Senator WHITE. All it would do would be to require that the licensed radio operators on the ship shall wear insignia approved by the Federal Communications Commission? Is that it?

Mr. BOROW. No, sir. Senator, I believe my following testimony will explain in detail just what this will provide.

Senator WHITE. All right.

Mr. BoRow. The A. R. T. A. proposed that the Congress adopt this amendment providing for the legal recognition of the radio operator as an officer, thus recognizing by law what already exits in fact. Herewith it submits its reasons supporting its claim for such recognition:

In the standard agreement which the American Radio Telegraphists' Association has signed with the leading American steamship lines, the following paragraph is included:

Each radio officer employed by the company shall receive the same courtesies, privileges, vacations, accommodations, and food accorded to the licensed watch officers employed upon vessels owned and operated by the company.

In an agreement entered into between the Association of Wireless and Cable Telegraphists of Great Britain and the British Engineering and Allied Employers' London and District Association, which includes the Marconi International Marine Communication Co., Ltd., the Radio Communication Co., Ltd., and the International Marine Radio Co., Ltd., of Great Britain, on June 24, 1937, there appears the following paragraph:

For purposes of social standing, accommodation, messing arrangements and attendance, and so forth, the radio officer-in-charge shall be deemed to be on an equal standing with the second officer or senior second officer where more than one second officer is carried.

It is highly significant that the radio officer of the American merchant marine is the only licensed man aboard the vessel who is not rated by law as an officer, while on nearly all foreign vessels, the radio. officer enjoys an official standing equal to or above that of the second officer of the deck department. In some cases he stands next to the master of the vessel.

He

Since the advent of radiotelegraphy as an aid to navigation, the radio officer has enjoyed the privileges and accomodations of an officer in almost all American vessels of the merchant marine. was given this status because it was recognized that he had responsibility over a very important department of the vessel. Radio officers dine at the same table with the captain on all cargo vessels, tankers, and in the main dining saloon on many passengers vessel. On the larger passenger vessels, the radio officer usually dines with. officers of the deck department, and in this respect is recognized as of equal standing with such officers.

There are many other reasons why the radio officer should enjoy the same rank and social standing as does his foreign colleague on vessels of the leading foreign nations.

The radio officer in nearly all cases has at least a high school education, while a large number have some college training. It is necessary to attend school for a year or more before a radio officer is able to pass the examination and obtain a second-class license. It is then necessary to have 1 year's satisfactory service before he can take the examination for a first-class license. Experience demonstrates that at least 5 years is necessary before an operator is able properly to assume charge of the radio department of a passenger vessel.

The long period of preliminary training required and the expense involved make it imperative that the radio officer be compensated for this outlay of capital and loss of time. Compared to a deck officer who begins as an ordinary seaman, earning wages from the beginning without the expenditure of money for tuition and living expenses, the radio officer's status and remuneration are unenviable to say the least.

The education and ability that are necessary for one to become capable of assuming charge of the radio department on a merchant vessel compare favorably with those necessary for assuming charge of a watch on the bridge or in the engine room department; and the importance of his department as a necessary adjunct to the successful navigation of the vessel makes it imperative that the radio officer be recognized as such by law as well as by custom.

In heavy weather, thick fogs, hurricanes, and disaster, the importance of the radio officer is recognized by everyone. A perusal of the great marine disasters of modern times shows clearly that the average radio officer is second to none in judgment, coolness of mind amid great confusion among others, dependability, and courage in the face of death. The little monument in Battery Park, New York, bears witness to public admission of the heroism of the members of our profession. Great disasters, such as the sinking of the Titanic, the Vestris, or the burning of the Morro Castle, have impressed the minds of all with the outstanding courage and devotion to duty of the members of our fraternity who have stood steadfast in the face of a great calamity.

The American Radio Telegraphists' Association respectfully requests the United States Congress to recognize the responsibility of the radio officer in the merchant marine, and grant the radio officer that measure of justice for which we hereby appeal, by placing him in his rightful legal rank-that of an officer.

