ship's delegate and he
will see the captain about it. All
crew members to come to messhall
dressed properly. There will be no
drinking and performing on vessel.
Ciieck soap dishes and towel racks.

FELTORE (Ore), May S—Chairman,
A. Rosenbapt; Secretary, Q. Strick­
land. Few beefs squared away. Re­
pair list to be made out. Crew mem­
bers should be back one hour before
sailing time. Sanitary equipment
needed by the engine department.
Steward should have enough silver­
ware and china for the crew. Con­
gratulations to headquarters for open­
ing the new SIU Health Clinic.

JEAN LAFITTB (Waterman), March
28—Chairman, J. Touart; Secretary,
W. LeVeen. The ship's delegate paid
off on our arrival in Stockton. Cali­
fornia. William LeVecn elected this
trip. Crew notified that draw in
Korea will be in hwan, at the 500 to 1
dollar, exchange rate. A vote of
thanks extended to Brother Jake
Hansen for his generous contribution,
to the ship's fund.

May 5—Chairman, T. Touart; Sec­
retary, F. Amora. $16.55 in ship's
fund. Instruct New York to have
arrangements for passenger worka­
ways to have better accommodations
on ship's such as staterooms, when
available as poor, unsanitary rooms,
are sometimes given to these men.
Library books and magazines re­
ceived. Brother Touart volunteers to
be ship's librarian, temporarily. Also
members requested not to go over
the ship's delegate's head, about ships
business. Repair list discussed.

MAE (Bull), April 18 — Chairman,
Hipp; Secretary, J. Jakeski. Chief en­
gineer promised to cover bare steam
lines on deck, some of the crew got
burned. Aiuminum ladder for gang­
way ordered. One man missed ship
in Baltimore. Have patrolman to
check with chief engineer and make
sure steam lines are covered. Check
with headquarters and make sure
new ladder for gangway is in Balti­
more. Agreed to get a new TV set
since the old one is pretty well worn
out. "We the crew on here are lOOC'o
with the Union on whatever action
may make in order to secure Ameri­
can coal for the SIU. And to hell
with all the baloney Joe Curran may
put in the Pilot."

May 10—Chairman, J. Jakelski; Sec­
retary, F. Bischoff. Everything seems
to be running smoothly. Repairs from
last trip are all in order. Aluminum
ladder for the gangway Is on the
dock waiting in Baltimore. New dele­
gate elected. Purchased new TV set
in New York and a new TV antena
in Houston and had radio repaired.
$48.67 left in the fund. Better care
to be taken of TV set and radio.
Screen for portholes needed.

FLORIDA STATE (Poncs Cement),
May 7—Chairman, B. Varn; Secretary,
J. Sersey. So far two men received
transportation to port of engagement,
other four men also will receive same
before arrival in Ponce. It was men­
tioned that for safety purposes, lines
should be stowed aft, also to get small
wooden gangway replaced as someone
may slip, or capsize the old one; and
fall overboard. Also a couple of
rafts were requested. A vote of
thanks to the cooks for excellent food
served. Our old ship's delegate was
re-elected.

CAROLYN (Bull), May 5—Chairman,
E. Smith; Secretary, V. Laine. $27 in
ship's fund. Suggestion made by en­
gine delegate that the stbd. ventila­
tor in top deck be extended to get
more air; also that the umbrella on
top stack be removed for the same
purpose. Ice cream had to be con­
demned due to rising temperature in
Ice cream box.

CHiLORE (Ore), May 1—Chairman,,
D. Waiters; Secretary, J. Grimes.
$21.71 in ship's fund. Money owed to
oiler whieh missed the ship, can give
it to patrolman, or to the bosun. The
bosun's room and the quartermaster's
room to be fumigated. Not enough
cups and glasses.

LOOKOUT ON THE BOW
-By Seafarer Richard Law-

{Ed. note'. The following will prohahlif ring true with most deck gang men. It was re­
cently published in the "The Literary Quad," an annual publication of State Teachers
College at West Chester, Pa., which Law now attends.)

It is raining harder now than
it was when you first went on
watch. It always rains harder
after you relieve the lookout.

For two hours you stand on the
slick, black deck of the bow and
look for other miserable ships out
in the storm with yours. The sting­
ing drops of water pelt your face
and eyes until they force you to
stare down momentarily at the
gray, restless, riddled ocean. The
deep, penetrating ship's whistle
moans scoldingly, chiding you be­
cause you relaxed.

You are sharp again until a gust
of wet wind slaps your face. Its
sfjlt irritates your skin, and you
curse loudly. You trudge the nar­
row breadth of the forecastle deck
several times until lifting your
boois gets tiresome. They contain
so much water now that you con­
sider heaving them overboard.
Somebody must be responsible for
your hateful situation. You would
like whoever he is to suffer your
punishment for awhile.

Now the steady downpour finds
a little hole or rip in your jacket
and begins to leak through it. The
cold water tickles your skin for a
few minutes until you want to
scream. Then it stops because
your wet shirt's so cold against
your back that you can't feel a

mere trickle of water. The water
stays cold, and it seeps down into
your dungarees. They become so
saturated that your rubber over-

Echo Of 1492

Seafarer Star Wells, carpen­
ter on the John C. Kendall,
looks over a replica of Colum­
bus' flagship Santa Maria at
Barcelona, Spain. The origi­
nal Santa Maria was wrecked
on the first voyage to the US.

