The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-01-18
RESCTND ORDERS TO CLOSE MANY
 LOCAL PLANTS

(Continued From Page One.) sential to obtaining the uninterrupted flow of food"
 Later in the day it was indicated at the fuel administration that the additional list of exempted industries would not be made public on the ground that those industries not in cluded would demand exemption; that general dissatisfaction would develop; and that it would be harder to en- force the closing order.
 Manufacturers today were puz- zled by Washington telegram which stated that "all the munition plants'' will bs permitted to operate and would not be affected by the five-day closing order. The manufacturers wanted to know what constituted a munition plant.
 ''Is factory which is making ma terial of any kind for the prosecution of the war, whether it be boxes for cartridges or clothes for soldiers a munition factory?"
 Carl F. Siemon, the head of the local fuel board confessed he didn't know and admitted he was at sea on AtdAy 16dluT6S Ol the OT06r,
 This morning, as per his instruc- tons from Fuel Commissioner Stor- row, he notified the Locomobile plant and other factories that they were violating the order. Immediately the Locomobile factory when called upon by The Times issued the following statement:
 When we learned of Dr. Gar
 fields order that all industries
 were ordered closed for five days
 this company took the same stand
 as did other misunderstanding con- cernS in this city. We notified
 our force of suspension of work
 for five days. Later, the govern
 ment inspector, Captain Joseph Thompson, at our plant. got into communication with his depart
 ment at Washington, and in reply he received positive instructions that the Dococomobile Company was eo continue work. Capt. Thompson then notified our office of his instructions to
 us that we are Go continue operaa
 tions on all WAT work. 'Tt is upon that basis that we 1 havo ordered our men to report for work as usual, and that is where we now stand" ] Siemon, however, stated that he was ' instructed by Sorrow in Boston to close all shops. The shop officials told Siemon they had been given per- mission by the government at Wash i ington to keep open, and they were sorry but they would have to ignore his order. Siemon then wired to -Storrow asking the latter what means should be taken to enforce the order. Up to press hour Siemon had received no answer.
 I.aundries were running all day. when asked if they had been exempted Siemon said ''No, they have no right to run" He then read a telegram from Storrow, instructing him to en- force the order as published. The superintendent at the Crawford laun- dry when asked by The Times to ex- plain why the order was ignored said they had opened on notice from the State LaundererS association, which, he said, had obtained permission for all launderies in the state from Ad- ministrator Russell
 The ManuIacturerS aSSOcldtlOn call , ed 9 meeting of its executive board to consider further the order and to . offer whatever aid possible to it's . members. c. E. Bilton would make no statement this morning.
 Among the large factories closed to-
 day are: The American Graphophone Co.,, Bilton Machine Tool Co.,, Siemor
 Hard Rubber Co.,, Warner Brothers . Co.,, Birdsey-S -Somers Co.,, Bryant Elec- tric Co.,, Ashcroft Manufacturing Co., Bridgeport Hardware Co.,, Bridgeport , Malleable Iron Works, Crane Go.
 American Chain Co.,, Electric Cable : Co.,. Singer Manufacturing Co.,, Salts
 Textile Co.,, Bridgeport Paper Box Co. a Burns -Bassick Go. and Bridgeport . Crucible Go.
 . All the named plants are doing some
 work on government supplies. Score! . of smaller plants, working on sub- con.
 tracts from the munitions shops closed
 tut they will resume operations undei
 the amended order.
 The Bridgeport Paper Box O. : turning out paper boxes for the Rem