davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1918-01-04
D. c. COAL DEALERS
MUST POOL FUEL OR
GIVE UP INDUSTRY
Continued from First Page)

This morning he seized the coal and 1t
is ayaila BILE for public distribution.
As a further means of expediting the
delivery of coal the requirement of law
that every load Of coal must be weighed
hefore It leaves the yard IN to be set
a aside until the present crisis is passed.
There will be no formal order reyokfng
the law, for no one has authority to
issua such an order. The law will
merely be ignored. One of the great
eat obstacles to the prompt delivery of
coal from the emergency stock under
control of Administrator Weaver has
been the requirement that each load
shall be weighed
A. all the dumps where this coal is
stored there has been a congestion of
delivery due to long lines of loaded
waoons waiting their turns to be
weighed. Mr.. Weaver decided this
morning that 1t was time: to cut red
tame and get the coal out by guessing
At weights. The man whose family is
suffering from cold. he reasoned. will
mot complain because his ton is fifty
rounds short, If by reason of that
shortage he is able to get 1t delivered
half a day sooner. 1t is believed that
as a whole the weights Will average
themselves. and that neither the pup
lie. taken collectively, nor the dealers
will suffer any injustice.
Can Supply Domestic Neeos.
1t is believed the order cutting on
deliveries to commercial establish
ments. hotels, etc, will release sum
Gent equipment so that all domestic
needs can be supplied. II 1t does not
ali available wagons and trucks OF the
District government, including those OF
the ashes and garbage collection seIV-
ice, will be taken over and put TO oe-
livering coal.
Receipts Of coal for the twenty-four
hours ended yesterday morning dropped
to sixty-five cars, ten Of anthracite ana
fifty-fiye of bituminous. but for the
twenty-four hours ended this morning
there was very marked improve
ment and there is no uneasiness on the
mart of fuel administration officials.
either local or national. that there Is
danger again soon of there being an
actual shortage of coal in the city.
The scarcity of anthracite is likely to
continue for some little time, but belier
is expressed today that enough anthra-
cite is available now so that theTe heeo
be no actual suffering through lack OF
IT. provided there is fair distribution
and deliveries can be effected
Complaints of people who are unable
to get delivered coal they have ordered
and paid for, while others whose orders
were placed later with the same deal
ers are served, continue to pour into the
office of Mr. Weaver. A man whose wife
and two children are seriously Ill OBJ
tained an emergency order from the
fuel administration Monday for a haif
ton of coal, addressed to a dealer in
northwest Washington. The coal has
not vet been delivered. though the
deliveries to business houses and others
The man broke down and cried this
morning when he appealed to Mr..
weaver to help him.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
Girls to Farm in New England.

BOSTON. January 4.-College girls
and shop girls viii work side by side
on the farms of New England this year
under plan outlined at a conference
of the New England branch of the
Womans National Farm and Garden
Association today. The girls will be
organized into units under the leader
ship OF women trained In AGRICULTURAL
colleges. -
Evening star., 1918-01-04
Would Abolish Advisers.

Another war bill introduced today
by Senator McKellar of Tennessee, as
a result of the committees investiga-
ton of the system of Army supply pur-
chasing would abolish the advisory
committees of the Council Of National
Defense and prohibit civilians from
serving the government under the ex-
isting practice of 81 year. The bill
would amend the law creating the
council and permit the President to
a appoint one advisory commission of
seven members TO serve without COM
pensation.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
LOCAL OIL SUPPLY
DANGEROUSLY Low
Fuel Shortage Has Caused an
Unusual Demand for Kero-
sene and Heaters.
TANK CARS IN CONGESTION