Rx Via Radio Hook-Up
Saves Sherwood Man

A rash of mishaps dogged the Robin Sherwood all the way
from the US to East Africa, but the SIU ship managed to
come home last week in good shape.

The melee got underway in"*"
New York last winter, when
the stern swung out while the
bowline was still on the dock and
struck a submerged object. In
Capetown the anchor windlass
went "kaput," and all along the
coast delays stretched every one-
day stop into a week or more.

"Back in East London on the
return voyage, we had a big 15
tons to pick up but arrived there
in the middle of a four-day Easter
holiday for the port tugs and
pilots. The ship to shore phone
got so hot we had fire and boat
drill," ship's delegate Joseph P.
Wise commented. Twenty hours
latdr they finally got the stuff
aboard and sailed on.

All was serene again on the way
home until saloon messman Bob
Powell got cramps in his right
side, started vomiting, and Capt.
H. M. Beholder "really started to
wear out a path from the radio
shack to the ship's hospital. Purser
T. D. Davies took over here and
began sharpening his needles,
chief mate C. McNatt kept busy
applying ice packs and radio op­
erator Henry Flack filled the air

with calls for medical assistance.
"He got the Argentine liner

Pres. Peron, but it was sending in
Spanish. Nobody could make it
out until a Spanish-speaking deck
man was roused and put to work as
interpreter. The Peron's diagnosis
was later confirmed by the Moore-
mac liner Brazil 1,000 miles away
and, eventually, by the US Public
Health Service in New York, which
verified the doctor on the Brazil.

"Following treatment, Powell
came out of it under the watchful
eyes of the purser and a night
watch manned by the crew. We
know we owe deep thanks to our
captain and others here on the
Sherwood, as well as the other
ships and the USPHS, who all
turned to in this medical emer­
gency," Wise added.

Acknowledging the crew's
thanks, Capt, Scholder replied:
"Every task performed aboard ship
is a matter of teamwork ... To
those crewmembers who stood by
all night while the patient was re­
ceiving treatment and sweating it
out, my sincere thanks. All's well
that end's well."

alls just make motion more im-
comfortable. You wish you'wer#
naked.

The whistle groans again, and
you demand it to stop. You're
satisfied when it does, until you
visualize the mate sitting up in
the wheelhouse drinking a cup of
hot coffee, and releasing the
whistle switch every minute or so.
It's an inequitable system. His
being sheltered makes your ex­
posure worse.

You could use a cup of coffee,
too. Now you wonder how long
you must wait to be relieved. Your
partner should have arrived long
ago; so you muse uncharitably
about him, and curse to yourself
because he overslept. You get an­
grier when you picture him un­
concernedly drinking a second cup
of coffee while-you are drowning
in his stead.

You are past rational exaspera-
Hon now. For no sensible reason
you sing to yourself. You sing
some simple, annoying, repetitious
lyric like, "Roly-poly ball, a penny
a pitch," or "You ain't nothin' but
a houn' dog," until you remember
that, you're out here to listen also
for whistle signals. You know
now that anybody on any ship must
be crazy.

Now you imagine yourself re­
laxing in a comfortable cocktail
lounge in Baltimore or Galveston.
The tantalizing illusion aggravates
your disposition, and you curse
again. You are cursing things so
readily now that you are emitting
a profane soliloquy.

"Pretty bad morning, huh?"
Your relief man tells you that

it's 4 AM, and that there is fresh
coffee back aft.

Immediately you are amiable
and cheerful. You think he's a
good shipmate, and you don't hesi­
tate to tell him courageously that
the storm isn't bad compared with
what it was. Now you hurry aft
for coffee and a sandwich. A hot
shower will make you feel like a
new man.

When A Fella
Needs A Friend
It happened on the North­

western Victory. A large sea
flooded the oiler's foc'sle. He
immediately yelled "Where's the
delegate?" Due to^ his discom­
fort, It took a moment's hesita­
tion before he exclaimed "by
God! I'm the delegate!" and
took things over from there.
What particular function would
fall to the delegate in this sit­
uation is not disclosed, but it
can be assumed that delegate
Charles W. Brinton handled the
emergency with dispatch from
then on. R. E. Charroin was sec­
retary of the meeting at which
the incident was reported.

I

V

Burly By Bernard Seaman



Pare Fonrteen SEAFARERS LOG Jhtie 7, 1957

AU The World's A Dish
For Cooks Aboard Jean

It's a three-ring culinary circus on the SS Jean these days, I
with Danny Picarelli calling the shots as ringmaster and.chief |
cook.

A. Aronica, DM {lefl), and
night cook & baker F. Oliver
team up (or a photo on deck.

Ex-SIU Mate
Keeps John B.
In Top Shape

"A seaman has to look
around a long, long time be­
fore he finds a ship as good as
the John B. Waterman," reports
Anthony C. Aronica. "Morale and
working conditions aboard our
ship are excellent."

