Mr. EWERS. Oh, I think it might be extended to the extent private interests are unwilling to carry this enterprise along. But there has always been a difference between the Government and a private citizen. We are suspected of being unfair amongst ourselves and to our employees; but the Government of the United States, gentlemen, ought not to be placed in the position, particularly this administration, of being in anywise unfair or unliberal to the working classes. What you need to make us good boys, you certainly do not need for the Government itself. The CHAIRMAN. Well, if an evil grows out of this, that evil can be checked. Mr. EWERS. You are going to have another session next year beginning the 1st of January, I believe. The CHAIRMAN. You think some more Congresses are going to meet, and there will be some more sessions of Congress? Mr. EWERS. I am afraid you are right. The CHAIRMAN. I am not afraid I am right; I will say I am right. Mr. WALLGREN. Mr. Chairman, in order to keep this record straight a little bit, because we are jealous out there of our ability to operate successfully, the Portland (?) Mail Line was operated by the Dollar Steamship Co. and that particular line really made money right down to the last minute. But the Dollar Steamship Co. siphoned their profits out to go into their other interests. So I just want to leave the record clear that there is a possibility private operators sometimes make some money. Mr. EWERS. If the Congressman would like to have the record show that hope, I will not object. Mr. SANDAGER. In your opinion, Mr. Ewers, if the Government takes over this line and starts operating and makes a profit and somebody comes along and wants to buy it, you do not assume for a moment that the Maritime Commission is going to hang on to it, do you? Mr. EWERS. My God, they have tried in every way to get rid of it. Mr. SIROVICH. Now, Mr. Chairman, may I just read a little paragraph on page 325 on the continuous-discharge book for seamen, in the hearings on H. J. Res. 121 and H. J. Res. 143. The CHAIRMAN. I will be very glad to have incorporated in the record that further language. Mr. SIROVICH. I would like to read it because I have never had my memory successfully challenged. Captain Petersen was testifying, and I say: Mr. SIROVICH. Captain, I do not think it is fair to be quoting these papers about men of honor and character. In San Francisco, we have a mayor, Angelo Rossi, who is a Republican, whom I do not know. He has sent a letter to the President of the United States certifying that Mr. Lundeberg, Mr. Ferguson, and Mr. Burke are men of fine character, and here we have our colleague, Mr. Welch, the ranking Republican member, for whom we have a warm affection, who tells me that Mr. Burke has been his friend for 40 years, that he is as honorable a man as you or I, and here you are coming down and characterizing them with the "red herring" of communism. I have been told-I do not put any credence to it-that it was you who peepared this discharge-book amendment, and gave it to Mr. O'Brien and he put it over. Mr. PETERSEN. Is that so? Mr. SIROVICH. Yes. And then I have other statements on page 323 in which I made the statement that the President of the United States, in 1936, when he was running for office, was charged with being a Communist and you go on further, at the bottom of page 322: Mr. PETERSEN. I made an investigation of communistic activities on the west coast. I made that investigation as an active member of the Naval Reserve, as a part of their organization. I reported my findings to the United States Navy, and I reported my findings to the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice, and they are over there now. I did not make these investigations because I did not know what I was talking about. I know what I am talking about, and I know on the Pacific coast that these marine organizations are under the domination and control of radical organizations. I know it, and I know it from personal investigations that I have made. And one of these circulars that are issued and signed by Mr. Lundeberg, he says pertaining to the fink book and how to fight it what does he say about it? He said And then you quote Mr. Lundeberg in a statement that came out in a communistic paper, which Mr. Lundeberg had nothing to say or do about. And I want this to go in the record to show