With washIngton's supply OF oil
practically sold from local stores. a
new phase of the fuel shortage doomed
up today. The Standard Oil Company
today reported the demand for oil for
the last two weeks twice as great as
ever before and railroad congestion has
tied up shipments.
With only a short supply of oil on
hand. the Standard OIL Company. Half
and I streets southeast. through its
local representative. Inhn T. Walker.
has appealed to Commissioner Brown
low and federal agents to speed up the
movement o. oil tank cars on the road
to Washington from Baltimore.
Some of these tank cars were started
ten days ago. it was declared. and none
has arrived yet. Unless supplies come
from some source Immediately wash
ington may not only be handicapped by
q lack of oil for automobile trucks and
other necessities. but private homes
short of coal for weeks will lose this
source Of heating their houses.
Stove Stocks About Exhausted.
The shortage of oil and oil stoves to-
day added to the seriousness of the
fuel situation. aggravated by the freeZ-
ing of gas pipes In thousands OF Dis
trict homes.
THE demand on this company for oil
since the cold spell began is double
what 1t was month ago" declared
John r. Walker, local representative
of the Standard Oil interests.
People are coming to the plant TO get
oil in cans and buckets. and whatever
amount can be spared they are thank
full to have. The oil situation here is
just serious to those who use it as
the coal situation is to every home in
the city"
Apprehensive of coal shortages weeks
ago, Washington's public began to buy
| oil stoves. electric heaters and gas
| heaters. There was such an increased
demand that stocks OF oil stoves are
practically exhausted throughout the
| city.
Sold Out Oil Stoves Days Ago.
| The Arm of A. Eberly's Sons. one of
the largest heater dealers in the city,
reported today they had sold out all
| oil stoves ten days ago. and had only
a small gas heater left in the ware
house. Everything in the line of oil
heaters is sold.'' the firm reported.
| From this and other sources II was
| learned that more oil stoves can hardly
| be obtained this winter. because of the
| unusual demand throughout the coun-
| try for stoves to heat homes and can
| tonments.
A government order on the Standard
Oil Company months ago for several
| thousand stoves was placed to insure
heat in the camps and cantonments for
| troops in training.
Evening star., 1918-01-04

as now provided by law. Except with
the Presidents written assent. no at
tachment is to be levied by mesne
process" against property used by the
roads in performance of their common
carrier duties.
Provides for Punishment.
Section IL stipulates that every per-
son or corporation. whether carrier or
shipper. or any receiver who shall
violate or fail to observe
any Of the provisions of this law. shall
interfere with or impede the
possession, use, operation or controi OF
any railroad property, railroad or
transportation system taken over by
the President. or shall violate any
order or regulation for carrying out
the law, shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor and punishable, upon conVic-
tion, by a maximum fine of $4,000, or.
if person, by Imprisonment for not
more than two years or both
This peralizing section provides,
that each independent transaction shaii
constitute a separate offense
Federal criminal statutes. Is wei as
the state criminal statutes where ap-
plicable. shall apply to all officers.
agents and employees. Prosecutions
will be in federal district courts.
Section 13. the last, provides for the
indefinite continuance OF the law II
makes this brief general provision:
THE federal control Of transporta-
ton systems herein and heretofore
provided fer shall continue for and
during the period of the war and until
Congress shall thereafter order other
wise"
Evening star., 1918-01-04
December Circulation.

DistF1rt oY ToIWfntIa,
FLEMING NEWBoIsD. business mansv.r .,
THE EVENING and SUNDAY STAR doc ~, III
emnly swear that the actual number Of con'a.
Of the paper named sold and distributed dn.irs
the month Of December. A. d. 1917, was ~ 1ni
- 49,
Evening star., 1918-01-04
U. S. May Order improvements.

The President may also make or order
any road to make any additions and
improvements He may from this re-
volving fund advance to the road all or
any part of the expense of the addi-
tions and improvements so ordered and
constructed by the road or by the Presi-
dent.
These advances are to be charge
against the road and to bear interest
at such a rate and be payable on such
terms as the President may determine
SO that the United States may be fully
reimbursed for any sums advanced.
From the revolving fund the Presid ent
may expend whatever amount he NAV
deem necessary or desirable for pur-
chase. construction or utilization and
operation OF boats. barges. tugs and
other transportation facilities on the
inland and eoastwise waterways, and
may to operate these facilities create
or employ such agencies and enter into
such contracts and agreements as he
shall deem to be in the public interest
To provide funds for maturing obIiga-
tions or for other legal and proper ex-
penditures, or for reorganizins raiiroa ds
in reccivership, carriers may, during the
federal control period, issue such bonds
notes, equipment trust certificates. stock
and other forms OF securities, secured or
unsecured by mortgage. as the President
may approve as consistent with the pub
lie interest.
The same section authorizes the Presi-
dent to purchase for the United States
all or any part Of these securities at
prices not exceeding par. and to sell
ment it is desirable at prices not less
than their cost. Any sums available
from the revolving fund" may be used
for such purposes.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
MANY FROZEN PIPES
due TOLACk OF FUEL

