New-York tribune., 1918-01-09
"Non-Essential" Chiefs Agree
to Work with Fuel
Administration
ToGet Supplies After
War Needs Are Met
Drastic Methods To Be Ap-
piled to Those Who ]g-
more Federal Programme
staff Correspondence

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8.--~Fuel sup
plies for non-essental industries will
be curtailed according to "coal budget
plan formulated by the fuel admin
istration, it was announced to-day.
Conferences with twelve committees
representing non-war industries and
the resulting conservation agreements
negotiated by the food administration
have already brought estimated fuel
savings of about 100000 tons of coal.
The total savings to be effected by this
method, it is estimated, will be in the
neghborhood of 5O,000,000 tons.
More than one hundred "non-cssen-
tia]" industries will be required to cur
tail their fuel consumption, it is stated.
Representatives of these industries, in
conference with the fuel administra-
ton. will be made acquainted with
available fuel supplies and the amount
which can properly be allotted to their
use. Wherever possible an effort will
be made to get a voluntary reduction in
this allotment, it is stated.
The official statement of tho fuel
administration said:
"Committees representing the large
industries not engaged in war work,
moro than one hundred in all, will be
called into conference with the off
cials of the fuel administration They
VIII be shawn the amount Of coal avail
able for all purposes, the amount re-
qu'red for war purposes and domestic
consumers and the total curtailmcnt
n1 no of ,ol, l.
fected to satisfy these demands.
They will be asked on patriotic
grounds, as well as for their own fu-
turc interests. to volunteer in behalf
of their industry a reduction of the
Goa! consumption for the year 1918
They will be asked to show the fuel
administration the best method of ac.
complisning this curtailment. They
will also be asked to advise tho fuel
administration as to how to arrange
these restrictions so as to affect only
the less essential portions of their own
business, if possible.
when an agreement is thus reached
as to the quantity of coal to be con
ministration order will be issued
making this agreement effective as re-
CARDS the total industry involved.
"The voluntary annual saving shown
by the first dozen industries called into
conference promises to be between
100000 and 20,OOO,00O tons. The total
offering from all non-war industries
VIII be between 36,000.000 and 5O,O0O,-
600 tons for the year 1918.
1T is believed that the operation of
TINS plan OF voluntary conservation OH
the part of non-war industries will for
ever lay the ghost Of the cut Off the
non essential industries agitation.
which has been going on since the
united States entered the war, and au-
tomatically will balance the relation
between the production and consump-
'lon or coal aht- prevent any repetition
OF the present coal shortage.
at is not the least of the merits Of
this plan that it is simple. Perhaps its
greatest merit lies in the fact that
such restrictions on fuel consumption
as are absolutely necessary to keen the
budget balanced will be ARRANGED bv
the industries restricted and will be
volunteered by them. The fuel admin
'stration merely comes in at the end
with an order to mako the voluntary
curtailmcnt fully effective.
"Fuel needed in 1918 for army and
| navy purposes, fer munition works. for
crs and for factories working on war
material is scheduled in the budget for
100 per cent fulflment. With this fig
ure, and tho estimated production of
coal during 1918 as basis, a subtrac-
ton shows the amount of fuel left for
nonwar industries.
Reductions Will Vary
"The percentage OF reduction asked
OF the different industries by the fuel
adm instration will. OF course, vary
partly upon advice Of the leaders of
the industry as to what is practicable
and safe shrinkage. as compared with
the great business activity of 1917:
partly also it will vary with the char,
actcr of the business. IN proportion
as an industry contributes less to the
war of domestic necessities, it will
naturally increase its contribution OF
self limitation
ut will be seen that this plan, il
successful, will quickly solve the fuel
problem and will introduce new anc
valuable principle into the settlement
of MANY III f71cn1t war rrO