Evening star., 1918-01-19
ALL AMUSEMENT PLACES
INCL UDED IN THE POLICY
Theatrical Men Argue That
Public Will Be Benefited by
Having Place to Go.

OIQcIS vi tHC ChAeSo
administration.
The Chamber of Commerce
dropped its inquiry into the justice
of the orders, and called upon all
citizens of the District to stop
criticising and to support the gov
ernment in what they believe is a
war necessity.
The Retail Merchants Asso-
ciation sent forth word to every
merchant in the city, excepting
drug stores, food establishments
and laundries, to remain closed
Monday.
There was much qualification today
among Washington theatrical men and
the general public as well that the thea
ters may observe Tuesday instead Of
Monday during the next ten weeks as
'heatless'' day.
The theatrical men argued before Dr.
Garfield that the change should be made
out of consideration for the many thou
sands who will be forced into idfeness on
Mondays through suspension OF manufac-
turing and commercial activities. 1t Will
give them something to do. it was con-
tended. and make the days Of idleness less
q hardship
Text of Theater Order.
The text OF the order affecting theaters
IL as follows:
Tn order to accommodate public hcli-,
day attendants fusf mAy be burned on
any Of the Mondays beginning Janu-
ary 81. 1918. and continuing up to and
including March Is, 1918. for the pur-
pose of supplying heat for theaters,
moving picture houses. bowling houses,
billiard rooms, private or public dance
halls. or any other place Of public
amusement
..But no fuel shall be burned on any
Tuesday beginning January 20. 1918.
and continuing up to and including
Tuesday. March Is. 1913. Except to
such extent as is essential to prevent
injury to property from freezing) for
the purpose of supplying either heat
or light for any of the places Of amuse-
ment aforesaid on any OF the Tuesdays
above specified. To the extent indicated
herein the regulation OF the United States
Fuel Administrator, dated January II.
1918 is hereby modified"
Confusion as to the status of laun-
dries also was cleared up by Admin
istrator Garfield. He previously had
ruled that as they were not manufac-
turing plants they were not affected by
the fve-day period. Today he ruled
definitely that they also would be ex-
empted on the successive Mondays.
A good deal of confusion exists
among Washington druggists as to just
how they are effected by the restric-
tions. The order provides that on the
ten Mondays. '.for the purpose Of SELL
ing drugs and medical supplies only.
stores may maintain necessary heat
throughout the day and evening" 1t
has been maintained by some that If
they may remain open at all they will
be privileged to sell whatever they
please. That is not the view of the
fuel administration. A store may re-
main open without heat and light and
sell whatever it has in stock. the fuel
Administration says. but If it avails
itself of an exemption to utilize heat
and light. it must conform to the re-
strictions laid down. and drug sores are
restricted to the sale of drugs and
medical supplies only"
Expected to Close Monday.
All stores in Washington. with the ex-
ception Of those individually exempted
will be expected to close on Monday. ac-
eording to statement issued today by
John L. Weaver, local fuel administrator,
through Charles ]. Columbus secretary OF
the Retail Merchants Association
t. that
stores might open on Monday, provided
they use only the amount Of heat needed
to prevent freezing the pipes. The big de-
partment stores. however, decided to re-
main close ceiling that the health OF
their emplG and customers would not
warrant remaining open without the reg
ular heat supply
Today's statement is an appeal to all
stores to follow the example of the de-
partment stores. in spite Of the fact that
they may remain open by using only the
minimum amount of heat. The state
ment by Mr.. Columbus reads:
II have been instructed by Fuel Adj
ministrator John J.. Weaver to supple
ment the statement Of yesterday with re-
spect to the stores to the Ell that all
stores, save those selling foodsfuffs, laun-
dries and those exempted individually
shall not open for business on Monday.
Wants Business to Cease.
while the national fuel administra
tors order doesn't make it unlawful 10,
: a store to open on a heatless and lghtIess
DIR. Garfield. the federal fuel administra
tor. that business in Washington should
cease on that date.
There shall be no deliveries of mer.
chandise into the homes on Sunday o,
Monday.
There will be no interference, how.
over. with the hauling of freight from
depots and yards to the stores, an6
merchants are urged TO arrange to have
their shipping departments open for the
reception Of freight on a minimum OF
from in the morning until in the
afternoon.
'"The discontinuance Of deliveries I.
due to the desire of the fuel admins.
traitor to conserve the use of gasoline
to the fullest extent, and merchants are
not only urged to comply with this re-
quest with respect to deliveries. but t.
likewise economize in the personal us.
of gasoline and to urge their friend!
to do likewise.
"As secretary Of the Retail Mer
chants Association. ! urge that all O.
the stores save those specifically ex
smptedbe closed on Monday"
} Nithdraws Appeal Efforts.
me1cD today dropped its efkorts 70 hav,