New-York tribune., 1918-02-11
Fuel Holiday
To Save Little
Coal To-day
Exemptions to Closing Orde,
Permit Many actories
to Open

the date on to-day's calendar as Work
less Monday or Exemption Day is
weighty problem on which local fuel
Administrators were struggling until
late hour last night. If the former, the
day is expected to be one of fuel saw
ing, whereas it will be but a day of
annoyance to the cty's workers if it
comes under the latter classification.
Numerous exceptions to the original
blanket voorhees, Monday order are re-
sponsible for the present ooupt as to
the value Of the day from the stand
point of fuel conservation. More than
100000 garment workers will continue
their duties under the exemptions
granted by DR.. Harry A. Garfield to
that trade, according 70 estimates made
yesterday
But that is not the most serious
aspect of the case. Various other
trades, notably the millinery trade, as
represented by the Millinery Chamber
Oh commerce, are convinced that they
should be exempted on the same hu-
manltarlan grounds that led to the ex-
1emptlon OF the garment workers. Mil
liners cannot afford to lose days pay
from their busy season, argue the mil
liners' representatives, any more than
the garment workers. Moreover. thew
see no reason why a hat shouldn't be
CLASSIFIED as a woman's garment and
come under the Garfield exemption rul-
ing without further discussion
Fear Others May Open
Because Of this difference of opinion
II is feared that numerous business
houses may continue operations to-
DAY on the theory that they come
under the list Of exempted trades, or
could not be punished for violating the
closing edict on the theory that there
was reasonable doubt"
Hundreds of loft buildings will be
heated IN order to permit the garment
workers to continue business and, be-
cause OF their activities, other bust
hesses dependent upon this industry
must oktinue in order to feed mate
rlals into these houses.
AS result of this complicated situa-
.lon IL was question whether much
1uei would be conserved because of to-
days Monday closing. Ordinarily it has
oeen estimated that half of the coal
oelng consumed in the city under fam
should be saved by the Monday conser-
walton day. But. with the numerous
exemptions that have been issued for
to-day, 1t is believed that less than one
tourth~.of ,that.4total., possibly scant
0UUO tons, might be saved IF this estl-
mate is correct. the heads of big indus
tries that are losing small fortunes be-
cause of the enforced shut down %
their plants. are expected to demand
general suspension of the weekly clos
ing plan.
More Coal Reaches City
FOR the first time since the comin.s
of the present mild weather the citv
began to feel the effect of a freer de-
livery of coal yesterday Slightly over
$4,000 tons Of fuel were landed in Man
haitian during the day, and it is con-
sldered likely that $4,000 tons NAV be
received to-day, which is a larger ouan-
tlty of anthracite than has been deliv-
cred to the city on any one day since
the present coal stringency set in.
Reorganization of the citys delivery
systems, the opening of all fuel and
freight terminals and sbunkers in city
easements for the receiving of coal are
expected to result in this maximum of
actual coal here by the end Of the
Workless day
The national fuel administration is
sued another statistical statement dur
ing the day, in which it is explained
that this nation has the largest per
capita annual consumption of coal in
the world. The coal consumption here
per adult is 5.62 tons, according to this
statement as against 3.S3 for the
United Kingdom and $50 for Belgium.
Although the United States has been
producing twice as much coal as the
next largest producer-the United
Kingdom figures are accepted as
an indication Of the opportunity for
fuel saving in this country.
1t is pointed out that both ENGLAND
and Germany had exported coal to the
West Indies and South America pre-
vlous to the war, but that the United
States now was called upon to supply
that demand. That was Just one Of
the reasons advanced in explanation of
the present SHORTAGE
WASHINGTON. Feb lO.-Thc East
Will observe tomorrow what fuel ad-
ministration officials tonight predict
ed would be its last l,catless Monday.
Already the closing order has been sus-
pended IN so far as it applies to eight
Southern states, and officials believe
the good weather Of the last few days
with its consequent Improvement in
railroad traffic conditions will make en-
forcemcnt unnecessary anywhere after
this week.
Time Extended