Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-01-17

No Warning of Move. The governments $ move came entire IN without warning in an order issued by Fuel Administrator Garfield. with i the approval of President Wilson. ] Prescribing stringent restrictions gov ctnln% the distribution and use of coal, 1t was decided upon hurredly by the president and government heads, as q desperate remedy for the fuel crisis and the transportation tanglc in the are not excepted from the closing down order. Officials tonight would not discuss the far reaching effect the action will have on the industrial fabric, and questions as to how the or der was to be interpreted to meet specific problems, went unanswered
 Order of Priority.
 The order prescribes a preferential list of consumers in whose interest it was drawn. These users will get coal
 Tn the following order: railroads, household consumers, hospitals, chari- table institutions and army and navy cantonments, public utilities, telephone and telegraph plants. strictly govern. ment enterprises, excepting plants and factories working on government con- tracts;public buildings and necessary government, state and municipal re- qulrements; factories producing gov ernment foods and foods for imme- diate consumption. Announcement of the provisions of the order was made by Fuel Administrator Garfield, after a white house conference which was attended also by Secretaries Baker and Daniels. Earlier in the day, Dr. Garfield had sought the views of other officials and it was said tonight that unanimous opinion that the measure contemplated was necessary under the circumstances.
 First Went in Effect Today.
 As first drawn and approved at the white house the order called for the closing of factories beginning tomor- row morning. That was changed up- on consideration of the confusion which would result when millions of workers went to their duties unaware of the governments step.
 Inclusion of war industries among those to which would be denied caused some surprise. Fuel officials, it is claimed tonight, said that war plants have been producing so much more material than the transportation sys tenn can handle that no serious effect will be felt. War supplies manufactu. red for exports have moved to sea- ports faster than ships can move them.
 To Speed Up Mines.
 Fuel administration officials will make an effort to increase production at the coal mines during the period that other business is suspneded. It was estimated tonight the enforcement of the order would save total of 3O,000,0O0 tons of bituminous coal which probably is about half the pres ent shortage. The indications were that at the end of ten weeks of Mon day, holidays a permanent policy of restricted consumption would have been determined on. This plan will limit the use of coal to the Iess-essen- tlal industries under a self rationing basis. Louisiana and Minnesota, which lie partly on both sides of the Mississippi river, were specifically in- cluded as whole in the list of state which the order applies. The order is expected to go far toward the clear HE ol CiloCcu ana cOnSeSCeQ TdllrOaQ tracks and terminals. It was regard ed tonight as likely that Secretary McAdoo. director general of railraods, might declare rail embargo against the shipment of products of plants closen down, if necessary further to relieve the roads.
 The critical coal situation is blam- ed on the unusual severe weather of the last week, which has made it inn possible in man instances to move coal at all, and which has cut off the fuel supplies of whole cities.
 Officials, who worked out the curt ailment plans came to the conclusion thev said, tonight, that the homes must be kept warm at all costs Re- ports have poured in to the federal fuel administrations offices for days telling of intense suffering in many parts of the country.
 New York Objects.
 New York, Jan. 16.-Fuel admin