New-York tribune., 1918-02-02
and McAdoo Con-
fer on Suspension Of
Rigid Fuel Order
Railroad Embargo to
Accomplish Purpose
Final Decision To Be
Reached After Meeting
Next Tuesday

iIrammc after its enforcement next
IIluonday was predicted tonight at the
,lose OF a prolonged conference be-
Almeeu Fuel Administrator Garfield and
Hjnrector General McAdoo.
E1 A final decision was not reached and
lk further conference Will be held Tues
n iay. but there was every indication
| shat both officials. as we'll as President
|lElson, who has been consulted, feel
That the purpose sought can be accom-
Iklished from now on by continuance of
Y EIsrefercntial coal transportation and
n distribution and by railroad embargoes
| row in force.
III At the end of the conference tonight
| she following statement was issued
Ilcintly 1y Dr.. Garfield and MI Nc
Adoc:
"We have had under consideration
the question OF suspending after
II Monday next the Monday closing or
Il der. We have not reached final
II conclusion about it. We shall have
another conference on Tuesday next,
! when the results OF the Monday clos
ings and Of the railroad ombargoes
up to shat time can be fully consid-
II cred, and shall be able to make an
announcement next week as to
Il whether or not suspension Of the
II Monday closing order may be made"
Il Ten hoatlcss Mondays were decreed
,fey the fuel administration on January
u ~, as a measure to save coal and to
! relieve railroad transportation. Next
Il Monday VIII be the third observed. The
/ Monday holidays were preceded by a
| ive-day industrial shutdown, at the
close OF which the Eastern railroads on
Inc order Of Director General McAdoo
put OH embargoes against the move
ment of general freight
II Brought Many Complaints
The Monday closing has brought the
most vigorous opposition from COM
mercal interests. particularly the big
department stores. The small stores,
TOO, have opposed it. as have the own
ers Of Office buildings. Theatres sue
eeeded IN having the day as applied to
them changed to Tuesday.
1t was stated officially tonight that
the reason final decision was not
reached was because complete reports
u mad not as yet been received showing
I the exact results of the five-day clos
Ing and the effects of operation of the
I embargoes to date. Both Mr.. McAdot
] snd Dr. Garfield are Of the opinion
i hoy ever. it was stated. that, since the
lportation. ombargoes viii bring results
without continuance of the Monday
slosngs. Nine days enforcement OF
the cmbargoes. 1T is held. has i'm
proved the situation as much as woulc
have an observance Of nine heatless
Mondays. although bad weather condi-
lions hay" slowed up coal movement
TIC fuel administration preferen-
hal order calling for the distribution
lof coal first to householders. ships
public institutions and favored war in
dustres will stand. as we'll as will
The railroad adm nstration's order Civ
ing preferential rail movement to coal
and food These two orders. it is de-
:lared viii guarantee coal to consum-
srs which the government is deter
mined to sec supplied, although the
less essential Industries are expected
10 suffer and some may have to close
II down.
II Official make no secret of the fact
II that had rail embargoes been declared
Il n the first place the industrial clos
"A ng order would not have been issued
n me embargoes were placed at the
argent request of the fuel administra-
non, which contended that the effects of
NJ INC Closing order would be nullitied
Il w weather conditions unless the step
sere taken.
4 E. officials of the railroad adminstra-
non believe return Of good weather
II ,ystem. and that this will solve the
II ,uel problem. They say that the Mon
II aay closing has Gisorganized industrial
\ lctlvities and actually has hampered
'aliroad operation by making it impos-
hole to load and unload cars promptly
Assurance Is Necessary
/ Fuel Administrator Garfield has not
,een ready to revoke the closing order
sespite the great amount of pressure
'fought by commercial interests, until
/ 'ssurcd that the embargoes would be
II .vhtlnued. Since he now has this as.
,usance as a result of the conference
,o.day he is prepared to rescind the
,auer II reports from state fuel admin
ssratorS show that the closing already
,aeeted had served its purposes He
sss determined that there shall be nc
atther notifications or general ex-
.mptlons, but that everything shall be
Wv on an equal footing if any change
Msgazines and other periodical pub
,ba ,b,a'1ono T were. however, exempted by
me fuel Administrator tonight from
'r.,auon .ra of the Monday closing order
I me complications both in the pub
~ s1he Of magazines and the handling
n sne great volume Of mail matter at
%s postoffices." an announcement said
hrr;s.e especially potent arguments in
Using about this decision"
h .he big department stores sought to
sbs bs ihe orders changed to permit all
# ho.pS 70 remain open six or seven
stois SIX days week. but the small
eat;es opposed that kind of mordit
HI barS on the ground that "A large
M OF their trade is carried on early
she morning and late in the day.
hsJ wanted special arrangements