I have here an excerpt from a table taken from page 89, pamphlet No. 13, of Merchant Marine Statistics, published by the United States Department of Commerce, 1936, and showing the comparative wage scales paid to American and foreign radio officers. This table is submitted primarily because rank and social status in the merchant marines of the world powers are reflected mostly by means of their economic remuneration. I shall not take the time of the committee to read these figures, but I should like to submit this for the record. The CHAIRMAN. Very well; it will be received. (The paper referred to is as follows:)

Comparative wage scales paid to American and foreign radio officers

[NOTE. This scale is submitted primarily because rank and social status in the Merchant Marines of the world powers are reflected, without exception, by economic remuneration]

NOTE. This table is taken from page 89, pamphlet No. 13, of "Merchant Marine Statistics," published by the U. S. Department of Commerce, 1936.

Mr. BOROW. The pamphlet states as follows:

All wages, except American, are taken from Consular reports.

The American

figures are taken from reports of the shipping commissioners. The wages on foreign vessels are stated in United States equivalents of the foreign values taken at the exchange rate on January 1 of the year named.

A summary of the above figures shows that the radio officers have a status, insofar as pay is concerned, as follows, in the following countries: In Great Britain the radio officer ranks in pay and social standing next to the chief officer.

In Denmark, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the second officer.
In Holland, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the captain.

In France, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the chief officer.
In Germany, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the chief officer.
In Italy, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the captain.
In Japan, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the captain.

In Norway, the radio officer ranks next in pay to the second officer. Senator ELLENDER. How does the highest pay, there, compare with that of the American men?

Mr. BOROW. In actual figures?

Senator ELLENDER. Yes.

Mr. BOROW. I shall give it to you in just a moment, Senator.
Senator ELLENDER. I thought you had it at hand.

Mr. BOROW. Yes; I shall give it to you in a moment.

The chief officer on a vessel under the control of the United States Shipping Board, as of the date when these figures were submitted, of course, receives $168 per month.

The chief deck officer-that is, the first mate- -on a British vessel receives $100 per month.

Senator ELLENDER. That is a difference of about $68?

Mr. BOROW. Yes, sir.

Senator WHITE. Are you proposing that all of the radio operators become officers in name?

Mr. BOROW. I would not say "all," sir.

Senator WHITE. Is this anything more than a social distinction, at which you are aiming? Does it involve any change in the qualifications or any change in the status aboard ship, of such men?

What I mean is this: Of course, our Communications Act defines certain classes of operators and prescribes what their qualifications shall be in order to get the licenses of different classes. And that is true of our international agreement, too. All of the nations of the world have agreed as to different classes of operators and as to qualifications for the different classes of operators. Now, are you proposing to change that in any respect?

Mr. BOROW. No, sir.

Senator WHITE. In other words, you do not change their duties or their qualifications, but you call them officers instead of operators? Is that it?

Mr. BOROW. That is correct. That is, to recognize them as officers, by law; in other words, give them legal status as such.

Now, this particular section of S. 3078 would seem even to deny the American radio officer those privileges that he has to date-to claim to be an officer aboard ship. Today on all our passenger vessels the radio officer-as he is referred to aboard ship-wears a regular officer's uniform and has regular officer's designations and

insignia. Now, under subsections 2 and 3, here, that would be denied him. And I shall quote:

(4) The uniform stripes, decoration, or other insignia shall be of gold braid or woven gold or silver material, to be worn by officers, and no member of the ship's crew other than licensed officers shall be allowed to wear any uniform with such officer's identifying insignia.

Now, under the present act, and even if it were amended by this section, legally the radio operator is not an officer.

Senator WHITE. No; he is an operator.

Mr. BOROW. Yes, sir.

Senator WHITE. You want him called an officer?

Mr. BOROW. Yes, sir. And we think it is very important.

Senator WHITE. It is largely a matter of nomenclature?

Mr. BOROW. Yes, sir.

Senator GIBSON. Your plea is that the radio operator be given the rank of officer, by law?

Mr. BOROW. Yes, sir-the same as in foreign countries.

