New-York tribune., 1918-01-19
Congress RACES
Against Garfield;
Predicts Chaos
Senators Incensed Over
Ignoring Of Their
Protest

WASHINGTON, Jan. Is. " hen Con-
grcss assembled attacks on the fuel
restriction order burst out anew.
mingled, in the Senate. with resent
mcnt that the Fuel Administru had
ignored its resolution asking for de-
lay. Senators described themselves
as being in q state Of "impotcnt in
dignation.'
"All this chaos is SHAMEFUL" Sem
ator Smith, of Michigan, Republican,
declared. The Senate should rise and
clip the wings Of those who seek to
exercise such authority, which was
never intended to be given.
"Thc country is aghast," the Mich
igan Senator shouted. "Our enemies
should be taken to stay this blow, so
serious and farreaching.'
After presenting letter from Dr..
Garfield announcing that the order
didn't affect hydro electric operated in
dustlcs, Senator Smith, OF Georgia,
said:
II hope this order will re literally
construed and that no effort will be
made by the Fuel Administrator to
panies. where simply little coal is
used to prevent freezing OF their ma
chincry."
No Action by Senate
Senator Hitchcock, Democrat. Of
Nebraska. author Of the resolution ask
ing five days suspension of the ORDER
sald ne did not plan any further action
IN the senate for a stay lie felt that
tlmc for action by Congress was in
sufficient.
Prior to the opening of the debate,
Vice-Presi idont Marshall advised the
Senate he had been informed by Fuel
Administrator Garfield that there had
been no intention OF discourtesy in
putting the order into effect despite
the Senate's resolution lie said the
admnistratorr had declared the reso-
luton was lfot received by him until
$50 p. m., while the order was pro
mulgatcd at 45 p. m
wv h'le the resolution might not
have been presented in writing, it was
telephoned to the Fuel Administrator. -
declared Senator Hitchcock, "and he
had every opportunity of knowing that
the Senate was about to pass it,"
A word indorsing the order was con-
veycd by Senator Beckham, who pre-
( scntcd telegram from members OF
The Louisville Board Of Trade Tcle-
! Grams protesting or asking for en-
ghtenment were presented by Sena-
.orr Brandegcc. Tillman and Pomerene.
1T was the most drastic order ever
issued by any department Of the gov
crnment. and, in my Judgment, with
lesT excuse said Senator Pomercnc
House Assails Order
Attacks on the fuel restriction order
also blazed up in the House again
Representative Snyder, Of New York
dcnouncing it, said the President h had ID
made a fatal error in permitting Mr.
Garfield to issue The order which, he
SAID meant utter chaos, want and sui
fcrlng in this country. Many members
took part III the discussion.
Representative Wood. of Indiana. Re.
publican, denounced the order as q
cause OF suffering among thousands OF
workmcn in Indiana. Snyder said his
district. the largest knit goods indus
trial centre in the world, was closed
down, with many workmen suffering as
result. He characterized the orde,
as camouhage of the railroad ad
ministratiOn
Representatives Fcss. of Ohio. anc
Paige ard Walsh of Massachusetts, al
Republicans, attacked the order.
Representative Carter. Of Oklahoma
Democrat. defended the order and
praised the Presidents act in permit.
ting its issue as a courageous per
1ormance which Congress should up.
hold.
Action Termed "Sucide"
Representative Burroughs, of New
hampshire, Republican, protested
against the order lie said in his home
city Of Manchester 10000 employees oil
cotton and boot and shoe mills-thou
sands Of them engaged on government
Mork--were idle to-day. Representative
Parker, Of Now Jersey. Republican
spoke Of attempts to destroy the ma
t'on's factories by enemy plots, ant
declared that 20 close them through
me action o. q patriot was suicide.
Representative Mondell. of Wyoming
Hcpublican. declared that while tho
, GARFIELD order was really intended tt
relieve the railroads, it was issued 50,
The pretencc and excuse that we ncee
to save fuel" He said that under i
! industries were being unneces ssaril,
and mercilessly sacrificed.
Representative Gordon, Of Ohio
Democrat, read into the record tcle
, grams received from manufacturcr.
and labor unions in his district uro
= testing against the order.