Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1921
Abstract
One of the most vital questions before the Congress of the United States at the present time is the ship subsidy bill and for this reason a discussion of the cost of operating and maintaining a fleet of steamships may be appropriate. In order to cover the important phases of the business, it is assumed that the fleet consists of a large number of passenger steamships and freight vessels, and that the company owns its own docks and terminals. Some of the most difficult problems are encountered in endeavoring to distinguish between freight and passenger charges and in the equitable distribution of terminal expenses and overhead to each voyage. In view of the enormous amount of clerical work and office expenses involved in distributing the costs to the freight and passenger departments and in order to put these departments on a profit and loss basis, it might be advisable not to attempt to ascertain these departmental profits or losses. If, after careful consideration, it is decided that the cost to be incurred surpasses the value of this information for each voyage, that part of the following discussion which deals with the distribution of charges to the freight and passenger departments may be disregarded. However, whatever the decision is in regard to this matter it will not effect the classification of revenue.
Relational Format
pamphlet
Series Title
Official Publications of the National Association of Cost Accountants, 1922 (Nov. 15), Vol. IV, no. 5
Recommended Citation
Mulhern, Joseph J., "Steamship operating and terminal costs" (1921). Publications of Accounting Associations, Societies, and Institutes. 91.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/acct_inst/91