New-York tribune., 1918-01-18
Conuress to Garfield's order

reported that he was not satisfied with
the explanation.
Renewal with probably increased in
tcnsity of Congressional criticism to-
morrow is expected, although after
failing to secure action on his rcsolu
ton by the House, Representative Gill
lett said it "was n closed incident"
News of tho agitation evidently got
to the ears OF the Administration lead
crs. because Garfield hurried to the
Capitol. Senator Hitchcock. Democrat.
a little later introduced his resolution
to suspend the fuel order for five days.
III do not presume to say the fuel
administrator has made a mistakc.'
said Senator Hitchcock. "All | ask is
that sufficient time be given before
the order goes into effect to permit
the country to be heard
Senator Hitchcock was Interrupted
by Senator Nardaman. OF the sub-com-
mittce investigating the coal situation.
who said the committee had n mass OF
evidence it would report very soon
and if a postporemcnt was effected the
Senate would have the benefit Of that.
IL regard this order as Il calamity"
declared Senator Nardaman.
Senator Calder. Of New York, Rcpub-
lican, supporting the Hitchcock rcsolu
tion cited how a shipouildcr, protesting
yard had enough coal to run for three
weeks, but would have to suspend to-
morrow if the order goes into effect.
II SUBMIT" said Mr. Calder, "that
what VIC need in this nation, in many
of the commissions, arc men with bust
ness training who will plan in advance
and coordinate their work"
Senator Calder said one cause Of the
shortage was advice of the Fuel Admin
istrator last summer to householdcrs
and others against buying advance sup
plies and stating that the shortage was
psychological and that summer buying
would be deemed boarding.
81 cannot speak too strongly for this
resolution" said Senator Weeks, Re
publican, of Massachusetts. "l had a tel
cphonc conversation with n manufac-
urer, this morning who said the order
means losing $1,000, 900 products of his
company"
Senator Reed asked the Senate to
postpone action on the Hitchcock rcso-
luton Until his committee had heard
DR.. Garfield.
II think the best thing we could do
would be to pass This resolution and
debate it afterward." said Senator
der as a calamity" declared Senator
Pomercnc, Democrat. 81 feel there
was no necessity for it at the present
time"
While DR.. Garfield was being exam
med by the Senate Coal Committee, the
Senate agreed to postpone debate.
ut is due to Dr. Garfield to state
said Senator Reed in beginning wha.
he termed "fair cpitome" OF the fuc,
administrators statements to the sub
committee, that he came Immediately
Il
manner answered the committees in
QulrlcS.
"At o'clock Tonight" Senator Reed
said, Factories begin closing and en-
ploycs don't know if they are to work
tomorrow or not. hope We have not
at least deprived ourselves of the
right Of petition, of request, and that
seems to be about as far as this reso-
luton goes"
He yielded the floor after speaking
a little more than an hour.
Opposes Resolution
Senator Jones, of New Mexico, spoke
against the resolution, which, he said
was a proposal to ask the President
to suspend an order given under the
power conferred on him for the prose
cutlOn Of the war.
"The fuel administrator and the
resident, VINO Slan0S back OF
him." interrupted Senator Hitchcock,
''have the power to commander coal
for vessels, and it ought to have been
done weeks ago"
A joint resolution to prevent en-
'orcement Of the fuel order was IN
troduced in the House by Representa-
tive Smith, of New York The resolu-
ton declares that cit is the sense Of
Congress that the order Of the Fuel
administrator is unnecessary. and that
an efficient movement of cars and