One of the men responsible for
this pleasant condition is chief
mate C. Kean, a former SIU mem­
ber, Aronica points out. This adds
force to the long-held SIU view
that-the best ship's officers gen­
erally come out of the foc'sle. The
practical knowledge they can bring
to bear from their experience on
the other side of the fence is al­
ways a valuable asset.

Kean first joined the SIU In
1941, and retired in good stand­
ing in 1950.

Better Relations
"Crewmembers aboard this ship

are proud to be shipmates with
him," says Aronica. "We all be­
lieve that he is an asset not only
for the company, but for our
Union as well. His years of ex­
perience, plus his thorough under­
standing of the working agreement
makes disputed overtime unheard
of.

"Most of the fellows are home-
steading the ship. It's a home
away from home," he adds.

"When things are going
little rough out there on deck
or in any other department, i
sure takes the pressure off to sit
down in that messhall and be
treated to some of that tasty chow,"
ship's delegate Dick Cummings re­
ports. "As we all know, the garbage
on a ship is half the battle anyway.

"We have corned beef and cab­
bage for the Irish; cabasse and
pancakes for the Poles; sauerkraut
and speck for the Germans, and of
course, with due regard for his
own nationality, a host of special­
ties for the Italians.

"I was on one ship with Danny
when we even had wonton soup for
our Chinese AB!"

Much of the credit for this happy
state of culinary affairs is given to
Juan Sanchez, 2nd cook. "Danny's
very lucky (and so are we) to have
Juan on his side. All his vegetables
are well-seasoned and cooked with
the finesse of a first-class culinary
artist," Cummings noted.

Dieters and ulcer cases get a
break, too. "The meats are almost
always roasted or broiled, so that
even the guys with a few ulcers can
enjoy them."

The passengers and even a fin
icky-eating skipper are going for

the chow in a big
way. "Capt. Wil
lie T a u s e n d
schoen, who used
to be known as
'the scourge of
the galley,' is just
sitting back tak­
ing it easy, and
getting fat ^s a
butterball.

"There are no
'short-cuts' taken in this galley
either. Everything is prepared the
way it should be even when some
of these special creations take a
little extra time. We just hope
Danny's 'love-life' in Philly doesn't
interrupt his staying with us on
here."

Picarelli

Man Behind The Bar

Seafarer Frank Bernotas mixes a few for friends at the Show Bar
he fust opened with his brother, next to the Troc Burlesque House in
Philadelphia. The lady is Marilyn Marshall, one of the headlineri
from the nearby Troc. The bar's a union house, but Frank some­
times pinch-hits. He recently got out of the Army.

USPHS HOSPITAL
MANHATTAN BEACH

BROOKLYN. NY
Manuel Antonana B. J. Martin
Eladio Aris Albert Martlnelli
Fortunato Bacomo Vie Milazzo
Frank T. CampbeU Joaquin Miniz
John Driscoll Norman J. Moore
Robert E. Gilbert W. P. O'Dea
William Guenther
Bart E. Guaranick
John Haas
Howard Haiiey
Percy Harreison
Taib Hassen
Billy R. HiU
Thomas Isaksen
Ira H. Kilgore

Ben Omar
George G. Phifer
G. A. Puissegur
George E. Renaie
Winston E. Renny
S. B. Saunders
G. E. Shumaker
Kevin B. Skeliy
Henry E. Smith

Ludwig Kristianscn Stanley F. Sokol
Frederick Landry Michael Toth
Leonard Leidig Harry S. Tuttle
A. McGuigan Virgil E. Wilmoth
H. C. Mclssac Pon P. Wing

BELLEVUE HOSPITAL
NEW YORK, NY

Loyd McGee
USPHS HOSPITAL .

NORFOLK, VA.
Francis J. Boner Clifford Vaughan
Robert E. King

USPHS HOSPITAL
STATEN ISLAND, NY

John Bednar
N. Bossanyl
Edw. T. CampbeU
R. J. Cavanaugh
E. Cruz
Arthur Cunningham
Howard B. Davis
Raymond M. Davis
P. P. Dolendo
JuUus Ekman
James H. Fisher
Richard V. Gelling
Burl Haire
R. Hanssen
Thomas Horan
AUred Kaju

D. Ryan-McNeiiie
Ahmed Mchssiii
Thomas Moncho
Chas. Montgomery
Haakon Mourn
Jan E. Mozden
John O'Connor
J. Olabarrieta
C. Palmer
Frank S. Paylor
Frank Philip
Jan PioiLowskl
Edoardo Plscopo
Paul Pope Jr.
Eustaqiilo Rivera
J. L. Roberts

Jose Rodriguez Stanley H. Vernui
Charles Roosa Jack E. Williams
R. VeUinga

USPHS HOSPITAL
MEMPHIS, TENN.

Claude F. Blanks
USPHS HOSPITAL

FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Benjamin Deibler James Lauer
Siegfried GnRtke John C. Palmer

MONTEBELLO
CHRONIC DISEASE HOSPITAL

BALTIMORE, MD.
Francisco Bueno

USPHS HOSPITAL
BALTIMORE, MD.