that the same things you are saying today were exactly the same things you stated about these other men, who produced letters from Mayor Rossi to the President of the United States which controverted the very things you say. The CHAIRMAN. I do not see there has been any question of memory raised, and it seems that is all this refers to. I do not see, really, that it is at all clarifying. Mr. Welch's recollection of what he said is all right, and I do not see where anybody has challenged, Doctor, what you said. The record speaks for itself, and I do not see any need of going on with that controversy. It is rather confusing than otherwise. Mr. HART. Has the Doctor's memory been vindicated? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; I think everybody's memory is vindicated, both parties, about what Captain Petersen said, and he is consistent. Mr. HART. I never understood the derivation of that much used phrase about a "red herring"; but I can see now, when the Doctor uses it in connection with communism. The CHAIRMAN. Well, that concludes the testimony and if we want the Government witnesses we can have them here when we take the matter under consideration, and they can produce any testimony they want. They will be notified if, as, and when we need them. Mr. FISHER. Mr. Chairman, may I have a couple of letters put in the record? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; without objection. (The letters above referred are as follows:) Membership of affiliates to the Maritime Federation of the Pacific Name of organizations: Marine Cooks and Stewards' Association (Seattle, Portland, San Membership 4,500 Fish Reduction and Saltery Workers' Union. 300 Pacific Coast Fishermen's Union (Seattle, Aberdeen, Wash.; Port- 835 United Fishermen's Union of the Pacific (San Pedro) 1, 000 5, 000 Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers' 4, 400 International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union_ 1 20, 000 250 Ship Scalers, Dry Dock and Miscellaneous Boat Yard Workers 400 Total. 36, 685 1 Approximate. The above represents the minimum number of paid-up members affiliated to the Maritime Federation of the Pacific, and does not include all organizations affiliated thereto. NOTE. The above-mentioned organizations are of various national affiliations; some are independent unions; two, such as the masters, mates and pilots, and ship scalers, etc., are affiliated to the American Federation of Labor; others, such as the longshoremen and the cooks and stewards are affiliated to the Congress of Industrial Organizations. MARINE COOKS AND STEWARDS' ASSOCIATION Mr. WALTER D. FISHER, OF THE PACIFIC COAST, Legislative Representative, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: According to our latest tabulation of membership all over the Pacific coast there are 4,500 members in good standing, and all affiliated with the Maritime Federation of the Pacific Coast. These totals represent members in Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Oreg.; San Pedro, Calif.; Honolulu, T. H.; and San Francisco, Calif. Fraternally yours, E. F. BURKE, Secretary. FISH REDUCTION AND SALTERY WORKERS' UNION, LOCAL NO. 14, DEAR BROTHER: It has been called to our attention that Mr. Lundeberg is in Washington, D. C., claiming the federation is split and that he represents the majority of maritime workers. This union wishes to be of record that he does not represent us; our membership is over 300, and we are affiliated with the Maritime Federation of the Pacific, District Council No. 1. Fraternally yours, [SEAL] GUY ALSTON, Secretary. Mr. WALTER D. FISHER, Washington, D. C. PACIFIC COAST FISHERMEN'S UNION, DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: Please find enclosed membership of the Pacific Coast Fishermen's Union, also locals affiliated to the Maritime Federation of the Pacific. Other locals will be affiliated as soon as possible, not later than July 1, 1939. Fraternally yours, PACIFIC COAST FISHERMEN'S UNION, LOCALS AND MEMBERSHIP AFFILIATED TO MARITIME FEDERATION Total paid-up membership end of fiscal year, 1,670., La Conner local, Anna M. Meeks, secretary, LaConner, Wash.; District Council No. 1, Seattle, Wash., 150 members. Aberdeen local, Ero Sipila, secretary, 907 West Perry Street, Aberdeen, Wash.; Subdistrict Council No. 5, Grays-Willipa, Aberdeen, Wash., 50 members. Grays