Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-19
CHAOS IN STEEL
OVER FUEL ORDER
Numerous Conferences Held
and No One Knows How to
Interpret Decision

NEW YORK Jan. 19.-"Like
thunderbolt out of clear sky" was
The way one of the leading figures in
the steel trade described the effect of
The coal order by Federal Fuel Ad-
mlnistrator Garfield on the industry.
That the order came as a complete
surprise TO the trade is indicated by the
confusion which followed on Thursday
Conferences Of all kinds were held and
no one seemed to know just how to In
ierpret the decision OF the Government
officials.
Supplementary exemptions which,
were announced from Washington on
Friday. Of course, to some extent clari-
led the situation, but chaos still pre-
raiis and it will be some days before
il is definitely known just how the in
lustry will be affected.
One decision of importance was
reached at the meetings Of the steel
men, and that was not to pay the work
ers for the time they are not employed,
il being announced that such a pro-
tedure would he contrary to the Gus
toms OF the trade and establish bad
5 precedent"
While a number Of steel mills have
been shut down as "A result of the fuel
order. It Is stated by leaders in the
= Industry that blast furnaces throughout
the country, as well as coke ovens and
In one or two instances open-hearth
plants. are operating.
The steel companies, including the
United States Steel Corporation. for
some weeks had been shutting down
blast furnaces right along recently. and
II Is figured that only about 40 to As
per cent of the furnace capacity of the
country was operating when the fueI
order was issued.
1t is pointed out that while banking
of fires I'm blast furnaces can be in
dulged in it takes almost as much coke
to keep a furnace banked a7 " doe II
continue operating, and some steel COM
panies are taking eXemDt'0 2 nc
order under the ruling that plants where
Operations are necessary can continue.
of course plate mills and other plants
supplying steel for Government purposes
and ships are not TO be closed. and as
virtually every tons of ship steel is goinf
into Government vessels, the order II
this respect Is no hlrdship. However
the uncertainty which has been created
will take some time to wear of.
Many steel men in the last few day.
have been unwilling to discuss the ac
ton OF Dr. Gafueius AlLubuku Alt.
are willing TO obey the instruction.
that have been or might be receives
from the capital, 1t is nevertheless
shown that all are not inclined to tn
belief that the drastic order shoul,
have been issued without previous no
tice. so that manufacturers could adius
their operations TO the changes whic
are necessary.
II can be stated that Dr. Garfield wa
requested by more than one leadin
individual to take action some tim
ago so far as the manufacture of non
essentials was concerned. and the poin
Is made that Il this had been done a
the time there would be no reason 10
the order now I'm effect.
The argument also is advanced
the steel trade. that in view of IN
many ram'heat.ons in the industry. ste,
men should have been consulted befoT
ihe order was made effective. II
maintained that the Government woul
have found the steel interests just a
willing 10 cooperate with the Govern
nent IA the present instance as the
have been IN the past. when all the II
formation available was put I'm IN
hands Of the Governments represents
tlfes.