The sun., 1919-08-30
N. Y.-BUENOS AYRES
LINE TO OPEN SOON
Divisions Of Employees Laid
Off as Economy Wave Hits
Shipping Board.
ROBINSON EAGER TO GO
Attempt to Eliminate Super
cargoes Expected to Bring
Clash.
Special DESPATCH to THE Sun.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-Regular pas
senger service between New York and
Buenos Ayres is to be established by the
Shipping Board within the next ninety
days. Chairman Payne of the Shipping
Board announced to-day the steamship
Moccasin, the former German ship
Prince Joachim, would be put on the
run just as soon as changes are COM
pleted.
The Moccasin will be the first of
number of such vessels PITT into regular
line service for passenger and freight
service between North American and
South American ports. Chairman Payne
stated that, while the President had not
made up his mind as to the final dispo-
sitlon of the German ships that come to
the United States. that he expected to
place as many of them as possible in
the South American trade.
The Moccasin is being changed and
fitted out as combined passenger and
freight carrier. She Is an oil burner
with a speed of twelve knots an hour
and her tonnage Is 5000 dead weight.
A rather far reaching reorganization
of the Shipping Board and Emergency
Fleet Corporation forces by Chairman
Payne Is in prospect. Sweeping changes
are already being made and many en-
ployees have been let go in an economy
campaign. At least two divisions have
been wiped out and others are to be
abolished. AS result of this policy a
number OF official designations are re-
garded as likely.
Change in Board Near.
Another change in the membership Of
the board itself Is expected in the near
future The resignation of II. NJ. Robin
son. who was appointed but three months
ago. is in the hands of the President
Commissioner Robinson was the Ship
ping Board representative at the Paris
peace conference and It Is stated that
1t was largely through his efforts and
his stand that the informed German YES
sells were saved to the United States.
The general personnel OF the board is
in a state approaching panic, through
the letting out of whole divisions of
employees. One division was wiped out
on weeks notice, and now 1t is under
stood that supvrcargoes are to be abol-
ished. There are 500 young men, a
great number of whom are out of the
army and navy employed as super
cargoes and there are 10000 applicants
for the places. Mr.. Payne is said to
believe that the Government is wasting
money in their employment.
John H. Rosseter, head of the division
OF operations and a shipping man Of
wide experience. is father of the super
cargo idea and 1t is understood that
Chairman Payne's desire to hear Mr..
Rosseter before he issues the decree of
abolition is all that has kept the ak
from falling. Mr. Rosseter is absent on
his vacation.
Big Saving for United States.
Shipping men in Washington are dis
posed to be critical OF the impending
cleanup of the supercargoes. They saw
that while these young men cost the
Government approximately $4,000, 900 a
year that they are saving the Govern
ment something like 100000, 900 a year
supercargoes were employed as trade
scouts of the Shipping Board.
Reports have been coming In steadily
from them for the past six months con-
taining most valuable information. 1t
has been felt that they would parallel
the work of the consular agents of the
Department of Commerce, and would in
time become to this country what Ger
many's famous trade agents were to her
in short the greatest stimulators of for
eign trade possible
1t is freely predicted the return of
Mr.. Rosseter to Washington will mark
clash that may result In his resig-
nation as head of the operating division
1t is not expected that he will be will
ing to accept elimination of the super
cargoes. and that II he resigns many
of the shipping men he brought into
the Government service will go with
him