New-York tribune., 1918-01-21

lures checked the general movement Of
coal and ocean freight, especially Hl the
Middle West The movement OF empty
coal cars back to the mines has begun
already to increase. however, according
10 reports tonight from A. II. Smitn.
General McAdoo's order embargoing the
use of open cars for freight other
than coal has released to the mine;
about 10000 cars.
Quick Unloading Urged
State fuel administrators were ius
structed by DR.. Garfield to-day to exert
every effort to hurry the unloading of
cars diverted from plants closed down
movement to the producing centres.
New demurrage rates, ranging from
so to 100 per cent higher than the pre-
sent scale, will go into effect to-mor
VOW. under an order issued by Director
General McAdoo, and this is expected
to bring quicker release of cars at ter
minals
Hundreds Of hopper cars have been
eliminated from service because snow
and ice piled between the rails caught
the hopper triggers and released the
load. Many derailirg accidents and
other minor wrecks were caused in this
way.
Extremely low temperatures were re
ported tonight throughout the East
Ten below was reported III Illinois and
still lower temperatures in states fur
ther east.
The list Of industrial concerns cX-
empted from operation of the curtail-
ment regulation had virtually been
completed tonight. From now on
plants will be exempted only when it
IS shown their output is needed to
prevent a shutdown of industries al
ready excepted. Both the War and
Navy departments have selected all the
deemed necessary for the fighting
forces and which can be delivered i'm
mediately.
Cooperation General
At the fuel administration it was de-
clared there had been a complete
change of feeling in the country re-
garding the necessity for the curtail
ment of the use of coal and that CO.
operation was practically general. Hun
dreds of kilograms came to Dr. Gar
.leld assuring him that employees would
be paid for their time during the clos
and manufacturers associations
throughout the East wired they would
observe the spirit Of the order
The change in ruling regarding food
stores was made tonight, because Of
various interpretations that had been
placed by state fuel administrators on
ehe section of the order dealing with
The distribution of foodstuffs. The fol-
lowing telegram was sent tonight to
state fuel administrators, instructing
them as to the change:
"As a result of information furnished
- the food administration to the effect
that confusion exists in the minds of
the public as to the closing of food dis
tributing stores on Monday afternoons,
the order Of the Fuel Administrator
dated January II has been suspended
in so far as it provided for the closing
of such food stores on Monday. Janu-
AIRY 21. This will permit food stores
10 remain open the entire day"
Drug Stores Cnhampered
Drug stores under the order may use
fuel throughout the day, provided they
sell drugs and medical supplies only,
out fuel administration officials admit
thorc is no way OF forcing them to re-
lrain from selling othe~ goods.
Nothing, fuel administration Off
cials said. can prevent thousands of
cvasions of the order if the peop.e
affected do not cooperate in the fullest
measure. For instance, many buildings
house a single physician or dentist, and
it would be virtually impossible to heat
one office without supplying heat to the
remainder of the building. Again, many
apartment houses have stores on tho
ground floor, and heat from the res.
Of the building would heat these stores
20 great extent.
Many Of the requests for intcrprc.a-
lions puzzled TIE staff OF officials who
attempted to reply to all that were
received. Although similar answers
were sent to many, the fuel admins
tration continued its policy Of making
few general rulings. 1t was held that
in effect give permission for many es-
'ablishments to run which otherwise
would close. Dr.. Garfield, it is we'll
known, is strongly opposed to exemp
iions and holds that special rulings, ii
made general, would defeat the purpose
Of the order.
Officials who have urged general
embargo against the shipment Of
freight from plants shut down by the
closing order as a means OF improving
congested conditions still believed to-
u ght that such action would become
ne necessarv before the railroad Jam is
cleared.
The Pennsylvania Railroad OF its
own accord, tonight notified shippers
that it would not receive freight Of
any character at any Of its stations to-
borrow Other roads are expected TO
iollow the Pennsylvania example on
succecding Mondays if the general con-
gestion of cars is not relieved.