Evidence of the increasing number
into the Offices of the Washington Gas
Light Company today from all sections
of the District in the reports of frozen
gas pipes and meters.
With two hundred men working to-
day the company appeared to be no
better off than it was yesterday. when
more than 1900 houses in Washington
were visited by gas experts and the
pipes and meters thawed out and
packed to prevent future freezing.
Says Condition Is Unprecedented.
Such condition never existed here
before" declared a company official to-
day. This Is real evidence taat there
are thousands of cold homes IN Wash
ington."
Officials pointed to the cases Of gas
pipes in the walls of houses that were
bound to be frozen solid as concrete
evidence that there are thou sands of
dwellings in Washington today with
out fire.
Never in former years was the num-
Der of reports of frozen wall pipes in
winter great enough to cause officials
alarm. It was said. Houses which no
longer run their furnaces because of
keep the gas pipes from freezing.
Ordinarily. officials explained, the
difficulty of frozen service pipes and
meters is quickly remedted. but where
the pipes in the wall of house are
frozen longer time is required for the
thawing-out process.
Distress Calls Daily.
Between twelve and thirteen hundred
cases are being attended to daily, ac-
cording to a statement by the gas
light company. The number of distress
reports is expected to be greater to-
morrow unless the weather moderates.
When gas service is suspended in
homes where there is no other source
of fuel 1t means the house must re-
main absolutely cold until coal arrives
or until gas filters succeed in thawing
out the pipes According to dealers
reports. hundreds of gas heaters are
being sold TO District homes.
Take Meals at Office.
The gas workers will take no rest
this evening. their evening meal being
served at the office of the company at
4I2 10th street northwest. Breakfast
also will be served there tomorrow
morning for those who work until late
in the night and sleep away from home,
or who report for early morning duty.
Many instances Of repeated freezings,
after the pipes had been thawed once,
were reported today.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
May Use Fuel Powers.

Section provides that the President
may execute any of the powers granted
him through whatever agencies he NAV
determine. and may fx reasonable com.
pensation for service.
Section 9 authorizes the President to
extend the federal worknen's compensa-
ton law to apply to railroad employees on
such terms and conditions as will give
due consideration to remedies available
under state compensation laws or other
wise.
ton to powers specifically prescribed, any
other and further powers necessary
Section directs that while the roads
are under federal control they should
be subject to liabilities ms common car
riers. that suits may be brought by and
against them and judgments rendered
Evening star., 1918-01-04
Coal Caught in Jams.

Twenty-eight cars of soft coal con-
signed to Washington were among sos
cars OF coal in jam at Brunswick,
Md, on January 1. Fifty-two cars of
hard coal. of which Washington is
sorely in need were held UP at the East
Side yard. Philadelphia. on January 1.
This coal was consigned to Baltimore.
Washington and points west.
Criticism of the railroads car equip
ment also is contained in the report.
Director General McAdoo today took
further steps for the relief of the coal
famine in New England by ordering
the distribution Of 500 coal cars to
mines along the lines of the eastern
railroads.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
MILLION PROFIT
IN SHIP DEALS
Seattle Company Sold to Gov
ernment and Took Con-
tracts, Probers Are Told.
YARD DELAYED IN BUILDING

