New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
\HE coal situation last week passed
beyond the stage of domestic in

beyond the stage of domestic in
convenience and suffering and
local disorganization of traffic and indus
try, attaining the status of national
calamity that is even worldwide in its eff
fects, as it touches the supply of food and
munitions for Europe.
DIR. Garfield, after a conference with
the President and Secretaries Daniels
and Baker, issued an order of unparal-
Ieled scope and Importance, shutting down
nearly all industries east of the Missis-
slppl for five days, beginning last Friday,
and for The nine following Mondays The
order allowed the distribution of coal to
y preferential list in the following order
| Cd Railroads-(2) household consumers.
| CD hospitals-(D charitable institutions
60 army and navy cantonments-(6) public
utilities, telephone and telegraph plants
! CD strictly government enterprises, except
ing factories and plants working on govern
ment contracts s-(8) public buildings end
necessary government, state and municipal
leauirements-(9) factories producing per-
shabe foods and foods for immediate con-
sumption.
Further exceptions were made in favor
Of plants that, from their nature require
continuous operation to avoid serious in
jury; newspapers are allowed to continue
but must appear on 'holday" basis on
the prohibited days. Practically all other
consumers are cut off-including the thea
tres and other places Of amusement, and
churches.
1t is claimed that 3OOOO,OOO tons of coal
can thus be saved and the congestion of
the railroads ended.
A great deal Of confusion followed the
issuing of the Garfield order. A complete
copy Of the order was not at once issued
nor did instructions as to how the order
should be interpreted accompany the first
draft.
Protests began Immediately to pour into
the White House and Congress. Business
men all over the country were aroused.
In the Senate a resolution was introduced
by Senator Hitchcock Democrat, request
ing the Fuel Administration to suspend
the order for five days. A few moments
prior to the passage Of the resolution,
| however, DR.. Garfield signed the order
The President alone has the power to
rescind it,
The order was received by the press
with a good deal of angry protest and
much amazement. 1t was pointed out that
it affects twenty-seven states, with a pop
ulation Of over 64,0OO,00O, and that near
ly 20,0O0,000 workmen will be thrown out
of employment on these "holidays." in
volving wage loss Of over $3.50 900 ,000-
Of which New York workers alone will
lose at least S95OOO,OO0
''1t will mean starvation, at least for a
time" said DR.. Henry Moskovitz. In Chi
cago, for instance, more than 40O, 900 men
are thrown out; in Philadelphia 65O,0OO
In Northern New Jersey fully 10000 fac
tories will be idle In Cincinnati at least
1000 plants must shut down.
New York publishers wired protest tc
the President, denouncing the order as
"calamitous."
Mr. G.. P. Gould, of the Fuel Engineer
ing Company of New York, which repre-
sents three hundred industrial consumers
Of coal throughout the country using an
nually 100000 tons, said:
at is the eliminating act of a fuel admin
istration which has hcaped blunder on blur
der from start to finish. The coal admins