Max Acosta Billy E. Harris
Joseph Arnold Carle C. Harris
Elmer Baker James Haynes
Burnctte Brown Wm. F. Healey
Harold Clyatt Herman Kemp
Estaban Conquet J. D. McDaniels
Victor B. Cooper Edw. F. McGowan
James R. Dayton Francisco Mayo
Thomas Finnerty William Mellon
Claudius Fisher Raymond Perry
Guy G. Gage Edw. P. Scherzer
Joseph GiU Wm. L. WiUiams
Gorman T. Glaze Dexter WorreU

USPHS HOSPITAL
BOSTON, MASS.

Samuel E. A. Bayne Kenneth A. LaRose
Patrick J. Devine Ammon J. Pago
Wm. v. Kouzounas

USPHS HOSPITAL
GALVESTON. TEXAS

Raymond G. Atwell M. N. Gcndron
M. J. Blrrana J. B. Lippencott
G. H. Bryan G. Syensson

HOTEL DIEW
NEW ORLEANS, LA.

John Long
USPHS HOSPITAL

ORLEANS, LA.
WiUiam Bargone Erik Berg
Joseph BattagUa John W. Bigwood

Michael Pardur
Winford Powell
Randolph Ratcliff
F. Regalado
Ray R. Richardson
L. Robertson
Toxie Sanford
Joseph D. Saxon
John Schupstik
WUliam Scruggs
Toeiil Smigielski
Wert A. Spencer
Rufus Stough
L. A. Strickland
A. E. Swenson
Gerald L. Thaxton
Lonnie R. Tickle
Manuel R. Traba
Dolphus Walker
Herman Winborn
David Witty
Cliffoid Wuerll
D. G. Zerrudo
Jacob Zimmer

Charles R. Bourg
Henry ChUdress
William Clark
John B. CoUins
Donald Dambrino
Serio M. DeSosa
William DrlscoU
John East
L. Fiorentino
Walter Gels
Leon Gordon
Wm. Havelin
Maiden Hibbs
George Hobbs
James Hudson
Foster Juneau
Edward G. Knapp
Duska P. Korolia
Charles Lambert
Leo Lang
William Lawless
Robert McLamore
Jack Moore
Michael Muzlo
Efthimios Pappas

USPHS HOSPITAL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

John C. Carolan Michal Mlchallk
Herman A. Carson Alonzo M. Milefski
Noah C. Carver
Cecil C. Gates
A. A. Kessen
Alexander Leiner

Fred M. Morris
Agustin G. Oporto
James A. Waller

USPHS HOSPITAL
SAVANNAH, GA.

Louis Cevette BlUie Padget
Jimmie Littleton J. A. Richardson
Billie R. Meeks Troy Thomas
H. T. Nungezer

USPHS HOSPITAL
SEATTLE, WASH.

Wayne T. Center Obert J. Morgan
Thomas J. ConneU Harry S. Murray
Donald J. Dahline Carlos Rodriguez
Thomas Galvin G. R. ScharteU
W. W. McDaniel Homer L. Spencer

Homesteaders
Taken To Task
To the Editor!

This is all about "hom^-
steaderitls," a little-known dis­
ease that Is actually killing
many of our brothers (mentally,
of course).

But It is in no way intended
to refer to many of our brothers
who, due to family financial
commitments are compelled to
stay on the ship, often against
their wishes. I am referring

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.

only to the true "homo sapiens
homesteaderitis," who usually
Is single and without family
commitments.

Rarely is this specimen mar­
ried, for wives cost money. But
if he is, he ii sure to make life so
miserable that she is happy to
oblige him with a divorce.

He can be spotted very easily.
Once he makes his nest on a
ship nothing can get him off
short of a disaster; even then
he'll compete with the captain
to uphold the tradition of being
the last man overboard.

He'll introduce himself to new
crewmembers with a sorrowful
face and tell them how he's been
on this ship so many years. He
can't get off because his dear
grandmother suffers from a con-
friction of the conduction, or
some such fanciful tale when,
as a matter of fact, his relatives
are counting the days until he
kicks the bucket so they can
split the loot.

He is an expert scavenger and
will pick up discarded clothing
and patch same with others; he
acts as barber or does washing
and Ironing as well—^for money
of course. Invariably he is a
favor-currying stool-pigeon for
the officers.

Two or three times a day he'll
stick out his chest and inform
his department head that he
has just completed such and
such a task which is only part
of his regular duties anyway,
just to show what a good man
he is., His only recreation is to
lock himself in. his foc'sle In
port when he can b« alone and
then you'll hear strange sounds
and quite often the clink of
coins.

He is an expert mathemati­
cian and can figure in his head
the interest and compound in­
terest on three cents at 2V^ per­
cent for eight years, seven
months, three weeks, four days
and 12 hours. But at the mere
mention of a loan he'll double
up with violent cramps.

In spite of previous dis­
appointments, he'll bury some
silver eagles in a safe place and
feel very sad when they fail to
produce offspring. And when­
ever he's in a mellow mood you
will see him stroking the near­
est bulkhead tenderly. Any
rumor that his ship Is to be
sold or transferred is bound to
throw him into severe shock.

Eventually he must retire,
since all things come to an end
by the laws of nature. He'll
then buy a small plot of swamp­
land and construct a tarpaper
shack where his only pastime is
to figure his loot daily down to a
penny. Occasionally he'll keep

a few chickens—if the neigh­
boring farmer grows grain.