Profits amounting to more than a mil
lion dollars were made by the Clnchfield
Navigation Company in deal involving
government shipbuikilng contracts. ac-
cording to testimony today before the
Senate commerce committee investigating
the shipbuilding program.
This Information was disclosed by Theo-
dore f. Ferris, chief constructor for the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. and by n
report by district officer OF the shipping
board at today's hearing.
The Ciinchfield Company. 1t was de-
clared. sold to the government four
ships under construction for the COM
pany In the yards of the Sloane Ship
Yard Corporation of Seattle. making a
profit of $4,000 and later obtained for
the Sloane Corporation contracts for
twelve more ships. on which II made
per cent profit.
Dissatisfaction Expressed.
Senators questioned Mr. Ferris close
ly as TO the reason for letting con-
tracts for the twelve ships to the
Clinchfieid corporation. an owner but
not a builder of ships. and expressed
dissatisfa ction over a deal by which
the corporation sold TO the govern
Imert the four ships at a price SO much
higher than II was paying for thctr
construction.
MIR. Ferris declared re knew nothing
of the financial arrangements. but ad-
mitted recommending the Clinchfeld
corporation to Gen. Goethals in n let
ter. The committee asked that the let
ter be produced tomorrow.
Delay Holding Up Ships.
Delay in constructing the government
shipyard at Hog Island, Pa. to be
operated by the American International
Corporation, will make it almost i'm
possible 10 get ships delivered on
schedule time. Mr.. Ferris yesterday after
noon told the committee.
The other two fabricating plants
one at Newark Bay and the other at
Chester, Pa.--shou1d be able to produce
ships at fast as their contracts call
for. Mr.. Ferris said. The shipbuilding
program generally. he said. is proceed
ing about as well as might have been
expected. Delays in wooden eonstruc-
tion he blamed on a shortage of the
proper timber sizes
| Changes in Wooden Ship Designs
/ Mr.. Ferris told of changes made in the
design for wooden ships. He declared they
were made with his approval but not at
/ his suggestion. He did not think they
i'were necessary. he said. but ne approved
| them because of the demand from many
quarters.
The American International Corpora
TONS contracts call for the first deliveries
| in September 1918. The company will do
well, Mr.. Ferris said. If it delivers any
ships at all during the year. Once IT has
got start. however. ships will be pro-
duced rapidly. he said.
Mr.. Ferris criticised the shipping boards
decision to let contracts for fitting out
wooden ships 10 a large number of con-
Germs. and declared that all should be
| fitted out with engines and other equip
ment at one or two places each on the
west coast, in the east and in the south.
That, he said. would speed up the work.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
Special Committee Reports.

After a meeting lasting several hours
today. the special committee named
yesterday by Hale Holden to decide on
the action they deem necessary to re-
lieve congestion in local freight yards
completed its report.
A rough draft of the report was i'm
mediately submitted to Mr.. Holden.
who was designated by the director
general of railroads several days ago
\ tion in the District. Mr.. Holden wab in
another conference at noon and prob
ably will not be able to consider the
committees recommendations until
later in the day.
To Use Cid Cars.
Steps were taken today by Director
General McAdoo to restore to service
the thousands Of broken-down freight
cars and locomotives which Interstate
Commerce Commission inspectors have
discovered on sidings and in shops
Throughout the east. In many cases
the lack Of repairs local railway off,
cials were instructed to make special
efforts to put the cars and locomotives
in working order promptly to relieve
the congestion, which Is slowly being
remedied under the government opera
fion.
Working under the direction of In
terstate Commerce Commissioner c. C.
McChord. a corps of inspectors has
found that scores of locomotives. the
lack Of which is largely responsible for
the slow movement of freight in the
ing the last few days through negli-
gence and improper attention. Short
age of repairmen and machinists was
reported from many localities.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
Co-Ordinates All Bureaus.

