New-York tribune., 1918-01-17

avcidablc. it seems as though all pro
duction which IS directly concerned
with the war efforts Of The nation should
have at least been continued unintcr-
ruptcd.'
WILLIAM A. CAMP, president of the
New York Fruit Exchange: II believe
that fruit and produce dealers arc cH-
empted under the ruling. Should the
produce and fruit dealers be affected it
would work great hardship upon them.
The fruit and vegetables now lying III
the markets and on their way to the
merchants would perish and cause mill
ions Of dollars of loss. | am of the
opinion that we should have been ad
vised of such step in order to give us
an opportunity to clear the markets.
The produce and fruit dealers use little
coal, anyway AS soon as the exchange
receives official notice of this order a
meeting will be called.
ALFRED f. SMITH. President of the
Board of Aldermen: IL have, Of course,
no first hand knowledge of conditions
that would make such Il step necessary.
But | do feel that the Federal govern
mcnt would not undertake it hastily.
It mus have had Il very good reason
GEORGE L. RUPPERT: "rhe brew
cries Will certainly carry out any rcgu-
lation which the government deems tit
20 prescribe. However, it strikes me as
a little unfortunate that the brewers
were not given an opportunity to pre-
sent their scheme for fuel conservation
before any regulation was settled upon.
"The brewers committee on fuel had
in mind plan whereby the brcweries
wore to discontinue q certain number
of days each week. This would save
coal and also avoid to some extent the
great loss and possi iblc disaster which
too long closing might cause to some
brewerics and their employees. 1t is
our intention to meet with the fuel
conservation commission o-morrow and
arrange a plan for coal saving.
"I am still hopeful that the govern
ment will find it eypedient and advan-
tsgeous to adopt orr plan.
WILLIAM X. CORWlNE, secretary
Of the National Association OF Cloth
ing Manufacturers: "The plan as re-
ported from Washington, il it is put
in operation. is going to cause an end
less amount OF complication, and in
the laying off of employees. Certainly
everything connected with war indus
tries ought to be speeded to the full
est extent. even if it be at the expense
OF non essentials.
HENRY r. TOWNE. chairman Of the
board Of directors, Yale & Townc Man
ufacturing Company: "It is the duty
Of every good citizen to respond to the
government, but it would be useless to
conceal that this order Of the fuel ad-
,,inistration will have d dislocating cf-
fect upon all industry. People are ell
(itled to know why such an order has
been found necessary. Otherwise it will
lie difficult to believe that there has
rot been bungling and procrastination
al Washington"
SAMUEL W. REYBURN, president Of
Lord & Taylor: ain view of the opti-
mstlc reports that have been current
OF late. the fuel administration or
der comes with great shock. 1t is
more serious when one considers that
the order comes from a man of Dr.
Gariiclds calibrc. who realizes fully
what effect 1t viii have; not only on in
Gustry, but on the workgingmen of the
country. The saving Of coal in the
case of department stores will be very
slight. We shall have to maintain heat
sufficient to protect our water pipes
and our fire protection SYSTEM We
would only need slightly more to keep
the store warm enough to keep open
tor business.
LOUIS STEWART. President James
McCreery & Co.: "The department
stores viii support the administration.
but think that a compromise might
haVc been effected whereby we could
have been allowed to keep open short
hour: Say from 10 a. m. to p. N.
daily"
, JESSE ISIDOR STRAUS, president