Evening star., 1918-01-17
ANGRY SENATE DISCUSSES
FWE-DAY SUSPENSION
OF GARFIELD ORDER

Aroused to pitch of excitement rare
" exhibited In that staid body, the SEN
ate today discussed a resolution de-
mandtng that DR.. Harry A. Garfield,
fuel administrator, suspend for i've
days the operation of his order prohibit.
ing temporarily the use Of coal in the
industries Of the country.
At the same time Senator Hitchcock,
author Of the resolution, said on the
floor Of the Senate that a war cabinet
to coordinate and control all war prep
arations would be recommended by the
Senate military affairs committee to-
morrow or next day. He declared that
mad such cabinet been in existence
the order Of DR.. Garfield would not
have been issued; that the need of such
an order. il such need really exists.
would not have been felt
Would Control All Activities.
The war cabinet, it is understood. will
consist Of five members, including the
Secretary Of War and the Secretary of
the Navy. This body is not ONLY to
constitute central purchasing agency
but Is to control absolutely all govern
mental activities in connection with
the preparation for the prosecution of
the war.
shall be final, organized to co-ordi-
nate activities and to prevent dupu-
cation OF efforts and to get action"
Text Of Resolution.
Senator Hitchcock's resolution deal.
ing with the fuel administrators coal
order is as follows:
"That the fuel c0mmissiOner Of the
United states be requested to delay
Tor nve days the order auspendine
the operation of Industrial plants In
portions of the United States. i'm or
der that protest may be heard. in
yestigation made and Information
presented.o
Senator Gallinger Of New Hampshire.
the republican leader, presented SINH
lar resolution.
The Indignation which the order of
DR.. Garfield has aroused made itself
manifest as soon as the Senate met to-
day. In little groups the senators on
both sides of the chamber discussed the
situation.
| ment of the fuel order was introduced
! in the .1ouse by Representative Smith
democrat. of New York. The resolution
declares that cit is the sense of Con-
| gress that the order Of the fuel ad-
m1nistrator is unnecessary and that an
efficient movement Of cars and ships and
full operation of coal mines will oh
viate the need of shutting down of the
inoustfl lai machinery or the country and
meet the need of the present situa-
ton"
Gallinger Resolution.
Senator Gallinger's resolution fol-
| lows:
Whereas. through the newsnaner
press it has been brought to the at.
tention OF Congress and the country
| that an order has been issued by the
fuel administrator providing for the clos
ing down OF large proportion of our In
Whereas, on information ALREADY
received 1t would seem to be a serious
| doubt whether such order would NOT
| prove highly detrimental to both the
i industrial and labor interests Of the
United States. therefore be it
Resolved. That it Is the sense of +h.
Senate that such order should he
\ suspended until thorough inyest;pn o.
tion shall be made as to the necessity
for the proposed action"
| The resolution by Senator Galltnpar
was prepared after conference with eha
republican leaders who were de+ars ere
mined to prevent, II possible. havin.
| the coal order go into effect.
Hitchcock Statement.
| 1T do not presume to say the fuet .a
ministrator has made a mistake" 90 ~
Senator Hitchcock, In offering his reso.
luton.
"All I ask is that sufficient tina ~
given before the order aces into effeci
to permit the country to be heard. The
thing he did has been called a nationaj
calamity.
'aThe fuel administration may be CON-
tfronted with serious situation in tryina
to get coal for the ships We must send
1Continued. on sscond FagS.l -