'.!t co-ordinates all of the bureaus, cuts
red tape. does away with useless decisions
which had tended only to hamper direct
action, and gets to the heart of the whole
situation. l believe II Congress can see
its way to the enactment Of this measure.
and the proper man is placed at the head
of the department of munitions, America
will soon be occupying its proper place
at the battle front. Ii will be noted that
the measure is only in force during the
continuance OF the war, which brings IL
into existence"
Evening star., 1918-01-04
PUBLIC ASKED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR RELIEF OF THE SUFFERING

joint committee of the Associated Charities and the
Citizens Relief Association appeals earnestly for funds The needs
Will
tibutors this do once? Will not
older
help prevention of distress in the Dis
trict of Columbia?
scarcity of fuel and prices have
the both these organizations.
either to Charity to Howard s.
Reside, treas 9z3 II street northwest
the Associated Charities and
Relief Association
MILTON
Finance Committee
Evening star., 1918-01-04

the operation of barges from New Jer-
sey points to New York city.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
MUNITIONS HEAD
PROVIDED IN BILL
Senator Chamberlain Intro
duces Measure Creating An
other Cabinet Member.

department of munitions under a
new cabinet head known 1as the Secre-
tary of Munitions, is proposed in a bill
introduced today by Chairman Cham-
berIain of the Senate military commit
tee as a result of his investigation Of
war operations.
The new department would operate
during the war and for one year there
after. The bill has the backing OF the
Senate committee and Will be strongly
pressed. The proposed Secretary of
Munitions would have power under the
Presidents direction to control arms,
ammunition. food, clothing, equipment.
tentage and other shelter, means OF
transportation and any other materials
which the President shall designate as
munitions of war.
Government bureaus. agencies and
funds necessary to munitions admins
tration would be transferred to the new
which contemplates control
of naval as well as Army affairs
Intention of the Bill.
THE bill is intended to increase and
expedite the supply of munitions OF
war" said Senator Chamberlain. 'One
great trouble with the war establish
ment as disclosed by the pending in
has been a lack Of co-ordi-
alton and the seeming impossibility
of getting rid of circuitous methods of
dong business. Until there can be CO.
ord ination and methods more direct the
United States will be groping in the
dark for many months before we can
place ourselves in proper fighting trim.
This measure places all Jurisdiction
over munitions of war, which is defined at
length In the bill and covering every
thing in one person. known as the Sec
retary of Munitions. subject to the di-
rectinn of cniIrse of the President.
Evening star., 1918-01-04
ROADS, income TO
RULE COMPENSATION
Administration Bill Bases Re-
turns on Revenue of Last
Three Years.

| The administration bill for govern
ing operation of the railroads, intro
duced in House and Senate today, pro-
poses that the government shall pay
compensation at an annual rate as near
as possible to the net operating in
come for the three years ended June 80,
I1e17.
The bill also would appropriate $780,
600. 600 to be used as a revolving fund"
with the excess earnings of the roads
for the operation Of the law.
The bill is entitled "A bill to provide
for operation of transportation sys-
TENS while under federal control. for
the just compensation of their owners
and for other purposes"
The President is authorized in section
to agree with and guarantee to the
roads that during the federal control
they shall receive as just compensation
an income at an annual rate equivalent
as nearly as may be to the roads average
three years ending June 80. 1917.
This the bill officially calls the STAN
dard return. The net railway operating
income is to be computed from the
returns to the Interstate Commerce
Commission, excluding debts and Gre
dts, arriving from the accounts which
are called in the monthly Interstate
Commerce Commission returns Leased
Road Rents and Miscellaneous Rents"
U. S. to Get Excess.
No federal taxes in excess of taxes as
sessed during the year ending June 80.
1917. are to be charged against the rev.
enue in computing this standard return.
Any net railway operating income in
excess Of the standard return Is to be
the property of the United States. The
amount of the standard return accruing
during the three-year period is to be
determined by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. whose certificate as to the
amount is to be taken final and con-
elusive for the purpose of the agreement
and guaranty.
During the federal control adequate
depreciation and maintenance of the
properties of the roads will be included
as part of the operating expenses or
provided through reserve fund. in ac-
cordance with principles and rules
which the President will determine.
Section two of the bill provides that
If no such agreement is made with a
road, the President may nevertheless
pay or cause to be paid to any railroad,
while under federal control. not exceed
ing 80 per cent of the standard return.
Legal right OF the railroad to prosecute
its claim for the balance before the
Court of Claims is provided for, and
any amount found due above the
amount that had been paid will bear in
terest at per cent year and any ex-
cess amount paid by the government
will be recoverable by the government
with 6 per cent interest.