Evening star., 1918-01-17
The Coal Embargo.

The Coal Embargo.
Fuel Administrator Garfield's extraor-
dinary order putting embargo on coal
consumption for five days beginning to-
morrow and for nine subsequent Mon
days in all parts of the country east OF
the Mississippi river is designed for the
purpose Of keeping the people alive and
In health and as war measure to ex,
pedite railroad transportation In ac'
complishing that end through the dis
tribution of coal it undoubtedly entails
serious hardships and mnch disloeation
Of business. This is not the time tc
question through what mistakes or mis-
adjustments the present coal shortage IN
the eastern part of the country was
caused. The fact remains that the short
age exists and that it has been made
more serious in its effect by climatic
conditions, adding to the railroad con-
gestion and thus slowing the hauling of
fuel
The purpose of this order is benevo-
lent and patriotic. The net effect of it
should be helpful. 1t remains, however,
to make certain by the manner Of its
enforcement that 70 hardship :.s cntailed
upon, industries and business and
through them upon individuals that is
not absolutely necessary to accomplish
the end of the replenishment of the
peoples fuel supply, and to keep the
government freight trains filed and
moving.
Under this order, all industries save
those supplied with power by natural
fas or water force must close on the
fourteen specified days unless they are
cngaged in the manufacture of food.
Railroads, domestic consumers, hospitals,
charitable institutions, Army and Navy
eantonments, public utilities, ships and
vessels, the United States government
md state, county and municipal gov
efnments may be supplied. The fur
1ishing of fuel to all others is forbid
den and their consumption of fuel is
also banned With the exception, per-
mps. of some stores that can be heated
In consequence of the maintenance OF
means Of preventing freezing and de-
struetion of property, theaters that ear
% run without fuel and newspaper
plants, all other industries, including
tAose engaged in war contracts, must
suspend.
Il 10 conceivable that the weather may
moderate so soon and in such a degree
hat modification Of the order will be
tossible. The estimate that 10000, 900
t1nS Of coal will be saved in consequence
ef this embargo-one-half of the now
estimated defeieney-may be exceeded
through fortuitous conditions. In that.
ease it is to be expected that there will
% . tightening Of the restrictions in de-
sree or in time.
Naturally this drastic order, the like
Ut which was never issued before in
this country, has aroused furious criti-
eism. Some apprehension is expressed,
not altogether baseless, of serious dis
locations, Of labor disturbances, Of acute
md possibly dangerous privations
Through the cutting off of incomes.
Against these possible results must be
set the certainty that the people are
today suffering from lack Of fuel. There
AAs been choice Of evils.
Whatever individual Judgment may
Be - to the wisdom of the order, what
eter the suferings it may entail, it is
ishe duty Of all, employers, employees, to
Somply in a spirit of cooperation. It
2 tho duty Of employers as far as pos
sible to safeguard their workers from
dlstress by maintaining their wages in
whole or In part, covering the time OF
their enforced idleness. Meanwhile the
government may be expected to pro-
feet the people from the consequences
Of this radical measure by modification
or suspension just as quickly as the fuel
supply is restored in any quarter or in
the whole area affected.