Harbor local, George M. Hinton, secretary, Westport, Wash.; Subdistrict Council No. 5, Grays-Willapa, Aberdeen, Wash., 100 members. Astoria local, J. B. Brandt, secretary; District Council No. 3, Portland, Oreg., 150 members. Tillamook local, W. K. Johnson, secretary, Tillamook, Oreg.; District Council No. 3, Portland, Oreg., 100 members. Waldport local, C. F. Henne, secretary, Tidewater, Oreg.; District Council No. 3, Portland, Oreg., 75 members. Umpqua local, Leroy Chenoweth, Reedsport, Oreg.; District Council No. 3, Portland, Oreg., 100 members. Coquille local, William Walker, secretary, Bullards, Oreg.; District Council No. 3, Portland, Oreg., 60 members. Siuslaw local, Alvin Hendrickson, Cushman, Oreg.; District Council No. 3, Portland, Oreg., 50 members. Affiliated to the International Fishermen and Allied Workers of America. Mr. WALTER D. FISHER, UNITED FISHERMEN'S UNION OF THE PACIFIC, Washington, D. C. San Pedro, Calif., May 18, 1939. DEAR SIR: We have been advised to inform you that the United Fishermen's Union of the Pacific, San Pedro branch, is affiliated with the Maritime Federation District Council No. 4. Our present membership is 1,000. Hoping this information will be of some use to you. Sincerely, [SEAL] Mr. WALTER D. FISHER, UNITED FISHERMEN'S UNION OF THE PACIFIC, SAN PEDRO Branch, UNITED FISHERMEN'S UNION OF THE PACIFIC, Joint Maritime Legislative Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: At the request of Mr. Z. R. Brown, secretary of District Council No. 2, Maritime Federation of the Pacific, I am writing to inform you of the status of our affiliation to the Maritime Federation of the Pacific. At the present time we have a membership of over 5,000 in the California district of the United Fishermen's Union of the Pacific, which is affiliated to the Maritime Federation. I wish to state that you are fully authorized to act as our legislative representative in Washington, D. C. Sincerely yours, [SEAL] DAVE THOMAS, Business Agent. WALTER D. FISHER, PACIFIC COAST MARINE FIREMEN, OILERS, Washington, D. C. DEAR BROTHER: This is to advise you that this association has a coastwise membership of 4,400, and is affiliated with the Maritime Federation of the Pacific. Yours fraternally, [SEAL] V. J. MALONE, Secretary. INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN'S AND WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION, LOCAL 1-24, Aberdeen, Wash., May 18, 1939. Mr. WALTER D. FISHER, Legislative Representative, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: This will advise you that Local 1–24, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, with a per capita paying membership of 340, are affiliated with the Maritime Federation of the Pacific. Yours very truly. [SEAL] CHAS OLESEN, Secretary-Treasurer. INTERNATIONAL Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's UNION, DEAR MR. FISHER: I wish to advise you that the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union has a membership of approximately 20,000 members on the Pacific coast and acts at all times as their bargaining agency and official representative. It is likewise one of the affiliates of the Maritime Federation of the Pacific. As you know, Mr. Harry Bridges, now in Washington, D. C., is president of the organization, and as such acting in the capacity of its spokesman. Yours very truly, [SEAL] MATT MEEHAN, Secretary-Treasurer. MASTERS, MATES, AND PILOTS OF AMERICA, LOCAL NO. OF 6 SEATTLE, Mr. WALTER D. FISHER, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR; Secretary Harding, of Washington District Council No. 1, Maritime Federation of the Pacific, has requested that we write you relative to our action in regard to the establishment of Government hiring halls. For your information, Local No. 6, comprising approximately 250 licensed deck officers, is locally affiliated with the Maritime Federation of the Pacific, through Washington District Council No. 1. At a meeting of this local, held subsequent to the announcement of the Maritime Commission to establish hiring halls on the Pacific coast, the membership concurred in a resolution opposing the opening of Government hiring halls on this coast. Wishing you, and the other representatives of the Mairtime Federation now in Washington D. C., success in this fight, I am, Yours fraternally, JOHN M. Fox, Secretary and Business Manager. |