The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-23
NY. EXPORTERS OPEN
FIRE ON SHIP BOARD
S2,0OO,00O Loss Claimed in
Unloaded Shipment in Leased
Steamship.
LEGAL SUIT THREATENED
Acme Corporation Failed to
Deliver in Havana. State
Department Is Told.

Additional testimony OF slipshod work
by the United States Shipping Board
may result from protest sent yester-
day to the State Department by a num-
bar of New York exporters, among whom
are Joshua l.. Baily & Co.. cotton goods
merchants. Thomas and Church streets.
and Smith, worthington Company. sad
dlers, 40 Warren street. If the protest
bears no fruit, legal suits will follow and
the Shipping Board will suffer even
sterner attack
According TO the letter OF protest,
made public yesterday by t. Minor
Curry. president OF Smith, Worthington
Company, the 10000 ton steamship Poz-
nan. purchased by the Polish-American
line from the United States Shipping
Board and leased to the Acme Operating
Corporation, carried about S5.000,0o0
worth of goods from New York to Ha-
vana last October. The aggregate freight
charge was about S225. 000--hugely In
excess of regular rates, Mr. Curry says.
because the Acme people said It meant
sure delivery despite the congested con-
dition of Havana harbor. The Poznan
reached Havana, failed to get dockage.
turned with her full cargo to New York.
Letter Is Quoted.
At Havana, according to the letter to
the State Department, the American
Minister there disposed of the case Of
the idle Poznan by issuing q circular
reading thus:
"Habana, Cuba, Dec Q, 1890.
Disposition of freight on the Poznan.
Merchants In Cuba having freight on
the Poznan can arrange for its early re-
turn to the port of Habana on a smaller
vessel without additional expense by re-
Tuesting the American firm from. or
through, whom their purchases were
made. to arrange that this be done.
1T is understood that the Acme Oper-
atfng Corporation and the Polish-Ameri-
can Navigation Company, lessee and
lessor, respectively, Of the Poznan, have
Informed the Department OF State that
the merchandise which was on the Poz-
man would be returned 10 Habana on a
smaller vessel without additional ex-
pense in case the shippers so desire. The
shipper should be so advised by the mer-
chant in Cuba so that he may take
necessary steps in order to expedite the
merchandise, or not to send IL back to
Habana."
Meanwhile the slump had hit the mar
ket The final sentence of the circular.
Mr.. Curry says. gave the conslgnees the
cue to cancel their orders. At any rate.
they refused TO pay freight back to New
York and again to Cuba. Therefore the
cargo, now lying at a Brooklyn dock,
represents a loss to the shippers of near
~ S2.000.000. considering depreciation,
interest, freight and so on.
Three Demands Made.
Therefore the shippers make the fol-
lowing demands on the State Depart
ment:
"First-That you make arrangements
that the freight be returned 20 Havana
without charge to the consignees In ac-
cordance with the ship owners promise
to you.
"Second-That the incorrect informa-
ton referred TO in the circular of the
American Legation be corrected by the
Legation itself In Havana to the same
parties who received the original notices.
'Third-That you confer with the De-
partment of Justice with the view of
securing some legal remedy compelling
the Acme Operating Corporation to full
I'll their promises.
"Fourth-That you confer with the
United States Shipping Board with the
view Of bringing pressure to bear COM
polling the Acme Operating Corporation
TO keep their promises to you. We un-
derstand that only a small deposit has
been paid on the purchase Of the Poznan
from the Shipping Board"