A BILL TO ESTABLISH HIRING HALLS UNDER THE CONTROL OF SHIPPING COMMISSIONERS FOR THE ENGAGING OF SEA- MEN FOR CERTAIN VESSELS, TO CONTROL SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES AMONG SEAMEN, TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL CITI- ZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR MANNING VESSELS OF THE UNITED STATES, TO ESTABLISH MORE STABLE LABOR RELA- TIONS IN THE MERCHANT MARINE, AND TO PROTECT THE Collins, John J., representing certain licensed officers' unions and Cooley, E. H., Massachusetts Fisheries Association_ Curran, Joseph, National Maritime Union__ Delaney, James J., Masters, Mates, and Pilots of America__ Dirksen, Hon. Everett M., Representative in Congress from Illinois_- Halling, Bjorne, Congress of Industrial Organizations Maritime Com- Hogan, Samuel J., National Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association_ Lundeberg, Harry, Sailors Union of the Pacific- Malone, Vincent J., Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Water Masters, Mates and Pilots of America, West Coast Local No. 90- Philip Murray, President, Congress of Industrial Organizations Silas B. Axtell, attorney, Friends of Andrew Furuseth Legislative MERCHANT SEAMEN WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1941 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D. C. The committee met, at 9:58 a. m., pursuant to notice, Hon. Schuyler O. Bland, chairman, presiding, for consideration of H. R. 2662, referred to as the Merchant Seamen Act, 1941. In this connection, see also the hearings entitled "Experience Requirements for Radio Operators on Cargo Ships," held February 21, 1941, on H. R. 2074. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, the committee will come to order. We have up for consideration this morning H. R. 2662 a bill introduced by Mr. Dirksen, and in connection therewith certain recommendations have been made by the Maritime Labor Board. (NOTE: The recommendations of the Maritime Labor Board will be found in the appendix.) I have a telegram from Mr. Callaghan, manager, Maritime Association of the Port of New York, that he has asked me to read, and I will put that in the record without objection. He states: We are sending by air mail the views of our association on H. R. 2662, as follows: "The Maritime Association of the Port of New York does not look with favor upon H. R. 2662, the Dirksen bill, for the following reasons: (1) We believe that the enactment of the bill would not accomplish the principal purpose for which it was intended, i. e., to establish more stable labor relations in the merchant marine. We believe that the establishment of a hiring hall, as proposed in the bill, would be most impractical of operation and would have the effect of creating and fostering intraunion and interunion strife rather than promote harmony in the industry generally. (2) We are convinced that there is no necessity for the establishment of a Maritime Labor Board as the powers proposed for this Board are already in the hands of the Department of Labor through its conciliation service. The conciliation service of the Department of Labor has functioned for a great many years, and we believe has successfully settled all labor disputes which have come before them. (3) The great majority of the steamship companies have existing contracts with maritime unions which provide for the settlement of all disputes by the conciliation service of the Department of Labor and there appears to be no need for the establishment at this time of another board to perform the same service." We would appreciate if you will have read at the hearing this statement for the record. The undersigned is prevented by illness from being present tomorrow. C. H. CALLAGHAN, Manager, Maritime Association of the Port of New York. I am simply reading these to give time for a few more members of the committee to come, but if you want to proceed, Mr. Dirksen, you may do so. Mr. DIRKSEN. No, go ahead, Mr. Chairman. |