Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-08
|lAI|L|. Ill, MUST
GIVE PRIORITY
TO FOOD, FUEL
government Supplies First
General Freight Sec
ondary,l is Ruling.

~ ~ SAAACN llVOIV
ing; suggestions for either govern.
!, tnent operation during the war or
suspension of antitrust laws. and
financial support still rested to-
night with President Wilson. No
move was looked for until after
Monday when the President will
go over the entire subject with
Senator Newlands, chairman Of
the Congressional committee in
lens. o..
Today however, brought three i'm
nortant developments in the situation.
An order by Robert S, Lovett, direc-
tor Of priority, giving preferential
shipment to fuel, food and govern-
ment supplies, over all general freight.
Hlnd1cations that the government will
name a general traffic manager to
take entire charge of all the move
menu OF government supplies and war
materials. e..
I "A statement from Fairfax Harri-
son, chairman of Ithe railway war
board. that the roads under present
direction are prepared to furnish all
IN transportation possible. to obtain
under any management
The, p%resident>is ,viey0 hg the prob
= lem from every angle. His advisers
I, are by no means of one mind on the
subject, and their proposals have run
allathe way from a, policy Of govern
mant seizure to that Of a. hands-off
attitude. leaving the roads to work
the problem out for themselves. He
gave careful study to the. interstate
commerce commissions recommends
Stion to congress thai the government
operate the roads or suspend during
the var laws which prevent a ON
plete pooling and a consequent unfit
cation of all rail systems,
Senator Newlands prepared himself
today for Mondays conference by dis
OF the interstate commerce committee
its recommendations.
= First Government Order.
Today's priority order, effective De-
cember IL. is. the first general order
issued by the government classifying
materials. for shipment. 1tlwas issu-
ed at the urgent request, 81 the food
ana fuel administrations and govern
ment departments. The railroads have
/. opposed it on the grounds that it
would retard rather than expedite
shipments. Unofficial action taken
by their eastern operating commit
tees;:7theN have held, is accomplishing
the results sought and has not set up
inflexible- rules 'which.a government
order imposes.
The materials classified today will
move in the following order: Railroad
fuel. live stock, %perishable. goods and
feeds, military supplies, other gov
eminent supplies on Special request:
coaF for coking, plants and coal for
~o~ SI~1 Ls TIA ~ ~1yA~n4v$ ne r0nl
is ~prssoribed ii 6 manner similar to
a .request for preferential shipment
for specified requirements, requested
of producers several days ago by Fuel
AdmiaistEa3eEsa affield. !;
TheTb5Ss Mkeays a
cember. 1917, aid until further order,
all c0mona carriers by railroad in. the
United States shall give preference
and priority: in a supply ana In
movement to the following commodi-
ties and in. the order numbered:
NJ. Steam railroad fuel for cur
.. Live stock. pse'rishable freight.
g lAJ Shipments Of military
supplies when consigned direct to the
United States" government or the au-
thorized officers of the. United States
army, navy or shipping board, or to
the allies or the proper representatives
thereof. destined to. any cantonment:
export for movement, thence to Flu
r6pe. to any arsenal or navy yard, or
. material to any ship hnilding plant
under contract to the United States
shipping board for asthe sole purpose
of constructing ships.
s"T( Other shipments for tn" Unit
eHs States government as the same
may be authorized from time to time
by the undersigned as necessary In
particular cases, but only Upon request
ofy the . United States Arfny, United
States navy, or United States shfpping
board, through a designated officer
or representative Of. the respective
departments, located I'm Washington.
"i.S Coal to and for by-prodhct
coking plants and not subject to re-
! consignment, and
81. s:T'reference and priority in
movement only to coal for current
use, hut not for storage. consigned d.
ment) .to hospitals, schools n other
public institutions. retailers Of coal for
use ii supplying domestic consumers
onlv:e4nd to coal, coke and raw mate
riais-for current use but not for stor-
. consigned direct land not subject
to reconstgnment) e blast furnaces.
f%oundries. iron ana steel Nus ~ S n,eri-
for the United States government or
ito allies, public utilities (including
street. and %interurban railways. cleo
trio power and lighting plants. gas
nlants. water and sewer works), flour
hills. sugar f~actories fertilizer facto-
RES and shipbuilders; also shipments
Of paper, petroleum and petroleum
products"
oritv.order No. 2, relating to open-top
cars: No. 8, relating to movement Of
coal from mines in Utah and Wyu-
rnine: and, No. a, relating to shipment
q cattle feed to Texas and New Mex
leo.
TODAAS
IADTnMET