The Washington times., 1918-01-17
CAPITAL SUFFERS
LESS THAN OTHER
C|T|ESFROM ORDER
IContinued from First PaEeO

1
turing Industries, and not to the thea
| ters, stores. offices, and other COM
mercIaI and business concerns.
Federal Fuel Administrator John L.
Weaver would make no statement to-
day regarding the order, either with
respect TO its Interpretation as TO
application in Washington or regard
| ing its enforcement He has not yet
received an official copy OF the order.
and in the meantime will make no
/ statement.
| Many Unique Problems.
| Washington presents many unique
problems in enforcement of the order.
Aces are exempted. as are physicians
and dentists Offices. those OF banks
and trust companies, and charitable
institutions. Practically every big
building in Washington, with the eX-
ception OF the hotels, houses such Of
Aces. The hotels are not affected.
The Washington Steel and Ordnance
Company plant will have to be closed
down. as will all OF the other big in
dustrial plants in Washington. in
cluding the manufacturing plants
| along water street in Georgetown,
which are using steam power. The
I bAb eho gObOihH VI
the city, except those handling foods,
must either close or do business in
cold buildings.
G. p. o. to Stay Open.
The Government Printing Offce and
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing, the two biggest Industrial plants
in the city, as Government institu-
tions. will not be affected.
Just what is to be done with the
great office building structures of the
city has not been determined. 1t
seems apparent on the face OF the
order that hres must be kept going to
heat the Government offices, banks,
and trust companies. physicians and
dentists offices which every one of
them house. 1t Is possible that only
enough steam will be kept up to heat
the excepted offices. however, and
that the ones not excepted will be
cold.
There is nothing in the order to
prohibit the heating of the school
buildings of the city. both public and
private. during the nve coal-saving
days or on the Monday holidays. and
nothing to prohibit the heating OF the
churches and the Sunday tabernacle.
The order prohibits the furnishing
OF coal TO consumers not enumerated
as In the excepted class until after
those given priority are supplied.
Public schools, being Government In
stitutions, are excepted from the pro-
hibition against delivery. Private
schools and churches are not, how
ever.
Ne COaI Fer Stores.
None OF the big department stores
In Washington can get coal during
the hve-day prohibitive period. and
they cannot be heated Mondays, ex-
cept insofar as is necessary to pre-
vent damage from fire or freezing.
In other words, the department
store fires can be banked to keep
temperature above the freezing point,
and the stores can keep right on do
ing business in this temperature.
Bowling alleys, billiard halls. dance
halls. movies, and theaters can also
60 ahead IL their patrons are willing
to stand temperature just warm
enough TO stop the freezing OF water
pipes or IRE sprinkler systems.
Bowling alleys, billiard halls, and
dance halls need but little heat. Man
ayers are planning heatless dances
and heatless days and night for
bowling and other amusements where
physical exercise furnishes plenty OF
bodily heat anyway.
May Have HeatIesH shows.
Many motion picture houses are
going to invite their patrons to
''heatless shows" where they can
wear overcoats, but no hats.
The "shut-down" period will do
Il
coal in Washington. 1t will have no
effect upon the anthracite supply,
which has been the principal cause
of concern. It will. however. in
crease the stock for the two public
utility companies. operating the
street car and electric power con-
Germs. The gas company already has
large stock of coal for gas-makinE
purposes.
II Is expressly provided in the order
that stores may maintain heat until
IL o'clock noon for the purpose of
selling food only, and that drug stores
may maintain heat throughout the
day and evening.
May Issue Special Orders.
Federal Fuel Administrator John l..
Weaver 70 authorized to issue orders
on special applications for relief,
where necessary. to prevent injury to
health or destruction OF or injury to
property by fire or freezing.
Under this provision department
stores, thesters. office buildings which
are prohibited from getting a supply
of coal during tho next five days,
may get a special dlspensation for u
sufficient quantity to keep fires
banked so that water pipes, fire
sprinkler systems or other appurten-
ances will not be damaged. and so
that radiators will not freeze and
crack.
In most cases II Is up to managers
OF business concerns affected "a. de
termine the course to be pursued by
them with respect to business during
the prohibitive periods.
Manufacturing plants using great
quantities OF coal, OF which there are
few in Washington, are left no choice.
! however, as the order specially shuts
them down.
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