The sun., 1917-12-17
GARFIELD FAILED TO
KEEP AGREEMENT

WAsHINGroS, Dec. 16-Failure Of the
on lines leading to New York. with a
resultant blockade OF coal ordered sent
to Eastern centres. was put forward to-
day by the Fuel Administration as the
reason for the critical straits in which
New Workers. iind themselves.
Three weeks ago DR. Garfield ordered
that one days output from the anthra-
cite mines should be shipped TO Neu
York each week. From what can be
learned Or. Garfield then promptly for
got all about New York
There Is no evidence that Dr. Garfield
ever took his attention from the prob
lens Of the West and Northwest long
enough to ask whether the railways and
mines were obeynG his orders for the
relief of New York.
To-day Dr. Garfield admitted that the
situation in New York was critical. but
said that from reports he had received
he believed 1t was being relieved and
that the shortage would be far less acute
by Monday night
Three weeks ago New York fuel Of
fcials. having been told in no uncertain
words by Manhattan dealers that the
Washington officials were not living up
tn a previously made agreement whereby
the New York district was to get one
days output Of the anthracite mines
each week. sent representative to
Washington. Albert H. Wisein. the New
York fuel administrator, also talked
with DR.. Garfield by telephone.
PrOmises Rca rmed.
As a result the fuel administrati on re-
affirmed its PROMISES. The renewed
promise of coal as made by DIR. Garfield
was not given out. but New York fuel
officials and leading coal dealers agreed
that the assurances of Or. Garfield were
such that there was not room for doubt
that the needs of New York would be
met.
DNring the last two weeks newspaper
men repeatedly have asked Dr Garfield
what steps were being taken to help New
York get more coal, lie has invariably
turned 10 an assistant and asked for in
formation. The replies have been opti-
mistic, but vague and general In fact,
no one in the Fuel Administration seemed
to have data on the amount of coal In
! transit to or due in New York. The re-
plies Of his assistants appeared wholly
to satisfy DR.. GARFIELD, and he has never
20 much as hinted.that blockades on the
( PENNSYLVANIA and New Jersey lines were
seriously threatening shipments to East
crn coal dealers
Railroad lines from the anthracite
, fields 10 New York have been congestcd
| by weethound traffic stalled by tangled
| conditions at Pttsburg. Agents of the
J Fuel Administration were despa tched to
! Pittsburg and to south central and Ohio
| centres with instructions to abroRate
: coal routngs and get shipments moving
Reports received hero, according to Ipr.
{ Garfield's office, show that Pennsylvania
/ lines are being cleared up rapidly.
Rely Upon Freight Prosra mi mc.
! Tho new freight programme Of the
Railroad War Board. effective in the las,
week and by which through trains are
being sent out without stop for reclassi
! fication. is one OF the chief measures
upon which the Fuel Administration de-
pends for preventing a repetition OF tho
traffic tangles. IT has not been easy for
railroads and shippers to change almos,
over night the routes by which coal has
reached consumers Lesser railroad ex
ecutves also have shown a hesitancy to
change routings which have gone over
certain lines for many years.
The Fuel Administration has found
that the railroads. because of the com.
plexity Of their organizations. have no,
been elastic enough in administration tC
untangle the corgestcd traffic terminal.
Continued on Second Page.