The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-21

about the orders of the Fuel Admin
istrator as applied today and the nine
Mondays following there is much
confusion and misunderstanding on
the subject
To begin with today is not a legal
holiday. It is not a holiday of any
sort, and local activities on that day
do not fail under the laws of the
state for holidays.
Second, with the exception of man
ufacturing plans. Mr.. Garfield has not
ordered the suspension of any activi-
ties on these 10 Mondays. Section 3
of his order provides that mo manu-
facturer or manufacturing plant shall
burn fuel or use power derived from
fuel for any purpose. in the present
five-day period and the following
Mondays, save as specially excepted;
and that is definite and conclusive, for
when power is not used the plant is
dead.
But Section 4, which applies only to
the 10 Mondays, of which tomorrow
is the first, provides only that mo fuel
shall be burned Except to such ex-
tent as is essential to prevent injury
to property from freezing) for the
purpose of supplying heat"
By Mr.. Garfields original order, the
first class will include such manufac-
turing plants, engaged in making food
products or munitions of war, as have
been permitted to operate during the
present five-day period.
By the order also are included Etof-
fees used by the United States, State,
County or Municipal Governments,
transportation companies, public util-
tiles companies, telephone or teIe-
graph companies, banks, Srust COM
panies, physicians or dentists"
Other paragraphs of the act speci-
fica1ly permit heat Throughout the
day and evening for the purpose of
selling drugs and medical supplies
only" and until IL o'clock noon for
the purpose of selling food only, and
for "such rooms or offices as are
used in connection with the produc-
ton, transportation or distribution of
fuel.
Subsequent rulings have placed in
this class all public schools. and libra
ries in public buildings. I4aundries
also have been held exempt from all
restrictions, and barber shops until
noon. Restaurants, hotels and other
places in which meals are served
may have heat under the act, but in
toxicating liquor must be sold or serv-
ed only in unheated rooms.
The latest special exception provid-
ing for the various places of entertain
ment-theatres, moving picture
houses, bowling alleys, billiard rooms,
private and public dance halls
which were first specifically forbid
den Monday heat in Section 4 Co of
the order. Now, in order that they
may profit by the attendance of per-
sons who are free on Mondays, they
are allowed to be open that day and
night and told to close Tuesdays in
stead. The volume of coal saving is
the same and the profits of the
amusement places are much larger.
In the second class, as not affected
by the act, are all such activities as
are performed in the open air or with
out heat. The work Of men in the
building trades, teamsters, all out
door work in general, is expected to
go on tomorrow as any other week
day. In fact it has been especially
urged that the movement of freight
whether to or from the yards and
sheds, should be pushed more energet-
ically than usual.
So, too, garages and automobile re-
pair shops, which do not require heat
beyond enough to prevent freezing,
may remain open for work that can be
done without, power. And, without
special authority, any place that deems
it can run profitably without heat may
do so.
The one class of stores in an anon
a1ous position is the drug stores. BY
the order, as above noted, they may
use heat all day and evening for the
sale of drugs and medicines only.
But, if they use heat, they may moi
sell soda water, tobacco, candy, toile
articles, safety razors, picture poStals
or any of the countless things which
drug stores do SELL On the Othe1
hand, if they do not use heat, they are
apparently free to sell anything; anC
it is going to be a question whether
the drug clerk will be warm and do {
restricted business or wrap up in fur!
and sell anything in stock.
So far as the Fuel Administrator i
concerned, Sc looms and bars are in thu
second class. They are only allowed
heat enough to keep their stock ant
fixtures unhurt, but under these con
ditions are free to open if they wish
But for some unknown reason Fue
Administrator Garfield at Hartford il
direct variance to the intent of hi
chief Garfield. has ordered that al
bars must close Monday. In no othe
state in the union has this action beel
I taken. Governor Holcomb also Sat
urday demanded that saloons sta,
closed on Tuesday as well. By VIVA
) right this demand is made the luo
3 dealers are unable to ascertain.
The assumption is that the absenc
of heat above the freezing point wi
compel the offices, wholesale and re
tail stores and other places of bushes
4 to close.
But Mr.. Garfield presumably doe
5 not care whether they are closed o
not. provided that in keeping ope
) they do not use fuel He holds of
fee and power under the so-calle
4 Lever act, giving the government au
/ thority over the distribution of foo
f and fuel. His purpose is not to tur
1 Mondays into holidays or into Sun
| Il Ia