New-York tribune., 1922-12-07
BOardMaintains
u. S. Vessels in
World Services
Annual Report Shows Sub.
sianiial Economy Effected
During Year; Personnel
Is Cut Down Greatly
I,686 Ships Are Unsold
Shipping Board Declares
Legislation Needed for
Disposal of the Fleet

WASHINGTON, Dec. Growth Of
United States shipping in foreign
rade. establishment Of extensive pas
renger services in the north Atlantic
.hc Pacific and TO South America. and
s,abilization Of the governments ship
ping venture on a strictly business
basis, are pointed 10 as the years out
Landing achievements in the sixth an
nual report Of the shipping Board.
Reviewing at length the functions Of
the board since It's inception TO carry
forward the nations tremendous ef-
forts TO transport food, troops and sup
plies overseas during the war, and the
various changes in policy incident to
the armistice, the report shows that
The existing boards functions relate
not only TO the physical running Of
ships. but range over the entire held
OF a nations merchant marine. Labor
port facilities and commerce are dis
cussed in detail
"The board" the report says. rs re-
auired not only 10 aid in the oeVeioP-
ment Of ships and shipping companies
but also 20 assist in planning the I'm
provement and development OF ports
and transportation facilities IN con-
nection with water commerce.
rad during its career 3,+44 ships, totai-
inc about 1888 300 deadweight tons
Those were obtained from various
soprces Some have been sold and
many are now tied up idle. Inc re-
mort shows that notwithstanding ue-
preston in shipping there were AZ ,ne dn
close Of the fscal year on June oV'
1922, Approximately 5O.OOO men w
Gagged on vessels Of the American merS
ebanf marine and larger number o.
,gsborerocn employed In loading ana
nn;o,ding. More than Sl0,00O00O an
,uallv has been saved in the reduc-
ion 81 marine and longshoro wages
~ Shining Board vessels alone. ke-
ductions were effected, after strikes
and negotiations. ranging rom 10 W -
per cent.
n $ Ships Carry 50 Per Cent Tonnage
ng-lno the last fiscal year, the re-
~, eovs there were 1892 arrivals
IA 5e6arturcs Of vessels in foreign
trade arqregating S0,23l 900 long tons
~ cargo. OF this total bz per evh'
meved I'm American bottoms IN Ieia'
tive efficiency indicated by the rem
/ tion OF load 20 doadweight tonhats
I the American percentage was oi,s pe'
cent compared with 364 per cent 10Y, nto
/ eirn. while American ships Iseo E'oS
/ deadweight tons TO move eaeh Ton o.
cargo. foreign vessels used ia -
ReeountnR the difheulties ,l WhlSn
, had been encountered IN the ooaIu
effort TO dispose Of It's ioie tohhnse,
was willing 10 buy in large quantities
a. anything like a fair price, under
rresent conditions. At the close OF
i6e ageal wear the effort TO find buyer;
vas continuing. but the board stlli
.~d for sale I .6e6 vessels, totaling
70 zoe 172 dent weight tons. or these
ia were steel cargo ships and 20
,.e wooden cargo ships, while tne
renainder we're Of various steel, woou-
.r. compos te and concrete types.
"Tho immediate prospect is not
favorable TO the early disposal OF tns
fcct." the report declares. "first ana
/ foremost comes the necessity for leg
isotlon. Even with this Legislation
tbe transfer Of the feet 70 private
hands. IL it is 10 be accomplished as
part OF the building up OF the amer
can merchant marine, must be BIZ"
The amount received from sale OF
outlying projects" belonging TO the
board during the year was Sl,e54,foVi
renreeeuting return from property
wbich had been given present fair
yalne' of s2li3,6OO The report say.
.bat Gin accordance with agreement
mo5o with the Office Of the ehief CO.
ordinatorn sales and transfers were
made al prices 10 per cent below pres
Ont fair value" Sales from real es'
tate brought in an additional $S,Oss''
no. Notable among the economies re-
corded was a reduction Of Sl,O43,OI5 u
salaries through reduction Of the per
sonnel Of the maintenance and repair
department Of l25 employees.
A summary Of the amount OF com
merce borne In American bottoms dur
ing the year showed that Shipping
Board vessels handled 4,3l3,9l3 cargo
tons Of imports and 6,634,38i earg'
tons of exports, operating through
fortv-three United States ports. The
total tonnage Of the American mer
chant marine was fixed at 2l,7s4,9S!
deadwei ight tons, compared TO 27,6SS,
464 q year ago. or this total 1929,
81 tons was employed at the end O.
the 1922 fiscal year in foreign trade
compared with l6,Sl9,943 at the end o.
the previous twelve months period.
The last fiscal year, the report says
noted a continued decline in freigh
rates and reduction In the number o
steamers employed IN the foreign trad
routes. Due 10 this condition Their
was small opportunity for the estab
lishmeut Of new routes. the repor
added. At the end Of the year, how
ever. the board had In operation 32
passenger and cargo ships plying 4
northern European ports, sc plying 4
Mediterranean ports, 46 TO South Amer
I lea and the West Indies. 81 10 the Fs