Evening star., 1925-11-07
Shaving Uncle Sans Dollars
And Saving His Dimes
BY WILLIAM p. HELM. JR.

the boards memorandum report TO
Gen. Smither, as follows:
Through neSotta tons with water
carriers a saving Of $13,466.69 under
the rail cost was effected for the
Navy Department upon a movement
OF 10 large-caliber guns from the
Bremerton Navy Yard TO the Wash
lngton Navy Yard
Sometimes the board deals directly
with railroads involved in large ship
ments in working out new and favor
able rates. Witness the following
statement from the boards memoran.
dunn:
"Cn complaint OF the War Depart
ment against rates charged on traffic
in and out of Camp Meade, Md, this
Office, through conference with the
Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania
Railroads, has succeeded In IIerfectinE
new rate adjustment that will result
in an annual saving to the Govern.
ment of 10000. based upon the total
business handled in 1923.
"As the camp has been enlarged,
which means an increase in the traf-
nc, 1t will be seen that the new ar
raneements will be of material benefit
to the Government. 1t Is also de-
sired to point out that this settlement
was effected with the Carriers without
recourse to the Interstate Commerce
Commission
The work Of securing proper de-
scriptions and ratings Of the Govern
ment's traffic is progressing, and u
large number of items have been en-
bodied in the carriers freight classi.
fication, thus enabling the various de-
partmental shipping Offices to describe
their shipments properly and obtain
the benefit OF correct ella ssiflcation
rating. Work Of this character is
necesSa rily slow because of the time
required in gathering the detailed in
formation necessary TO satisfy the car
riers that the ratings requested are
rea soma BILE"
Virtually every department Of the
Government utilizes the services OF
the Traffic Board and in some depart
mentS The saving has been marked.
The following statements by Post OF.
ffce Department officials are embodied
by the board In its memorandum as
illustrative Of savings within that de
partment:
Recently the demand has been ex-
sly heavy for postal cards. max.
ing It necessary for the department
TO dispatch cards to certain Pacific
coast points In the most rapid manner
| available. Realizing the expense of
an all.rail movement. this office ar.
ranged to have the cards forwarded
by empty return mail storage cars
| from Washington TO New York. and
| from that point TO the Pacific coast
| port via the Panama Pacific Line
| thence by rail to destination. thereby
| saving on one carload over the all.
| rail movement S2,ss7.2S.
"A short time ago the department
| desired TO forward carload OF
| stamped paper and envelopes from
| Da ton, Ohio. to the agency Al Bruins.
wick. Ga. II was ascertained that
| his movement could be made in empa y
return stora se mail cars from Dav.
ton to New York. thence by the Clvde
Steamship Line TO Brunswick. at a
| saving OF s6ls.75
"A carload OF postal Cards was also
| moved from Washington TO Brunswick
by wav OF New York at saving Of
| more than $500 on the carload"
Members Of the board participate in
the boards affairs in addition to their
| ordinary and other routine duties
| Commander Pyne. chairman of tn.
| board, devotes his entire time TO Fed
eral traffic. however. The extent of
work done by the board during the
| fiscal year 1925 is disclosed by its
statement that Alp route orders were
| issued during the year and that these
| orders involved the movement of
| 32.181 carloads Of Government SUP.
plies.
'Convright 1873