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Cis SN) ~ ILE BALWA 'THE OUTLOOK ON 'THE LAKES: Representatives of the iron ore companies have undertaken a canvass for the sale of ore on the advanced schedule of prices that has 'been expected by all parties concerned, but they have been out only a few days and their dealings with the ore consum- ers have not, as yet reached: a stage .that would warrant expecta- tion of immediate action towards closing lake freight contracts. The new classification of the ores will probably cause the fur- nacemen to go slow in providing for their wants. Nothing new can therefore be said of the lake freight situation. It is generally agreed that the coal shippers should bear a large portion of extra lake freight required on account of increased cost of operating the vessels, but to use a homely phrase "they don't have to" and will probably. pay only such rates as must be paid. Coal is a "short end" of the lake trade and the coal shippers know of the advantage they will derive from the surplus of vessel capacity that drives big vessels into the coal trade. Vessel owners of the lakes who have been scanning very closely the reports of contracts made by the executive committee of the Lake Carriers' Association with the labor unions are, of course, inclined to the opinion that the men secured practically all they asked for, but there is great relief, nevertheless, in the. feeling that everything excepting the position of the harbor tug- men seems clear from a labor standpoint, and the hope on all hands is that the settlement with other labor unions will be a strong factor in bringing about an agreement between the tug- men and their employers. It is still expected that the Gilchrest fleet of vessels will, as in the past, be enrolled in the Lake Carriers' Association before the season of navigation opens, as it is not probable that the man- agement of this large fleet can afford to hold out against the new strength of the vessel owners' organization. In.the past there have been a few owners who have enjoyed, without paying dues to the association, the advantages of aids to navigation and other improvements secured by united effort, but it would seem that this year the arrangements with the labor unions will work the other way in cases of this kind. It is understood that vessel owners who have withdrawn from the association and who are thought to have done so for the purpose of avoiding dues will be called upon to pay all back dues before their vessels are reinstated. One clause in the arguments entered into between the execu- tive committee of the Lake Carriers' and labor unions has been the subject of considerable comment. This is the concession to wheelsmen and lookouts of 25 cents an hour extra compensation for all work done loading or unloading in port during their watch below. Members of the committee say they are sure that this agreement will not cause unusual trouble, as it is to apply only to wheelsmen and lookouts and only while loading or un- loading--not at the Sault, in the runs, or while picking up tows. They argue that the help of a wheelsman or lookout who has done his share of work can be dispensed with for a few hours in port, except under extreme circumstances. The men protested that they do not want to be under the necessity of earning this extra 25 cents. They would really rather not get it than get it, and the executive committee thinks that mates can so manage their-crews that it will rarely have to be paid. The condition which this extra 25 cents per hour is expected to remedy is this: When a vessel has entered port to load or unload, mates have sometimes caused the men to continue at work until they were again outside, and it is claimed that in this way watchmen and wheelsmen, who say they suffer most on this score, have been unnecessarily held for very long periods without sleep. It is represented that those in charge have often in this way subjected the men to great fatigue. WAGES OF LABOR ON LAKE VESSELS. The executive committee of the Lake Carriers' Association has already demonstrated the practicability of the scheme of reorganization as a compact working force, for, during its session at Detroit last week, it closed contracts for the coming season with all men to be employed aboard the vessels excepting the firemen, oilers and water tenders, who are in one union and who will be met in Cleveland on Wednesday next. Wages of the engineers were practically fixed some time ago when a sched- ule from the engineers was accepted for the Steel Corporation vessels, but a meeting with President Geo. Uhler of the engineers' organization 1s expected shortly. There were no dealings with the union representatives in advancing the wages of mates, as the lake carriers hold that alike to the captain the mate should be regarded in the light of an executive on ship board--a repre- sentative of the owner's interests. But with delegates from the -- See Lp, ei Ai or NG ty Uj Veg Ban. fi ms eles Vai ff, Bony SAFI unions representing other branches of labor the whole ground was thoroughly gone over in Detroit and everything adjusted amicably. The men have agreed not to enter into sympathetic strikes, and should any differences arise they are to be settled by arbitration, the men meanwhile continuing at work. Contracts were closed for the season with the Buffalo grain scoopers, the marine cooks and stewards, and the Seamen's union. Briefly these agreements are as follows: THE SEAMEN'S UNION. Watchmen, wheelsmen and lookouts (the complement re- quired on steam vessels by the inspection laws) are to receive $45 per month from the opening of navigation until Oct. 1, when they are to receive $65 per month until the close of navigation. Ordinary seamen (and by this. term is meant those who were formerly known as deckhands) are to receive $25 per month from the opening of navigation until October 1, when they are to receive $37.50 per month for the balance of the season. Mates on barges are to receive not less than $10 per month more than the seamen on the same vessels, and "donkey boiler" men $5 per month more than seamen. Able-bodied seamen on barges are to receive $45 per month until Oct. 1, and $65 per month from Oct. 1 to the close of navigation. : Engineers on tow barges are to receive the same wages as the mates on the same barges. SCHEDULE FOR MATES, The committee decided voluntarily to increase the wages of first and second mates as follows: 1903 1902 First mates, first-class steamers. 2: .°: .F 0... es $115 $06. Second tates, first-class steamers... <2 5.7... <2... 80 66 Hirst "mates, second-class steamers. .......-00. vot. 100 84 Second mates, second-class. steamers. ....:... 2.2.0 70 54 First mates, third-class steamers..... Ce ae. 90 ® GRAIN SCOOPERS' UNION OF BUFFALO, The wage scale for shoveling grain willbe $2.12%4 cents per 1,000 bushels, except where the cargo is started after 6 p. m. Sat- urday, or any time up to 7 a. m. Monday, or coming partially unloaded from another elevator after 6 p. m. Saturday. Such cargo shall be paid for at the rate of $3.12%4 per 1,000 bushels. It is understood, however, that all cargoes started prior to 6 p. m. Saturday and worked continuously at the same elevator shall be unloaded at the regular rate. Last year's rate was $2 per 1,000 bushels and vessels might start to unload as late as 10 o'clock Saturday night without additional charge. The compensation for handling wet grain or lightering cargoes when vessels are aground will be 35 cents per hour. For straight shoveling, which constitutes the great bulk of the work, this is an increase of 6 per cent over last year. AGREEMENT WITH THE COOKS. The scale for marine cooks during the season is: Chief cooks, $66 per month until Oct. 1 and $86 thereafter; second cooks, $30 to Oct. 1 and $37.50 thereafter; porters, $25 until Oct. 1 and $35 thereafter, except on package freighters, where they are to receive the same as second cooks. The cooks are to receive 25 cents per day for each passenger on freighters except on boats carrying porters. OTHER DETAILS. In all the agreements it is understood that the only holidays to be observed are Decoration day, Fourth of July, Labor day and Thanksgiving day. Christmas and New Years do not, of course, come within the navigation season. Wheelsmen and lookouts are to be. given 25 cents an hour extra compensation for all work done loading or unloading in port during their watch below. The shipping master's position is to be changed to that of shipping commissioner. A, R. Rumsey is to be retained as chief shipping commissioner, and it is expected that he will have at the different ports about the same number of assistants as he has had in the past. The shipping commissioner and his assistants will look after the distribution of men to the vessels as in the past but working in conjunction with the union officials except at such times as it may be impossible to get union men. __All business of the executive committee of the Lake Carriers' will be conducted from offices in the Western Reserve building, Cleveland, where Capt. Geo. P. McKay, treasurer, will make his headquarters. At Buffalo only members of local No. 109 are to be emploved when they can be secured. Boss scoopers are to be appointed by