Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-08
Matson Boats, However, viii
Not Be Seized Immediately,
is Washington Advice

One week from today is the date
set for the Communicating OF all the
American shipping of 300 tons dead
| weight or more, but il is believed
that while most of the Matson boats
will be taken over by the govern
ment, they Will be operated by their
owners for sometime yet. Two OF the
Matson steamers, the Matsonia and
the Lurllne, will be lin island ports
on that date.
The argument is advanced that as
the new national army is to nave
! four months training in the United
States before being sent to France,
IL will be the first Of the year Before
much more additional shipping for
the transport of troops is needed in
the Atlantic. Until then, or to with
In a few weeks of January l, the Mat
son steamers will continue to make
their scheduled voyages to Hawaii, 1t
Is asserted.
This belief is strengthened by a
cable which was received by Delegate
Kuhio on Saturday from Washington
Informing him that the Matsonia viii
be still in the island service so 1t can
be used by the congressional party
coming to Hawaii in November.
The delegate had previously csbied
to Washington to ascertain from the
United States shipping board If its
plan would interfere with those made
for the voyage here OF the congress
men. The answer read as follows.
81 am advised that the Matson
boats will be temporarily chartered
to their present owner and will be
available for the November sailing"
American ships available for ocean
traffic total slightly more than q
100000 tons, but some OF them al
ready have been taken over for the
army and navy. In most instances,
except where required for actual gov
eminent service. the ships, 1t was
said, will be turned back to heir
owners for operation on government
account, subject at all times to any
disposition the shipping board may
direct -. r..
Rates to be Cut Sharply
Tie rates announced will cut sharp.
" tie present charter and ocean
freight rates charged by American
vessels. 1t is the intention. 1t is un.
derstood, to apply them later to
any foreign ships chartered by the
United States. The chartering will
be in the hands OF the shipping
boards chartering commission, which
Welding Ring Of New York has just
been named to head.
For freight vessels the rates a ton
a month, figured on time charter on a
basis of deadweight tonnage, are as
follows:
More than 10000 tons, s5.75; s0o1 to
10000 tons, Sc; COOL to 500 tons, |
S6.25; 4o01 to 6O0o tons, $3.50; S00l |
to 1000 tons, se.75; $500. to 5000 tons,
81.
Vessels of q speed In excess of IL
knots viii be allowed cents ton
additional for each knot or fraction
over IL.
TwofoId Basis Adopted
For passenger vessels the board
adopted twofold basis of classified
ton, Class A comprising steamers
with capacity of more than $50 pas.
sengers, and Class B with capacity
of from rs to $50 passengers. steam.
ers in both ratings are further elias.
sified according to speed. Passenger
steamer rates based on time charters
and figured gross register are as
follows:
Class Al: Ten to II knots, 50 ton;
I2 knots, $3.50; Is knots, $40; IA
Knots, 5000; Is knots, Sill; more
han is knots, $11.50.
Class B: Ten to IL knots, So a
on; i2 knots, $3.50; 13 knots, 50;
"A knots, $3.50; Is knots, $40; more
han Is knots, $1,000.
Some of the vessels to be requisi-
toned, which viii be used exclusively
or army and navy service. will be
aiken over on a bare ship basis. These