All of this sums up the arro­
gant homesteader who never
really was a good Union
man in the first place. "There
ought to be a law," as some­
one once said.

M. Gottschaik
4i 4"

Del Norte Aid
is Appreciated
To the Editor:

I would appreciate very much
If you would print this message
of thanks to the entire crew of
the Del Norte for their generous
contribution to me during my
illness aboard ship.

It made me feel good to know
that I belong to an organization
that helps a brother when he
really is in need. Thanks also
to Brother Joe Vaccaro who
devoted his time to enable me
to receive benefits.

In closing, to all the brothers
on the ship, thanks a million.

Louis Guarino
4" 4 4

Safety Plan
Spurs Interest
To the Editor:

As ship's delegate on this ship
I would like to say that the crew
is getting along fine and keep­
ing the Alcoa Corsair sailing
SlU-style. You might say the
crew Is just one big happy
family.

Too, the brothers are taking
an all-out Interest in our safety
meetings. Special thanks go to
Major Costello and Jim Cravcy
for their work in preparing and
conducting the meetings.

I can say also that the brothers
are taking more interest in the
Union meetings aboard ship. I

An "on the ball" ship's dele­
gate, according to engine
delegate Thomas W. Keyser,
Forrest C. King is shown in
his foc'sle checking over meet­
ing minutes. Photo by Keyser.

can see the change from year
to year. I was on the maiden
voyage of this ship some years
back, so I'm in a position to
know.

We all appreciate the LOGs
you send, and the SIU head-
uarters reports.

Forrest C. King

Youngstery^53y
Hails Oldtimers
To the Editor:

Enclosed are a few news clip­
pings telling wl^t is happening
here in Norfolk on the coal
beef, although you probably
know the score by now anyway.

The fellows in this beef are
really getting treated nice.-
We're also meeting a lot of old-
timers. I have 40 • years—I
I started in '17—but I am
a young boy down here at
53 years old. If I happen to
make a ship on this beef I'll bet
no one will call me' "pop";
they'll probably say "hey, son."

But there is a swell bunch of
West Coast boys here. Hats off
to the SUP and MCS.

Jesse W. Fuckett



Jnne 7.1999 SEAFARERS LOG P«te Fifteett

Earl G. McNab
A. Carroll is holdiog important

mail for you. Write to 117 E. La­
fayette Ave., Baltimore 2, Md. or
phone — VE 7-0329R; business
phone—SA 7-9703.

Dickens, oiler
Sander, wiper,

Paul "Art" Arthofer would like
you to get in touch with him con-

^ cerning the money he owes you. His
address is 1419 Ryan St., Lake
Charles, La.

Robert Orin Smith
Contact your wife Helen at 918

Lincoln St. Wilmington, Calif. Tele­
phone—Terminal 5-3593.

Plutt
ex-Aigonkin

Get in touch with Rocky Adams,
RtV Alamo, Coyle Lines, Inc., New
Orleans, La.

D. Xekukis
Jacob B. Malenke wants you to

contact him at Box 31, Parker Ford,
Pa. in regard to a set of china
picked up by mistake aboard the

Wild Ranger in January, 1957, in
San Francisco.

Audly Foster
Your wife injured her hand and

is in need of aid. Please contact
her. -

ex-SS National Liberty
Would the crewmembers of the

SS National Liberty who signed on
after March 6, 1956, please contact
Michael Toth at US Public Health
Hospital, Manhattan Beach, Brook­
lyn 35, NY. Toth was taken off
the vessel In Pusan, Korea, on
June 8, 1956.

Julius J. Swykert
R. Osorio would like you to write

them at 4726 Vermont Ave., Los
Angeles 37, California.

Newton E. Baker
Kindly get in touch with your

wife, Mrs. E.^Baker, Salmon, Idaho.

Would Seafarers who have color
slides of life at sea please get in
touch with Laurence Stem, Chris­
tian Science Monitor, 1 Norway
Street, Boston, Mass.

Mass. Labor
Crumbles On
Sales Taxes

BOSTON—Many Massachusetts'
unions are still up in arms over the
sales tax, reports James Sheehan,
port agent. The pros and cons of
this revenue-increasing device,
proposed by Governor Foster Fur-
colo, were again argued before
union membership at a Central
Trades meeting, but nothing was
proposed about combatting it.

"Unpredictable and slow" is the
shipping report from this area,
Sheehan said. The Council Grove
(Cities Service) paid off and signed
on. The Arthur M. Huddel, Bull
Lines floating cable warehouse,
also signed on. She Is on her way
to Seattle with a load of telephone
and telegraph cable. -

The Robin Sherwood, Robin
Goodfellow (Robin); Steel Artisan,
Steel Dmector (Isthmian); Govern­
ment Camp (Cities Service) and
Arthur M. Huddell (Bull) were in
port to be serviced.