I have here, sir, from a survey that we took of the merchant marines in some of the leading world powers, just what the comparison is over there. For instance, in the Italian Merchant Marine the Italian radio operators are officers by law, immediately upon obtaining their radio operator's license. The license costs them about 1,000 lire, and is given for lifetime, without renewal. On all Italian vessels the chief radio officer's official rank is the same as that of the second deck officer and they are accorded the same food, accommodations, and privileges as their corresponding deck officers. Every Italian radio officer has his own room regardless of the type or size of the vessel. They are recognized by the Italian Navy as officers.

This is not a condition in our country.

German radio operators are classified as officers in the German merchant service. They are required to spend 3 years as an apprentice operator after which they become licensed officers by law. As such they are accorded the same rank, food, accommodations, and social provileges as are corresponding deck officers. The chief officer in the deck department and the chief radio officer are of equal rank and station, and so on down the line. For example, on the Europa the chief radio officer and the chief deck officer are of equal rank and rate first-class privileges and first-class food. The other deck and radio officers are tourist class. Each of the eight radio officers on the Europa has his own room, equipped with a ship telephone in addition to a special communications system to the radio office. The quarters for German_radio officers are far superior to any found on American vessels. German radio officers are eligible to become officers in the German Navy.

French radio operators, after passing their first radio examination must spend a certain period at sea before taking an examination for a first-class license. This is somewhat on the lines of the present American system. Upon passing the second examination, he is given a certificate which makes him an officer on board ship, by law. French radio officers are eligible to become commissioned officers in the French Navy.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Borow, I am wondering if the thing you want is not something that applies to the whole American merchant marine

and not really to the subsidized vessels. Of course this bill we have before us relates to the subsidized ships.

Mr. BOROW. Yes; that is recognized, Mr. Chairman. But I am sure we shall find the same thing-in fact, we have seen it alreadynow, as we did under the United States Shipping Board days. The Shipping Board set the pace, and the rest of the industry simply followed right in line.

The CHAIRMAN. I wanted to be sure that you were aware of the fact that this bill relates only to subsidized ships.

Mr. BOROW. Yes, sir.

Senator, we have had considerable difficulty, particularly on the west coast.

The CHAIRMAN. I have heard so.

Mr. BOROW. So have we-particularly on the larger passenger vessels, like the Matson Line, and so forth.

The CHAIRMAN. Didn't you have some trouble also in Rockland County, N. Y., in a town called Spring Valley?

Mr. BOROW. I am not familiar with any of the details.

The CHAIRMAN. Well, it is not a seafaring port, but a radio operator lived there.

Well, go ahead.

Mr. BOROW. On the west coast in the past few months, due to the indeterminate and indefinite status of the radio operator aboard ship, considerable confusion has existed as to the interpretation of the Maritime Act as it is now written. And some shipmasters insisted that the radio operator was not an officer and therefore he would have to have his messing accommodations with the crew. Now, this caused quite a bit of dissension and confusion, and in several instances almost resulted in economic action. It was only through the intervention of the representatives of this association that this action was forestalled. Senator GIBSON. What do you mean by "economic action"? Mr. BOROW. The men felt they were being discriminated against in an improper degree, and felt they should follow the example that has been set in the past, of putting a request to the captain that they would like those conditions corrected, or they would refuse to sail. Senator GIBSON. In other words, they would strike?

Mr. BOROW. That is correct.

The CHAIRMAN. Boycott?

Mr. BOROW. No, sir.

In another instance we appealed to the operator and told him we would try to take this up with the Maritime Commission or the other authorities, and have this classification defined.

We did address a communication to the Chairman of the Maritime Commission, Mr. Kennedy. He stated that under the law as it is now written, he could not take any official position on it.

Senator GIBSON. Have there been many instances where strikes have resulted in such a condition?

Mr. BOROW. No, sir; there has not been one, sir. But the resentment of the men has run quite high at times. It is usually due to some particular ship master or some particular shipping company official who takes a dislike to a particular radio officer and says, "Well, you are not going to have the same courtesies that the rest of the officers have, and you are going to be put back with the crew."