Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-04
TOBACCO INDUSTRIES
ON PREFERENTIAL LIST
Government Action Insures Coal Sup
ply and Continued Ope-
ration.
ADMINISTRATORS BYRD WINS
Virginia Senators Are Notified OF
Action Of War Industries Board.
Recognize Tobacco as War Neces-
sity, Not Mere Luxury.
ADMINISTRATOR BYRD WINS

Tobacco industries have been placed
on tho preferential list OF the Federal
fuel administration and will secure
fuel to enable them TO operate with
out Interruption. according 10 an an
nouncemcnt last night from Washing
ton. This action was taken yester-
day by the War Industries Board and
communicated to Senator Thomas &.
Martin. the board recognizing tobacco
~ war necessity and not a mere
luxury. Tobacco factories and tobacco
warehouses will alike receive sufficient
fuel to carry on their important part
in helping TO win the war.
BY reaching this decision, tho War
Industries Board averted a dire ca
lamity 10 Virginia. since approximate
~ 10000 operatives arc at work In
these plants. all of whom would have
been deprived OF means Of livel!ho bod
by the closing down OF the tobacco
factories. The official announcement,
as handed Senator Martin by Priorities
Commissioner Edwin r. Parker is as
follows:
1T is probable that the demand for
tobacco TO supply the armies ard ma
vies OF the United States and its AL
lies. coupled with tho civilian demand.
Will be greater than the available
supply. We recognize the war re-
quircncnts for tobacco as rcal w,r
need and not as mere luxury. In
view Of the foregoing, Il is the Dolicv
ot the War Industries Board TO s,,r, :
riate rs much as practicable the nro-
auction OF tobacco and 20 assist it's hc
ing properly cured. preserved and
handled. To this end it is planned to
give the producers Of tobacco and ware
honsemen such preferential treatmen,
rs may be required to enable ther, IA
procure reasonably sufficient supplv "
PLANs BEING WORKED
OUT TO SUPPLY FUEL
senator Martin appeared before .be
war Industries Board last Friday. to-
Sether with Representative Garter
class and State Fuel Administrator
Harry Flood Byrd. and urged the cause
OF tAe tobacco plants. and yesterday
upon inquiry OF the board as TO the
arrangements that would be made 10
FURNISH the fuel he was informed that
plans were already being worked on,
with the fuel administration and would
be concluded within a few days
IL was also learned last night that
the decision reached was the outcome
Oh much negotiation and many confer
ences of Senators Martin and Claude
a. Swanson which have been going on
Tor several weeks and the timely ar
rival of Administrator Byrd. whose
statement of the situation in Virginia
impressed both the board and the fuel
administration.
A special study of the fuel situation
IN Virginia is now being made by the
fuel administration with n view of ad-
justing the distribution OF coal SO as
TO relieve the impending crisis laid
before the fuel administration last Fri
day by the delegation of Virginia and
Administrators Byrd. This announce
ment was made late last night by a.
w. Galloway. director of bituminous
coal distribution of the Federal fuel
administration who expressed in the
Following letter to Senator Swanson
MS desire to see the situation reach
satisfactory adjustments:
With reference to our discussion re-
garding the supply of coal for the
state OF Virginia. please be advised
that 1t is the earnest desire and in
tention OF the fuel administration TO
treat Virginia fairly in the apportion-
ment and distribution Of bituminous
coal.
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY
DE LARGE SHORTAGE
There will undoubtedly be a very
large shortage in the tonnage availabls
tor general distribution, and 1t will be
necessary to follow closely the pri-
ority classification designated by the
priorities commissioner. and in many
cases this classification will make
necessary the reallocation of sources
OF supply as well as Of distribution.
we are at present engaged in a
special study OF the Virginia situation.
and are hopeful that some OF the difi-
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