The Washington herald., 1918-01-19
Responsibility for Shutdown
Disavowed by Cabinet Member

terrific congesl IN. the number OF
ships In our harbors increases men
acingly.
The food supply is threatened 10
an even greater degree than the fuel
supply. This condition is in large part
due to the congestion that at many
ports holds the loaded cars in its grip.
ITO single out industries not engag-
ed to some extent In war manufacture
is to select industries which in the ag-
gregate will bring nelief only IL eX-
tended indefinitely. To require all in
dustries except a compa ratively small
part to cease for a few days quickly
accomplishes the desired result and
permanently Injuries none.
On Equal Footing.
The order as il stands puts all
industries on an equal footing, fav-
( oring none and avoiding unfair
competition. but this reason alone
/ is not sufficient. This reason. plus
/ the fact that the order will put coal
in the empty bins Of the people.
will save coal. will aid in breaking
up congestion of trafic and in fur
nishing an adequate supply Of coal
to the people who need il and 10
the ships which cannot sail without
it-these are sufficient reasons and
| justify the order.
only those industries producing
necessary war material that can be-
promptly delivered are permitted to
operate during the suspension
period. To permit industries With
a coal supply on hand to operate
would allow many OF the least es-
sential to continue, while some OF
the most essential would be COM
PEELED to stop.
Moreover, to allow those for
| tunate enough to possess Va coal
pile to continue would result in
adding to the traffic congestion.
I and unless they also are suspended.
at a later period the needed saw
I ing in consumption Of coal would
not result. To have delayed the
: application Of the order would onlE
have added to the congestion.
TT is no condemnation OF indes-
try to say that each would hsk'e
striven to the utmost to increase
I its supply Of coal and other raw
materials during the days prior 10
the application of the order"
Sweeping Embargo Voted.
Other DEVELOPMENTS Of thee were:
1.-The Cabinet considered a propose.
from DIR. Garfield to Director General
McAdoo that a sweeping embargo he
placed on the movement to tidewatee
points OF all freight, pending a clear
ing up Of the present terminal con-
gestion. At the suggestion OF MI
McAdoo the suggestion was vetoed
on the ground that the. congestion
could be cleared without that. "a
2-Administrator Garfield got out a
supplementary list Of exemptions. re-
leasing approximately 100 additional
industries by name from the opera
ton of the shutdown order.
S-Charges were made on the floor
Of the House that DIR. Garfield had
been made the goat for Director Gen
eral McAdoo. when the Cabinet mem
Der had failed to solve the rsilroag
problem.
Hitting at the crux Of the whole sit
uation, DIR. Garfield tonight dispatch
ed representatives Of the Fuel Admin
istration to the congested ports OF
New York and other places on the At
lantic seaboard.
To Coal Allied ships.
They have instructions to get the
bunker coal to the allied ships lying
there at the earliest possible moment
so the ships can move overseas with
their tons Of cargo.
One representative was in New v's
last night. and those detailed TO 1her
ports are expected TO reach IN a to-
day or tomorrow.
/ The decision to prohibit Industries
having coal already on h. I'd from
using IT. IL was explained lad been
reached principally for q reason
CONTINUED ON rAGE rIvn