TO SHIPS IN ATUNTIC • SOUTH AMERICAN • EUROPEAN WATERS

THE FIRST DIRECT VOICE
BROADCAST TO SHIPS' CREWS

EViHY stfN0AY • i6ao mmt

Voice of the AIT9,
' 's ' -J ' ^

1 I • •
Wn(-39,19S50 KCs
Shlpi In Caribbean.
Ea>t Coait af South
America, South Atlantic
and East Ceoil el
United States.

wn45,1M50 KC*
Ships In Oull ef Mex­
ico, Caribbean, West
Coflii ol South Amer­
ica, Weil Coast ol
Mexico and US loii
Coast.

WK-95,1S700 KCt
Ships In Mediterranean
area. North Atlantic,
European and US East
Coast.

iilB:

UF-TO-THE*MINUTe
UNION AND MARITIME

NEWS
OP SPECIAL INTEREST

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEEP SEA UNIONS OF THE

MARITIME TRADES DEPARTMENT

SIU-A&6 DISTRICT • SUP • MFOW • MCS • ROU ^ MMiP * BME * SlU-CANADIAN DISTRICT

Meanwhile, MTD
Round-The-World

Wireless Broadcasts
Continue...

All of the following SIU families have received a $200 maternity
benefii plus o $25 bond from the Union in the baby's name:

Stephen Benjamin Nelson, born
March 15, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. John R. Nelson, Roslindale,
Mass.

George William Diean Jr., born
March 27, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. George Dean, Whistler, Ala.

David Keith Myers, born Febru­
ary 27, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
William F. Myers, Jr., Savannah,
Ga.

4. 4. 4.
Debra Jean Stanford, born Feb­

ruary 21, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Glen Stanford, Picayune, Miss.

4* 41
Emily Jayne Maldonado, born

March 18, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Rafael R. Maldonado, Wil­
mington, Calif.

^ 4i 4
Gerald Zananski, bom March 28,

1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Frank
Zananski, Brooklyn, NY.

4" 4" 4
Allessandrlo Francis, born March

12, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Wil-
liard A. Francis, San Pedro, Calif.

4 4 4^,
Warren David Thorp, born May

16,1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. War­
ren Thorp, Seattle Wash.

4 4 4
Lawrence Robert Zaienski, born

December ll, 1956, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Lawrence Zaienski, Baltimore,
Md.

4 4 4
Marta Munster, born April "11,

1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Martin
Munster, Cairo, 111.

4 4 4
Suzanne Gazic, born May 19,

1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Paul T.
Gazic, Maplewood, La.

4 4 4
John Edward Loper, born April

11, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Col­
lie Loper, Jr., Mobile, Ala.

4 4 4
Joy Marie Baker, born May 4,

1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Com-ad
E. Baker, Port Angeles, Wash.

4 4 4
Anthony Revard Pierre, born

March 5,1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
George C. Pierre, Spring Hill, Ala.

4 4 4
Rose Esther Napoleonis, born

March 25, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Julio Napoleonis, Brooklyn,
NY.

4 4 4
Rosana Margie Henry, born May

Birdie W. BiggS, 45: On April 28,
1957, Brother
Biggs met with a
fatal accident In
Jacksonville, Fla.
He joined the
Union on Sep­
tember 2, 1947,
and was sailing
in the deck de­
partment. Brother
Biggs is survived
by Mrs. Mary E. Mack of Jackson­
ville, Fla.

4 4 4
William L. Rapp, 65: Brother

Rapp died on March 18, 1957, in
New Orleans, La. Cause of death
is unknown. He joined the Union
July 6. 1953, and sailed in the en­
gine department. Brother Rapp is
survived by Margaret L. Rapp of
Picayune, Miss.

18, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Har­
old J. Henry, New Orleans, La.

4 4 4.
Jeneen. Marie Gannon, born

April 15, 195'7, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Robert Gannon, San Pedro, Calif.

4 4 4
Lillian Marie Linch, born April

24, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. En-
gene J. Linch, Mobile Ala.

4 4 4
Michael Raymond Holbrook,

born May 6, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. William Holbrook, Baltimore,
Md.

4 4 4
Cheryl Ann Langston, bora April

25, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Joshua Glenn Langston, Timmon.s-
ville, SC.

4 4 4
Silvana Elena Manard, bom

April 30, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Selden F. Manard, Brooklyn, NY.

SIU Holds
Coal Lead

(Continued from page 3)
Coal ships.

Pending arrival of additional
ships with calls for replacements,
oldtlmers from the SIU and from
the Pacific District—Sailors, Fire­
men and Cooks—are coming into
Norfolk from all over the US to
compete for the coal jobs. Many
of them have been sporting dis­
charges dating back into the early
1900's, and it appears that few
men with a discharge dated later
than 1920 have a chance to make
these ships.

All of the SIU of NA deep sea
unions on both coasts are continu­
ing to urge oldtlmers to turn out
in force for the coal ships.

Squelch Fire
On SIU Ship

TRIESTE—Port firemen and Sea­
farers fought for more than a week
before being able to extinguish a
smoldering fire in the grain cargo
of the SS Matthew Thornton
(Grainfleet).

The fire, which was caused by
fermenting corn, was first noticed
while the ship was unloading
in this port. The ship was enroute
to Europe from Sdn Francisco with
a cargo of 9,000 tons of grain.

Although the company reports
that actual damage was very slight,
newspaper accounts state that the
fire ruined some 500 tons of grain.
There were no reported injuries.

