B-159103 L/M, SEP 15, 1967

B-159103 L/M, SEP 15, 1967

PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE

GEORGE C. SMITH, SMITH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY:

THIS IS IN FURTHER REFERENCE TO YOUR LETTER OF JULY 17, 1967, CONCERNING THE PROBLEM OF DETENTION CHARGES AT THE BELL DEPOT. THE RECORDS HERE SHOW THAT THE SUM OF $3,179.01 WAS COLLECTED BY SETOFF IN MAY OF THIS YEAR FROM REVENUE OTHERWISE DUE YOUR COMPANY IN ORDER TO RECOVER PAYMENTS PREVIOUSLY MADE TO YOU FOR UNSUPPORTED DETENTION CHARGES. IN ADDITION, THERE NOW IS OUTSTANDING IN THE ACCOUNTS THE SUM OF $1,205.53, ALSO INVOLVING DETENTION CHARGES, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN COLLECTED. THE TOTAL OF THESE SUMS IS $4,384.54.

IN VIEW OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE AFFIDAVITS SUBMITTED WITH YOUR LETTER OF JULY 17, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SOME DETENTION TIME DID OCCUR AT THE BELL DEPOT DURING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH WITH CERTAINTY THE SPECIFIC INSTANCES AND PERIODS OF CHARGEABLE DETENTION, AND THE EXACT AMOUNT INVOLVED. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE THE CLAIMS IN QUESTION ON A FIFTY PERCENT BASIS. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE BALANCE OF $1,205.53 NOW OUTSTANDING HERE WOULD BE CANCELLED AND PAYMENT OF $986.74 WOULD BE MADE TO YOUR COMPANY. THESE SUMS TOTAL $2,192.27, FIFTY PERCENT OF $4,384.54, THE TOTAL AMOUNT INVOLVED.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHETHER YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT FOR SETTLEMENT OF THESE ACCOUNTS.