New-York tribune., 1918-02-01
Prosecution to Follow Vio-
lations Here; Scant
Hope Of Relief
1856 Schools to Stay
Shut Indefinitely
Plan to Close Another Five
Days Abandoned; Bunk
ering Is Slow

Prospects of an indefinite coal short
age throughout the industrial districts
OF the Atlantic States yesterday caused
local administrators to take a firmer
grip upon the situation and announce
that wholesale prosecutions and pos
sible jail sentences would result from
violation of their orders.
Although a larger quantity of coal
was dumped at the New jersey rail-
road terminals during the day than
during any twentyfour hours of the
present famine, the increase in de-
deliveries to the city was so slight as
10 offer little hope of material relief
TO New York industries A total of
1880 tons was dumped during the
day. approximately $4,000 tons of
anthracite arrived here, which still left
a side gap between the supply on hand
and the 10000 to $4,000 tons needed
for the normal daily requirements.
Shortly after noon, the management
OF the Terminal Building, one of the
biggest Office buildings in Brooklyn,
which houses many of the borough's
public Offices, gave up the struggle for
fuel and announced that it would be
compelled to shut off heat and elevator
power. Numerous occupants of the
building climbed stairs to their Offices,
while others abandoned their duties
and went home. 1t was expected that
an emergency delivery of coal-from
where, nobody was able to say-would
permit the building to resume under
something approxlmatlng normal con-
ditions this morning.
1876 Schools Stay Closed
Even the 1856 Brooklyn schools that
closed three weeks ago in order to
enable the City Purchasing Department
TO accumulate d surplus that would in
sure continuous sessions until spring,
probably will remain closed indefn-
i'ely. Frederic f. Gunnison. Fuel Ad-
ministrator for Brooklyn, said that he
did not know just what would be done
regarding the schools.
1t must be recalled that schools are
closing all over the country" was his
pcssimi site conclusion.
Reeve Schley, admins istrator for New
York County, thought that the in
creased dumping of coal at the Jersey
terminals showed some slight ray of
hope for the city. But he made it evil
dent that the hope was a slight one
only.
Concerning the proposed prosecution
of violators of conservation orders, he
said that numerous conferences had
been held and that technical questions
concerning the rights of tenants and
building owners had been considered
Of particular interest was the decision
that tenants of offices who had hoped
to evade prosecution by turning or
their own heat without authority from
the building owner would not escape or
technicality.
To Punish ViOlatOrs
The point was covered in this state
mcnt, issued by the administrator II
the evening:
"After a number of conferences dur
ing the last week between United State
Attorney Cafey, James N. Rosenberg
counsel for the fuel Administrations, ant
Reeve Schley, Fuel Administrator TO
New York County, Mr.. Schiey state
that owners. operators and tenants Q
business buildings are prohlblted iron
using fueP for heat on the Monday
named for closing. .
"Any tenant. excepting those speclfi
calv exempted, who turns on the hea
in his office violates the order. An
owner or operator Of business building
who permits a tenant to turn on tn
beat in his office violates the order
inspectors from this Office will be O
duty to prevent such violations, an
any violations reported to Mr.. Schle
nv these inspectors will at once b
transmitted to the United States At
torney.
"Mr. Schley also called attention I
The penalty provided in the Lever bl
for violation Of any order or regus
ton of the fuel administration n-to Wi
$4,000 fine and two years imprisonmer
for each offence. The ruling applies
all establishments not specifically e>
cmpted. Mr.. Schley added that he ha
full power to cut off the supply of coz
to violators and intended to exercis
this power where the case justified sue
action"
Hylan's Charges Denied
During the day the administrator di
posed Of Mayor Hylans letter cor
planning that coal yards were compe
ing with small hucksters for the cell;
trade i'm tenement districts, by showir
that no coal yards were charging Il
price the small dealers are permittt
TO charge. 70 cents per 100 pound ba
s'1hc big coal yards have fixed rat
which they are not exceeding, sa
Nr. SChleE. II ne Mayor suggests ti
they should not charge over 60 cen
for a bag of 100 pounds of coal. II
fact is that they are charging mu
less than that figure ALREADY. The le
ter is evidently based upon misappr
hcnsion.
Talk of another five day shut dov
for the Eastern states, which was d
clared to have been suggested to [
II. A. Garfield at Washington, Wedn,
day, was abandoned during the da
1t was agreed by the local admipistr
tors that the city's industries wou
prefer to limp along in the present u
certain manner, taking their chanc
Of obtaining enough coal to perm
them to operate. than submit to a
other general shut down, with its {
tending loss of wages to workers.
Bunkering of Ships Slow
Bunkering of ships in the harbor w
slowed up during the day because
the lack of tugs to tow the fuel bare
to the waiting vessels. But eight shl
were coaled, leaving twenty-five ava
ing fuel before making dc layed oce
voyages. Until they have been s,
plicd there is little prospect OF ii
tcrial increase in the quantity OF C
delivered at the city.
w. 3. Pollock, Deputy Marine DIR,
tor. reported that II barges with 36.'
TONS Of anthracite coal had been tow
from tidewater during the twenty-fo
IL ri