The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-28
Rate Reductions in Some In
stances Are as Great as Is
and 80 Per Cent
WILL SAVE MILLIONS In
WAR TRANSPORTATION
Government Has Been Paying
as High as $50 a Ton for
Cargo Space on Vessels
bound for Europe

Washington, Sept. 27.--Cuts in ocean
freight rates, in some instances as
high as rs and so per cent We're an
nounced today by the United States
shipping board. The new rates Will
applv on all tonnage requisitioned by
the government tor ocean service,
above $500 tons deadwelght carrying
capacity.
The new rates become operative Oc-
tober Is, and are expected to save the
government millions Of dollars in
transporting troops and supplies to
Europe. The rates are based upon
recommendations made by cambridge
Colby. who made a lengthy investiga-
ton OF carrying charges and expenses
before presenting his figures to the
other members OF Use BOARD.
The rates on cargo boats and tank
ers are as follows:
Over 10000 tons lightweight. ca
pacity, government form time charter,
$5.75 per lightweight ton.
Eight thousand and one to 10000
tons lightweight capacity, government
form time charter, 1915 per dead
weight ton.
Six thousand and one to 5000 tons
lightweight capacity. government form
time charter, 1875 per lightweight
ton.
Four thousand and one TO 5000 tons
oCo& ci6 SdpdCltyb
time charter. $3.50 per lightweight ton.
Three thousand and one to 1000
tons deadweight capacity, government
form time charter 1915 per dead
weight ton.
Two thousand FIVE hundred to 5000
tons lightweight capacity, govern
ment form time charter, $500 per
lightweight ton.
Vessels of speed in excess OF eleven
knots ha allowed
ton lightweight for each knot or part
Of knot over eleven knots For pas
senger steamers, the board has adopc-
ed two-fold basis of classification
class A, consisting of steamers with
capacity Of over $50 passengers, and
class B, consisting of steamers with a
capacity OF from rs TO lao passengers
Steamers in both classes are further
classified according to speed. The
rates for passengers follow:
Glass "A''
Ten to IL knots, government form
time charter, $50 per ton gross reg
lister; IL knots government form Time
charter, $3.50 per ton gross register: 3
knots, government form time charter,
$1,000 per ton gross register, IA knots.
government form time charter, $40 so
per ton gross register: Is knots. gov
eminent form time charter, SILL so per
ton gross register; IS knots, govern
ment form time charter, s1l.0o per
ton gross register. over 5 knots, gov
eminent form time charter. $3.50 per
ton gross register
Glass "B"
Ten to | knots, government form
time charter sa.0D per ten gross reg
lister; Il knots. government form time
charter, $3.50 per ton gross register;
Id knots, government form time char
ter. 800 per ton gross register; IA
knots, government form time charter.
$500 per ton gross register; 5 knots,
government form time charter, $1,000
per ton gross register; over Is knots,
government form time charter, s1O.50
per ton gross register
In announcing the rates Bainbridge
Colby. made the following explana-
ton:
The foregoing rates will become
operative on October 10 1917 The
vessels embraced in the requisition.
exceE% insofar as actually required for
government service, will be left in the
hands OF the present owners to be
operated for government account, but
uoJect, at all times, to such DISPOSE
ton as the board may direct
a certain number OF the requisi-
toned vessels. which are required for
the continuing and exclusive service
or the arm" and navy, will be taken
over on bare ship basis. The rate
or hire on this basis has been fixed by
TIE board at s4.I5 per deadweight ton
Tor cargo boats, and 1915 per ton
gross for passenger steamers of eleven
knots speed. with an additional al
iowance of so cents per ton for each
Knot IN excess of eleven. and up to
sixteen knots
"Ail the foregoing rates are tenta-
tive The board will carefully examine
the results of operation under the
requlsition rates and from the results
as certified by export examiners, will
determine upon such revision as fair
and equitable treatment of the owners
or requisitioned vessels may require
Revisions will be made, II reasons
therefor are found to exist at inter-
walls OF not more than ninety days.
AS to insurance. the government
VIII assume war risk, and, in some in
stances. the marine risk as wen. In
cases In which. for any reason, it is
more convenient for the government
to assume the marine risk, the usual
rate for each insurance will be de-
ducted from the charter hire
While the shipping board gave no
examples of present freight rates for
comparison, II Is known that the gov
eminent in many instances has been
paying as high as $50 per ton for
cargo space on vessels to Europe.
II is intended to allow a certain per-
centage OF cargo space on vessels taken
over by the government for the use
OF private shippers. The vesselmen
viii be allowed to charge the market
rate for such freight. but must refund !
80 per cent above the government rate |
to the shipping board to go into a |
sinking fund to care for some OF the
neavy expenses to which the govern
ment has been subjected in its ship |
ping program heretofore and that NAV