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22 THE MarINE REVIEW Mr. Coulby and His Engineers. The officers of the Pittsburg Steam- ship Co. and Pickands, Mather & Co. met with their engineers in the rooms of the Ship Masters' Association, Cleveland, this week. Mr. Coulby, president and general man- ager of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., addressed them. About 150 chief en- gineers and second engineers were present. Before calling the meeting to order Mr. Coulby announced that if any engineers present regretted hav- ing signed contracts for any reason whatever, they were privileged to re- turn them, and that no ill feeling whatever would be engendered there- by. He explained that his company had never used coercion in employing men and never would; that they should feel free to secure berths wherever they chose and that as far as the fleets managed by him were concerned, they did not want to employ men unless 'they felt that they would be loyal to the company. "Tf any of. the engineers present," continued he, "feel that they made a mistake in signing contracts with me they may return them and leave im- mediately. Their action will not be held against them, but will be instantly forgotten. If, on the other hand, any present retain their contracts and re- main in this meeting in the interest of 'others and then repudiate their con- tract, they may never again expect employment in any company with which I am connected." As soonas Mr. Coulby had concluded these preliminary remarks, Chief En- einecrs VV --P. Diamond. M:. EF. Sweeney and Assistant Engineers A. E. Southgate, Edward Ducharme and Alfred Goodwin walked up to the desk in a body, laid down their contracts 'and left the room. The officers of the steamship companies were inclined to believe that the action was premed- itated and intended to stampede «the meeting. In this: respect. it -signally failed, though the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association claims that there was no such intention. President Yates, vice-president Tin- dall and a number of members of the 'Marine Engineers' Beneficial Associa- tion were in Cleveland in the interests of their association. At the conclusion of the meeting President Yates wired to all the lake lodges that 'the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association. was stronger than ever before, ~The engineers listened with close attention to Mr. Coulby's address, the Farry MR. HARRY COULBY, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER PITTSBURGH STEAMSHIP C0. delivery of which took up the greater part) of the morning. Mr; Coulby said: To Our Chief Engineers: In calling you together in conven- tion I believe I am carrying out the often expressed wish of many of you to return to the system adopted a number of years ago when I had charge of the Pickands, Mather & Co. _fleet, of having yearly meetings at- tended by the chief engineers of our fleet and the management to talk over matters of general. interest in our operation. I have always believed that these meetings were productive of great good to both the employer and the employe, and hereafter I in- tend to have these meetings every spring. It gives us an opportunity of getting acquainted with each other, and we shall always be pleased to have suggestions from any of you looking towards improving the ser- vice. The magnitude of our lake transpor- tation, the ease and facility with which we move such a tremendous tonnage each year, is one of the wonders of the transportation world, and a large measure of the credit is due to 'the men who are handling our ships, When a Steamer Breaks Her Record. We very frequently see in the pub- lic press a statement that some steam- er has broken her record for speed; that some ship long overdue has finally limped into port with her rud- der gone, or that her shaft broke in midocean, and, after temporary rfe- pairs were made, she worked her way into port under greatly reduced speed. The unthinking public are very likely to give all the credit to the captain. Without detracting from the bravery and skill of the captain and his navi- gating officers upon whom rests the responsibility of avoiding the unseen dangers of the sea, 'and upon whose vigilance and discipline rests the lives entrusted to their care, you and I, who have to do with ships, know that when any speed record is broken, when any ship travels 50 or 100 miles more if 24 hours than she ever did before, the credit is largely due to the boys in the engine room. It is not the officers on the bridge that makes her go, but it is the chief engineer and his corps of assistants who are watching every bearing and every bit of machinery, getting every revolution possible out of the engine, faithfully and loyally aided by the boys in the fire hold,