Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-15
Everybody is Being Punched.

During the middle portion OF last "eeh
the well-to-do householder Of washington
was in the most serious plight Tor coal.
Last Saturday the deplorable conditien OF
the poor came most acuteiy to pubic no
tice Today the government Is shown, 20
be in straits which threaten even the CLOS
Ing Of the great departments unless retie1
is at once forthcoming.
Thus 1t appears that the fuel famine IS
affecting every interest. from the hghest
to theiowest. Necessity is no respecter OF
persons or Influences While there is no
practical comfort In the renection that
Uncle Sam is in as much danger OF freeze
as his humble citizens. his plight at least
demonstrates that the famine Is Affecting
all alike. and there is no evidence of waste
or of undue favoritism.
1t cannot be easily conceived that the
government departments should be closed
for the lack of fuel. Yet such a possibility
Is now Imminent. This morning the Post
Office Department would have been closed
had not a local dealer come to the rescue
with few tons OF fuel, a mere handful in
comparison with the quantity needed for
twenty-four hours heating and power
making.
Even at the Capitol the fuel stock is
stoppage of legislation. Fortunately for
the senator's and representatives the
Christmas holidays are close at hand, and
there will soon be lapse OF the session
to permit a restocking OF the coal binns.
Perhaps this state Of affairs may result in
larger shipment of coal to Washington.
The threat OF snow which this morning
showed in the air gave the situation the
most sinister aspect which 1t has thus far
borne. Snow would not only cause more
necessity for fires in the houses Of the peo-
pie. but it would seriously embarrass deal
ers in making deliveries of such coal as
they have on hand, and perhaps would even
tie up the railroads and diminish the snlaii
quantities which are now being received.
One bright spot appears in this gloomy
horizon. The action today OF the Commits
soners granting permission to the Penn
sylvania railroad to lay extra tracks will
open Washington to a considerable guam
tity of coal Of both kinds over the Chesa-
peake and Ohio line, which heretofore has
been closed to this traffic owing to the
difficulty of securing proper terminal facili-
ties. No official obstacles will be placed In
the way Of the coal traffic in such an
emergency. '.'is7 "'
With all the economies which are possible
under normal conditions there must be some
suffering II the output OF the mines is not
increased and the supply Is not sent to the
cities In proper proportion. Every hour
brings its proof Of the wisdom and hui
mainly of the active Intervention of the
President In the coal strike last fall. when
the cold weather was already at hand and
the first pinch of need had been felt. II
the mining of coal had been delayed an
other month the situation today would I'M
doubtedly have been very much worse, bad
though it now is.
If 1t should appear from the closest ex-
animation of the conditions that the present
rate of production will not yield enough to
prevent widespread sickness, and perhaps
DEATH, some emergency measures must be
provided to increase the output, even at
very heavy expense to the operating COM
panies. On them rests responsibility
which cannot even now. with the keenness
of the season already causing acute distress.
be fully measured.