New-York tribune., 1918-01-21
Administrator Nav
Add to Regulations
Empty Cars Rushed
Back to the Mines;
Coaling Of Ships
Progresses :,

( WASH1NGTON, Jan. 2O.-The East
ern half of the United States will OBJ
serve tomorrow generally as a holiday.
the first of ten heatless Mondays de-
creed by the government to conserve
coal and to clear congestion from the
railroads.
Only the railroads. the mines. the
coal handling forces in American ports
ship yards, certain "super-essenital,
war Industries. food shops, drug stores
and theatres will continue business as
usual. Practically every department
store, Office building and bank will
close its doors for the day. Street
car companies will curtail their sched-
/ ules; railroads will be relieved of the
burden of carrying an army of COM
muters to their urban employment:
everywhere there will be evidence OF
America taking a day off,
Although the closing order, promul
gated by Fuel Administrator Garfield.
goes no further than to forbid the use
of fuel for heating, fuel administration
officials expect business to cease. and
tonight DR.. Garfield irsued a direct
request that all retail establishments.
except food and drug stores. close up.
At the same time Office buildings were
requested to observe the spirit as we'll
as the letter of the order and operate
no lights or elevators except to accom-
modate the few exempted persons who
are housed in their buildings.
Saloons Must Be Heatless
According to the best Interpretation
available there is nothing in the order
to prevent saloons from selling drinks
if they use no fuel for heat, though
the Administration hopes they will
close
The text Of the Garfield order is sus
ceptible to the Interpretation that hc
tells cannot sell liquor in their dining
rooms tomorrow. AS this is clearly
outside the province of the fuel ad.
ministration to prescribe, it is believed
that no attempt to enforce this clause
o. the ruling rigidly will be attempted.
Neither will hotel bars be generally
closed. it is anticipated, unless this
step is taken at the instance of state
or local authorities. Fuel administra-
ton officials made it plain that what
they wanted primarily was coal con
seration. At the same time the neces-
sity of enforcing the curtailment order
uniformly was recognized even though
the consequent inelasticity might fail
to produce fuel savings.
It would be obviously unwise. it was
stated, to permit saloon on one cor
ner to do business as usual because its
heat came from one of the EXEMPTED
establishments, while its competitor
across the way was compelled to close
because t had its own heating plant.
Many INEQUALITIES os this kind, it is
ANTICIPATED. will develop during the
test of the ruling tomorrow. Their
remedy, it is stated. will follow in the
supplementary rulings to be issued
within tic next week.
Food Stores May Remain Open.
Food stores. which in the oricina,
oiu'i "c'c pcrlnlltcd 10 remain cDcn
only half the day, were granted sne-
ral dispcnsation tonight under whicb
they may sell goods throughout The
day.
1t was said tonight that the use Of
fuel for lighting buildings and for
operating their elevators probably
would be prevented during the re-
maindcr Of the Monday holidays. In
1rawing the order this was overlooked
and thousands of kilograms have
reached the fuel admin stration ASKING
for a ruling.
While reports to the fuel admins
-ration tonight told of an increased
movement of coal to householders and
20 ships under the first three days' on
aration of the five-day factory closing
order, severe weather held back the
clearing Of the congestion, which Was
'ne OF the chief purposes sought. At
he office of the Director General of
Railroads it was said that there was
title hope for material Improvement
n traffic conditions until the weather
moderated
Efforts were centralized today on
he movement of empty coal cars back
% the mines and the Transportation
'f bunker coal to the Atlantic sea
'oard. total of 10000 tons Of
'unker coal had arrived or was en-
cute for North Atlantic ports, while
10000 tons had been delivered on the
southern seaboard and 100000 tors
more was on its way. At one Southern
'ort 10000 TONS was delivered to-day to
hips that have ben tied up for more
han a week.
Coaling of Ships Rushed
At both Northern and Southern ports
he organization and machinery for
vessels were operated all o.
asst night and to-day wherever pos
ible. Twenty hour operation will
e continued throughout the period OF
upended industrial activity.
return of snow and zero temrsrn