Evening star., 1921-10-12
DAWES IN NEW STEP
TOSAVE j. S. FUNDS

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Leakage Of thousands Of dollars Of
government funds into, the railroad
Golfers through wrong classification
of shipments and wrong routing is to
be checked through the appointment
of a Federal Traffic Board provided
for by Brig. Gen. Charles G. Dawes,
director of the bureau of the budget,
today.
Every department and independent
bureau of the government is to ap-
point a member of the traffic board.
which will come under the United
States co-ordinator for traffic, who
in turn will be under the chief CO.
ordinator for general supply.
AS soon as the board is formed a
committee of practical railroad men
will be invited to confer with the
governments Representatives regard
ing the changes. which will involve
a complete relisting and reclassifica-
tion of government shipments.
Under the present system, accord
ing to Gen. Dawes, the classification
committees of the railroads in speci-
flying rates applicable to thousands
of articles listed in the classification
have given the government little or
no consideration as to the volume or
nature of its business.
In addition to the expected saving
of government funds through these
practices, the work of the board is
expected to bring about greater eff
cheney in handling government ship
ments and prevent much duplication
now found to prevail.
The report of r. c. Caples, the ex-
pert who has been examining the sit
uation for the budget bureau, esti-
mated that the government transpor-
tation bill annually is s20O,0OO,OOO
The general said that the saving to
be effected through proper handling
of the governments traffic. including
reclassification. the correct routing
of it's BUSINESS and a reduction in
number of the various rate groups
and departmental traffic departments,
is difficult to compute, but should be
large.
The board not only will have juris-
diction over. freight shipments, but
will have general supervision of han
ding express, parcel post and pas
senger traffic.
ut shall be the duty of the Federal
Traffic Board to make a complete
study of the traffic problems con-
fronting the various departments and
Independent establishments of the
government" the order says. I'm CO.
ope ration with representatives of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
the carriers, it will establish uniform
classifications for all commodities.
including raw. materials. as well as
finished products, shipped by the gov
ernment, SO that shipments may be
made at the lowest tariff rates. The
board will draw up plans for i'm
proving and standardizfng methods of
making. shipments; and for the settle
ment Of accounts. These plans will be
submitted to the chief co-ordinator,
general supply, who will take the
necessary action in each case.
Other Rules in Order.
"The classification Of commodities
and the instructions governing ship
ments and methods OF settling trans
portation accounts that are adopted
by the board and approved by the CO.
applicable and in conformity with
law, be binding upon and govern all
departments bureaus. agencies and
offices Of the government In all ship
ments made by them.
"Ali questions pertaining to the
classl ficat tion Of materials or terminal,
switching. freight rates. etc. which
reuuIre the application OF remedial
measures will be submitted to the co.
ordlpator for trafiic. either for ad-
iuptment with the classification COM
mittees representing the carrier or
for the presentaiion of n complaint
with the Interstate Commerce Com
mias'on
Ia tho event of disagreement as 10
eiasslHe,tisnH. instructions governing
pbipn,nia and methoda Of settling
ttanspnE, tiOu accounts ~ on meth
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