Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-01-18
Supplies for Allies and Ameri-
can Forces Abroad Are Ly-
ing at Atlantic Port Docks in
in Vast Piles,
HUNDREDS OF SHIPS NOT
ABLE TO GET FUEL
Transportation Lines GIutted
and Nothing Short Of Shock
to Country Could Avert Gen.
eraI Disaster,

tpY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LHhsGo ~iRsl
Washington, Jan, 17.--Fuel Admin
istIator Garfield underwent two
hours grilling today at the hands OF
the sneate committee investigating
the coal shortage which called him
before 1t to explain his reasons for is
suing the order shutting down indus
tries by denying them the use of coal.
At the end of the termination of
the hearing the committee decided to
make no formal report but Chair
man Reed made speech in the sem
ate declaring DIR. Garfield had not
satisfied him of the necessity for
such drastic action. The line of
questions asked by other members OF
the committee indicated that they,
too, took the same view.
Order Declared Imperative.
| DR.. Garfield declared the order was
made imperative because of the fuel
and transportation crises. II coal
were not cut off to all Industries for
:, n period many of them, he said, would
DO forced to close anyhow and the
government in closing everything in
tended to treat all alike.
/ Members OF the committee criti-
cised severely the closing of indus
tries which have coal stores on hand
and declared that the order, If made
effective, would cost the country
billion dollars in wages and produc-
ton.
1 Fuel Administrator Garfield's state
ment in explanation of his order fol-
lows:
Garfield's Explanation.
1.-THE most urgent thing is to send
to the American forces abroad and to
the allies the food and war supplies
which they vitality need War muni-
tions, food. manufactured articles OF
every description, lying in Atlantic
ports in tens of thousands OF tons,
where literally hundreds OF ships,
loaded with war goods for our men
and the allies, cannot take the seas
because their bunkers are empty OF
, coal. The coal to send them on
their way is waiting behind the con
gested freight that has jammed all
, terminals.
1T Is worse than useless to bend
=
when what we have already manufac-
, tured lies at tidewater congesting
food terminal facilities, jamming the
p railroad yards and sidetracks for long
distances back INTO the country. No
a power hearth can move this freight
:, into the war zone where it Is needed
until We supply the ships with fuel
. Vital to Allies.
Once the docks areaa1u4ared of the
valuable freight for which our men
and associates in the war now walt in
vain, then again our energies and
power may be turned to manufacture
$ ing, more efficient than ever, so that
d a steady and uninterrupted stream
}, of vital supplies may be this nation
$ answer to the allies cry for help.
y 1T has been excess of production
: in our wartime speeding up, that has
Y done so much to cause congestion on
: our railroads; that has filled the
e freight yards to overflowing; that ha.
: eluttered the docks of our Atlantic
ports with goods waiting to 60 abroad
: A. tidewater the flood of freight ha.
stopped. The ships were unable tc
| tiN Jouility llOIH our rae
tories to the war depots beind the fir,
ing lines.
- Added to this has been the diff
- Guilty of exporting coal for our owl
o. domestic needs. On top of these diff
l. ficulties has come one of the mos
I terribly severe winters we have known
d, in years.
Weather Contributes.
r. THE wheels were choked an,
Y stopped; zero weather and snowboun,
l. trains; terminals congested harbor
3 with shipping frozen in; rivers an,
G canals unpassa ble-it was useless t
s, continue manufacture and pile con
6, fusion on top of confusion.
h, "A clear line from the manufac
al turing establishments to the seaboar
and beyond; that was the imperativ
Is need. 1t was like soldiers marchin
,r. to the front. The men in the fore
u. most ranks must have room to NOV,
10 More than a shock was needed I
II make way through that congestio
nd at the terminals and on the docks S
that the aid so vitally needed by tn
ID allies could get through.
THE incidentally effect of tn
transportation situation on coal Pre-