Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-21
SHIP BOARD WANTS
ANOTHER BILLION
Will Ask Congress for Huge Sum
With Which to Complete
Program.
CHARTER PHASE PERPLEXlNG
Half-Billion Sought for Fabri-
Gated Steel Yards, Contracts
Being Ready to Let
CHARTER PHASE PERPLExlNC

WASHINGTON, August oo.-One bill
lion dollars additional will be asked
of Congress by the United States Ship
ping Board. with which TO complete its
shipping program, IL was learned to-
day The request probably will be
forwarded to the House and Senate on
Wednesday. The new sums will be
expended as follows:
/. For fabricated steel shipyards,
$500 600. 900.
.. For Communicating progra am.
$500 100000.
g. For payments on new and old con-
tracts. @2O0.0o0.00o.
The fabricated steel yard contracts
are all ready to be let They will be
signed probably within the next few
days. Tentative prices have been
agreed upon, and bids have beer. sub
mitted by a number of large con-
Germs. 1t is understood that the Har-
riman interests are bringing one OF
the bids. and likely will get the con-
tract for one of the plants.
Chairman Edward \. Hurley. of the
Shipping Board. is rushing work on
the communicating campaign. and ex-
poets some action this week. His first
task will be to get his estimates be-
fore Congress. Unless his experts are
able to compile all the figures by to-
morrow. a rough estimate will be
taken TO Secretary of the Treasury Mc-
Adoo for his approval. and then sub
mitted to Congress for immediate ac-
tion. Details will be supplied later,
when the appropriation bill is taken
under consideration.
TAKING OVER OF CHARTERS
PRESENTS BIG DIFFICULTY
One of the main difficulties in ar
irving at a total has been the taking
| over of charters 1t has had to be de-
termined how much the charters called
for originally. how much had been paid,
and what still remained to be paid.
entailing almost endless figuring on
the part of the boards experts. This
! phase OF the situation has brought up
a new question with regard TO the
Communicating Of charters:
| The board has been called, upon to
| decide whether In taking. over char
fers SHss
ters shall first revert to the owners,
and then be taken over again, or
whether they shall be taken direct
| from the charterers. The question
/ Involves large sums of money invest
ed in charters. and to find way out
| to prevent the burden cf loss falling
upon either owner or pre-ent charterer
| is i'.rpleS.ng Slipping Board experts.
| Bainbridge Colby. who has been in
| New York for several days discussing
| freight rates with the big shippers,
returned here to-dayf and held long
consultation with Chairman Hurley.
1t is understood Mr.. Colby was as
sured of hearty support from the ship
ping interests. The rate decided upon
| probably will not be announced for
several days.
TRANSPORTATION POLICY
DECIDED BY BOARD
The Shipping Board decided upon
Its transportation policy to-day. 1t
Is likely a railroad man will be named
as chief OF the traffic department., and
under him will be placed three ship
ping experts. The head of the depart
ment will decide in a general way upon
the transportation rules to be fol-
lowed, and the shipping experts are
to work out the problem from the sea-
| board. a number of ;r.n are under
consideration for the places. and some
announcement is expected this week
The Communicating Of charters is
being held in allegiance upon the selec-
ton OF these men.