Use Only One
Mail Address

Seafarers with beefs regard­
ing slow payment of monies due
from various operators in back
wages and disputed overtime
should first check whether they
have a proper mailing address
on file with the- company. SIU
headquarters officials point out
that reports received from sev­
eral operators show checks have
been mailed to one address
while a beef on the same score
is sent from another, thus cre­
ating much difficulty in keeping
accounts straight.

-S.

4



SEAFARERS LOG
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS > N T E R N ATION AL UNION • ATLANTIC AND OULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO •

Tough Welfare Bill
Covers Boss Also

WASHINGTON—toughened-up bill putting Government
controls over employer as well as union welfare funds has
now been proposed by the Administration. The revised
Government proposal would
require practically every pen­
sion and welfare fund in the
country to file annual financial re
ports. Further it would call for
fines up to $5,000 and prison terms
up to five years for anybody fal­
sifying welfare fund data or de­
stroying welfare fund records.

Follows AFL-CIO View
A basic change in the bill

requiring employer - administered
funds to report, would bring it
more into conformity with legis­
lative proposals supported by the
AFL-CIO. The original adminis­
tration proposal would have made
It mandatory for union funds or
joint union-employer funds to re­
port, but would have allowed the
Secretary of Labor to waive that
requirement for funds that are
solely administered by employers.

$$

At-

Pick College
Winners

On Jnne 17
Selection of five winners of the

$6,000 SIU scholarship awards will
be made a week from this coming
Monday, June 17. The committee
of professional educators will make
their recommendations on the basis
of the applicant's score on the
standard college entrance examina­
tion, his or her school record and
school activities.

Under the terms of the Scholar­
ship Plan, the committee must
reserve at least one of the five
awards known as Andrew Furuseth
Memorial awards, for a Seafarer.
However, last year Seafarers took
four of the five scholarships with
the fifth going to the daughter of
a Seafarer.

Eighteen Competing
This year at last report there

ware ten Seafarers and eight Sea­
farers' children who bad gone into
the final round of the scholarship
competition. Another college en­
trance examination was given on
May 18 and there may be addi­
tional applicants eligible by the
time the committee meets.

The panel of educators consists
of Miss Edna Newby, director of
admissions. New Jersey College for
Women; F. D. Wilkinson, former
registrar, Howard University, who
recently retired; Bernard Ireland,
assistant director of admissions,
Columbia College; Elwood C.
Kastner, registrar. New York Uni­
versity, and C. William Edwards,
director of admissions, Princeton
University.

A number of large corporations,
including some of the major oil

companies, have
such funds in
operation.

The new bill
would put the
same require­
ments on employ­
er funds as on
funds in which
unions play a

Mitchell role. The employ­
er requirement

has drawn the fire of the National
Association of Manufacturers. The
NAM, evidently, is anxious to see
union participation controlled by
law but wants to leave employers
with a free hand in situations
where no union is involved.

The administration proposal, put
forth by James P. Mitchell, Sec­
retary of labor, is similar to a bill
which was offered by Senator Paul
Douglas (Dem.-Ill.). Both bills
would provide that the reports
would be made public in the press.

The one major difference be­
tween the two measures would be
in the coverage of very small funds
involving fewer than 25 workers.
The administration bill would re­
quire reports from about 250,000
funds covering 29 million workers,
while the Douglas bill, by exempt­
ing small units, would limit the
paper work to 30,000 funds.

Two Republican Senators, Barry
Goldwater of Arizona and Gordon
Allott of Colorado, have introduced
a third measure along the lines
sought by the NAM.

There is little doubt that Con­
gress will pass some kind of wel­
fare fund controls bill. However,
there is certain to be a dispute
over the employer fund issue.

May 15 Through May 28

Port

Boston

Norfolk
Savannah
Tampa
Mobile
New Orleans
Lake Charles .

Seattle

Registered
Dtek Deck Rng. Ing. Stew. Stew. Tetel Total A • A B A B A B
5 8 4 4 5 2 14 14

83 15 71 18 56 8 212 41
26 4 13 5 18 6 57 15
45 18 50 18 31 10 126 46
6 4 6 7 4 . 8 16 19

13 2 6 2 15 4 34 8
1 4 3 1 8 1 12 6

25 10 24 6 30 7 79 23
44 8 40 12 27 7 111 27
7 '6 6 1 3 1 16 8

36 14 S8 9 18 10 92 33
17 10 12 14 - 13 5 42 "29
23 11 20 9 16 8 59 ! 28
29 11 14 25 ' 9 9 52 ' 45
Deck Deck Kng. Eng. Stew. Stew. Total Total A B A B A B A B

