The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-18
SENATE DEBATED SUCH MEAS
URES AND lNDULGED IN SOME
INTERESTING EXPRESSIONS OF
VIEWPOINT.
By Associated Press.

Washington, Jan. 17.-Senator Hit
chock, Democrat. today introduced a
resolution in the senate to suspend
the fuel order for five days.
Senator Hitchcock introduced his
resolution after comforting with other
Democratic leaders in the senate who
have apprehensions Of the wisdom
and effect of the order.
Senator GaIlinger. Republican lead
er, also introduced a resolution pro-
posing that the coal orders be sus-
pended until after an investigation of
their necessity.
Senator Hitchcock's resolution read:
Resolved, that the fuel administra-
tor of the United States be and is
hereby requested to delay for five DAYS
the order suspendinG the operation of
industrial plants in portions OF the
United States in order that protests
may be heard, Investigations made ana
information presented"
Senator Hitchcock declared that the
coal order was an example of co-ordi-
nation and reform in our government
4" is now running wild"
Senator Reed said he would ask the
senate to postpone action on the
Hitchcock resolution until his commit
tee had heard DIR. Garfield.
Senator Nardaman, another member
OF the committee asked Senator Reed
to do this
TT is unfair to Garfield he said,
"to pass this resolution without giving
him an opportunity to explain his rea-
sons for the order
'I do not presume to say the fuel
administrator has made a mistake -
said Senator Hitchcock.
''All 1 ask is that sufficient time be
given before the order goes into effect
TO permit the country to be heard. The
thing he did has been called a nation
al calamity. The fuel administrator
may be confronted with a serious sit
uation in trying to get coal for the
ships we, must send across the seas
or in maintaining the railroads. but
before taking action / think at least
this five days should be given"
Senator Hitchcock was interrupted
by Senator Nardaman, a member of
the subcommittee investigating the
coal situation, who said the committee
had a mass of evidence it would re-
port very soon and if a postponement
was effected the senate would have the
benefit of that
II regard this order as a calamity
declared Senator Vardaman.
The situation" continued Senator
Hitchcock, lis an argument for reform
in our government. / predict that be-
fore much time elapses we will be
compelled to lodge somewhere abso
lutte power for coordination of branches
of our government that are now run
ming wild. The various officials and
branches of the government are not
working in harmony or coordinating.
1t is impossible for t1e president with
his manifold duties and enormous
tasks to have all the direction. What
we need is a war cabinet, below the
president and above the cabinet. II
we had had such a war cabinet, this
coal order never would have been is
sued
This thing has come like q. bolt OF
lightning from clear sky. It means
the closing Of thousands of establish
ments when we are striving to keep
up production. It will mean the throw
ing out Of employment of thousands Of
persons. 1t will involve establish
ments that are making munitions for
the government. In some cases il will
even involve plants operated by water
Il