Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1918-02-14

were within the operation of the order
after Mr.. Garfield had been forced tc
proclaim to the world and 30 to the
vtgilant enemy and his spies in this
country that our transports were unable
| to proceed, for lack Of coal, on theil
voyages carrying war materials and
supplies to our allies and boys in France
the senator replied to MIR. Green's te1e.
gram, and, as given to the newspapers
for publication, after referring to the
ruling exempttng plants operated by ny
dro-electricity from the operation Of
the order, proceeded to volunteer the
opinion that the order as applied to
any consumer of coal was Illegal. He
said:
"'The order was made under the au-
| thority supposed to be given by section
IS of the food and fuel control bill. It
Is the opinion of lawyers here, in which
concur, that the section gives no con-
troll of the use of coal in the hands
Of consumers, but only the production,
distribution and sale of it,
What is the meaning of this attack
upon the legality of the presidents or
der? Certainly it could not have been
intended to lend the great name and
reputation of the senator to a sugges-
ton that the order be not complied with
or attacked in the courts? Such a course
could only result in thousands freezing,
in further congestion of traffic and our
transports continuing to remain useless,
shutting off the carrying of supplies to
our troops abroad, while the senate de-
bated, lawyers quibbled and the slow
course of litigation proceeded.
I'VE would impute no improper motive
to the distinguished senator, but it is
submitted to the Judgment of a candid
and patriotic people whether his action
in the premises was encouraging to the
president or helpful to the war prepara-
tons of the administration.
Now a word as to the legality of the
order. We would not diminish the re-
spect usually accorded the opinion of the
distinguished senator, but certainly the
telegram sent by him could not have
been written with the provisions of the
Even section %, referred to in his
opinion, provides:
That the president of the United
States shall be and he is hereby author
lied and empowered whenever and wher- |
ever in his judgment necessary for the
efficient prosecution of the war to fix
the price of coal and coke whenever and
for the regulation of and to regulate the |
method of production, sale, shipment,
apportonment or storage
thereof among dealers and consumers |
domestic or foreign
But even if he misconceiVed the plain |
provisions of section % he certainly did
not take into consideration the spirit |
and intention of the act manifested by
its title, set out above, and also clearly
stated in section /, as follows:
Section /: That by reason of the
existence of state of war it is es-
sential to the national security and
defense for the successful prosecu-
ton of the war and for the support
and maintenance of the army and
navy to assure an adequate supply
and equitable distribution, and to
facilitate the movement of foods,
feeds, fuel, including fuel oil and
natural gas hereafter in this
act called necessaries; to prevent To-
cally or generally scarcity, monopo-
lization, boarding, injurious specu-
lation, manipulation and private con-
trolls affecting such supply, distribu-
ton and movement; and to establish
and maintain government control of
such necessities during the war