362 125 307 131 253 86 922 342

Port Deck Deck Deck
Shipped

Eng. Eng. Eng. stew. stew. Stew. Total Total Total A B C A a C A B C A B c
Boston 2 2 5 5 1 3 1 0 13 8 3
New York 15 14 53 19 14 44 9 13 173 43 41
Philadelphia 4 4 13 4 8 8 3 4 45 11 16
Baltimore 23 5 34 20 12 28 10 13 111 53 30
Norfolk 1 3 2 3 1 0 1 1 4 5 5
Savannah 1 1 3 0 0 1 1 2 6 2 3
Tampa 2 1 2 3 0 4 1 1 9 6 2
Mobile 7 2 17 5 6 7 7 6 38 19 14
New Orleans 8 2 27 14 6 32 5 0 90 27 8
Lake Charles 3 0 13 4 1 3 7 1 30 14 2
Houston 14 4 17 11 7 14 11 6 50 36 17
Wilmington 5 7 6 5 7 • 5 5 4 17 15 18
San Francisco 5 6 15 5 3 9 3 0 44 13 9
Seattle 12 10 13 7 14 7 4 9 10 23 33 30

Deck Deck Deck Eng. Eng. Eng. Stew. stew. Stew. • Total Total Total
A B C A B C A B C A 'B c

Total 100 64 216 112 73 162 73 61 653 285 198

Total
Rag.
28
253
72
172
35
42
18
102
138
24
123
71
87
97

Total
Reg.
1264

Ship.
24
257
72
194
14
11
17
71
125
46
103
50
66
86

Total
Ship.

1130

Job activity fell off again during the past two weeks, thus continuing the steady rise
and fall pattern of the last few months. It still represented a fair level of shipping, with
",136 men dispatched to jobs.

Registration also declined
somewhat, but maintained a
ead over shipping. A total of

1,264 SIU men registered during
the period. Minor gains were

h 0 w n by Norfolk and Lake
Charles, while Boston and Wil­
mington remained the same. All
other ports fell behind.

The deck department showed
the widest gap between registra-

YOUR

SEAFARERS WELFARE PLAN
1 Bisahility |
I Benefit j
I I

Seafarers of any age who
can no longer work be­
cause of permanent dis­
ability are entitled to re­
ceive $150 monthly in dis­
ability pension benefits.
This benefit has been in
effect since May, 1952.
Those Seafarers who are
over 50 colled US dis­
ability benefits in addi­
tion, or US Social Secur­
ity benefits if over 65.
The monthly package can
run as high as $258.50.
Twelve years*' seatime
with SIU companies is the
basic requirement, plus
90 days in the previous
calendar year and one
day in the last 90.

SEAFARERS
INT'L UNION,
A&G DISTRICT

tion and shipping, but the most
jobs for class C men, as usual,
were in the black gang. Job ac­
tivity was slowest in the steward
department.

The drop in total jobs also pro­
duced a decline in the proportion
of class A men taking jobs. The
class A figure dropped to 58 per­
cent which, in turn, produced a
rise to 23 percent for class B.
Class C shipping was the same as
before: 17 percent.

The following is the forecast
port by port:

Boston: Fair ... New York: Good
. . . Philadelphia: Good . . . Balti­
more: Good . . . Norfolk: Quiet ...
Savannah: Slow . . . Tampa: Fair
. . . Mobile: Slow, especially for
ABs, electricians and cooks . . .

New Orleans: Good . . . Lake
Charles: Fair . . . Houston: Good
. . . Wilmington: Good . , . San
Francisco: Good . . . Seattle: Good.

MTD Starts
Magazine

WASHINGTON—A new month­
ly magazine serving the interests
of Seafarers and other maritime
union members has been launched
here by the Maritime Trades De­
partment, AFL-CIO. The '"Mari­
time Register" will pi'int items of
maritime news, and news and fea­
tures about the unions affiliated
with the department. It is edited
by Harry E. O'Reilly, MTD Execu­
tive Secretary-Treasurer.

Vol. 1, No. 1, released in June,
carries news of the MTD's second
10 years, stories about Harry Lun-
deberg, the St. Lawrence Sea­
way and shipping In the Middle
East, and several photos of the
opening of the Pete Larsen Memo­
rial Clinic.

Subscriptions are $2 a year. The
"Maritime Register" is published
at Room 501, AFL-CIO Building,
815 Sixteenth St., NW, Washington
6, DC.

TMT Bidding
For 6 C-ls

WASHINGTON — Two separate
bills each authorizing the sale of
up to six C-1 diesels to TMT Trailer
Ferry have been introduced in the
House of Representatives. The
ships would be converted into roll-
Oivroll-off trailerships for use in
TMT's services to the West Indies
and for a run into Mexico.

At present, the SlU-contracted
company is operating the TMT
Carib Queen, a converted landing
ship dock, as well as two deep sea
V-4 tugs in its trailership service.
Another LSD, the Florida Queen,
is currently undergoing conversion
for trailership service.

One bill, offered by Rep. Garmatz
(Dem.-Md.) would authorize sale of
six of the C-1 MAV-ls for use be­
tween Atlantic ports, Mexico and
Cuba. The second bill, authored
by Rep. Dorn (Rep.-NY) would
allot up to four of the C-ls for the
run between the east coast, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Hands.

The ships would be sold to TMT
on a fixed price of $693,862 with
the requirement that they be mod­
ified in US shipyards for roll-on-
service.

The Carib Queen is currently
operating on the Puerto Rico run
after making two transatlantic
crossings under charter, to the
Military Sea Transportation Serv-
ii-r The company expects to re­
sume its transatlantic operation
when the Florida Queen comes out
of the shipyard.