Full text of H.8a Weekly Department Store Sales : March 18, 1957

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U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF

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COMMERCE
SINCLAIR WEEKS, SECRETARY

WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

F e d e r a l Maritime Board
M a r i t i m e Administration
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TRUPP - STerling 3-5200, Ext. 4461

NR 5 7 - 2 0
MARITIME UNDERTAKES
TWO INVESTIGATIONS

FOR RELEASE A.M. PAPERS, MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1957
The Federal Maritime Board has acted to i n i t i a t e an investigation into
terminal practices in Atlantic and Gulf Ports of the United States affecting the
oceanborne trade and commerce of the Nations i t was announced today by Clarence G.
Morse, Board Chairman„
This investigation (Docket 816) has been undertaken in response to
requests to the Federal Maritime Board from numerous port interests who urged that
the Federal Maritime Board look into the reasonableness and lawfulness of charges
and practices of Atlantic and Gulf terminal operators. !
Among other things, the Board w i l l examine the ( feasibility of rules
designed to prescribe uniform definitions and application of terminal services and
charges.
The Federal Maritime Board w i l l attempt to determine whether the regulations and practices of terminal operators# including their charges, are just and
reasonable within the meaning of the various shipping acts and statutes. In
particular the Board will examine practices governing dockage, wharfage, free time
and wharf demurrage, and the handling of cargoes on the piers, and w i l l inquire
into agreements entered into by terminal operators and others to determine their
compliance with the law and regulations that seek to assure that a l l American shippers and port interests shall receive just and fair treatment.
All persons in the Atlantic and Gulf port areas carrying on the business
of furnishing wharfage, dock, warehouse or other terminal f a c i l i t i e s in connection
with a common carrier by water have been named as subject to the investigation,
including railroad pier operators®
In a completely separate action, the Federal Maritime Board also moved to
investigate the status of express companies, truck l i n e s and others who purport to
be common carriers by water but who do not control the means by which such water
transportation i s effected.
In the inquiry into the matter of express companies, truck companies, and
others who offer services to shippers that call for overseas shipments, the Federal




(over)

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Maritime Board, took action (Docket 815) i n view of the growing number of companies
who have been claiming status as common carriers by water. This status has been
claimed on the basis of recent decisions of the Board requiring that such carriers
f i l e t a r i f f s and otherwise comply with the Shipping Act, 19160
The Board's investigation w i l l center upon van l i n e s and express companies
who offer to carry goods overseas, although such companies do not own or operate
ships. In some cases, they enter into agreements with water carriers for the overseas movement. These agreements enable these non-vessel owning carriers to obtain
ocean transportation at charges and conditions different from those accorded to the
ordinary shippers, generally on the basis that both carriers are common carriers bywater who are dividing a through rate. Docket 815 i s aimed at clarification of the
status of such companies and their agreements.
All non-vessel owning carriers who have f i l e d a schedule of freight rates
with the Board and a l l parties to agreements to move freight overseas for such
carriers have been made subject to the investigation.

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