Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-01-31
ship COHTf0b BOARD
. TO Speed THE WAR
P. S. A. Franklin Heads
Committee That Will AL
locate Tonnage
HIS POWER TO
BE ABSOLUTE


WASHINGTON. Jan. 3i.-Appoint-
ment OF a shipping control committee
headed by PA 5. Franklin. 60 allocate
81 OF the available ship tonnage Of the
United States and The Allies on this
de Of the water, was announced by
Chairman Hurley yesterday The an
nOuncement followed a conference by
Government representatives most vital
ly interested in the shipping problem
The power OF the committee viii be
absolute ia regard 90 an opei ations.
ana the placing and disposal OF ships
at every Atlantic port Il will take
steps Immediately 10 relieve conges-
iion az the port Of New York. by d.
Version of Transatlantic traffic 90 other
ports
Creation Of the committee with alb
soiute powers to act means a practical
pooling Of tonnage This course was
decided upon as necessary to get the
maximum efficiency from the ships
now in operation, and to avoid the
port delays that have had a large
share in crippling ocean transportation.
II means a practical surrender TO
British views on the subject, as eX-
pressed through the interallied confer
encc and otherwise. Such a drastic
course bad been opposed in this coun-
try
The committee will have as its mem
hers TO sit with Mr. Franklin, n. II.
Raymond port controller at New York,
and Cunnop Guthrie, controller Of
British shipping
The committee control extends over
passenger as we'll AS freight service. II
will place Ia operation the Guthrie
plan Of bringing ships and csrgoes to-
refher. Mr. Guthrie worked this plan
ont for the movement Of British sup
plies As a ship approached a given
port her cargo was moved toward that
port with a sufficient allowance Of
fine 10 obviate any delay Of the ship
Under this scheme British supplies
have been kept moving and much Of
Tire tonnage has been going out Of
southern ports
nder 10 the various ports will not
b. tied ny with a railroad congestion
similar 20 that which has backed up
from the port Of New York 10 tho
Mississippi river.
Because Of its prominent port IA
cilitles as much tonnage as possible
viii be moved through New York
Philadelphia and Baltimore are TO be
developed 10 greater extent but south
ern ports will come into trafflc I'M
dreamed Of.
Cotton and other supplies will no
longer be jammed through "the neck
Of the bottle" to ship side at New
York, piling Up and smotherlng the
docks. II will be moved by rail from
points inland as far as Memphis 10
Charleston, Savannah and Brunswick,
and there shipped 10 New England
mills by water or loaded for export
Al other commodities that can be
moved through the southern ports will
be routed that way. Rail transporta-
ton and ship transportation viii be
co-ordinated British ships, it was
stated today. are moving cargoes from
points well up the Mississippi river 10
avoid the freight lam and congestion
OF New ork.
Berthins and bunkerage for incom-
ing ships viii be arranged before tho
arrivals, and cargoes win be waiting
n the committees plans 10 not mis-
carry. Under the old systems. ships
have been tied up awaiting all Of these
things 70 has been o common occur
renee for a British ship coming 70
Baltimore. for instance, 10 have to he
IA the upper harbor because every dock
was filled by War Department and
shipping board vessels, or Tor a ship
ping board vessel to wait while British
and War Department ships were clear
ed away.
Operations Of the committee win not
interfere with or overlap those OF the
Office OF Edward r. Carry. director Of
operations Of the shipping board He
viii continue b. operate the ships Fix
rates and perform its other duties hut
fhe placing Of the ships at various
ports VIII be done by the committee
The service Of Mr.. Guthrie is contln-
gent upon approval by the British
government
Placing OF absolute control IN the
hands Of this committee was agreed
mon by the conference. The War De-
partment has not yet given its formal
approval, but Chairman Hurley stated
there was no doubt that the War De-
partment would come in and make the
transport service subject 20 the COM
nitee's action.
The conference was attended by
Judge E W. Chambers, representing
Director General MoAdoo; Major Lilly.
fenrcsentine the War Department:
Major ]. A Coats. Of the army: Edward
Gay, Of the shipping board Edward
Carry. director Of operations OF the
shipping board; Commander B6lknap
Of the navy; P. II. Raymond, ship con
ROLLER in New York, z. c. Chamber
lain. Of the shipping board; P. A. s.
Franklin, Cunhop Guthrie and E. NJ
Raeburn, representing the British in
terests, and Sir Richard Crawford,
commercial representative OF the Brit
fish government.
DIR. SMILEY PLANS