New Britain herald., 1918-02-21
PREFERENTIAL COAL
 SUPPLY PROGRAM
Fuel Consumers to Be Divided
 Into Four Glasses

Washington, Feb. 21.--A direct method of preferential coal distribu- ton to supply first the requirements of consumers whose needs are con- sidered necessary in winning the war and to curtail consumption by the less essential industries soon will be instituted by the Fuel Administration
 The program outlined by Dr. H. A. Garfield. the fuel administrator, calls for division of all consumers into four classes, and for the creation of a pref erentia1 board representing the fuel administration, the army and navy, and the shipping board, to pass on the i1nportance of consumers needs
 Class 1, which would get coal first, as contemplated by Dr. Garfield, would include consners put in a preferen tial list in the fuel administration S closing order of January IT. This list still is receiving preferential treat ment, but there has been no classifi- cation of other consumers. This list includes households, ships, railroads, public utilities, and public institutions.
 Class would include necessary war industries: Class B. necessary peace industries and Class 4, the so-called makers of luxuries-
 There would be no attempt at estab fishing preferences within any of the classifications, and the duty of the Preferential board would be to decide between consumers of given class.
 Start Right at Mines.
 Preferential distribution would be enforced by orders to operators to. sup plv consumers according to classifi- cation and by cooperative measures on the part of the railroad ad- yuIaj oh Cf hv mbaTgoes.
 Many industries in Class would fall also in Class 3, since a, great mum Der Of factories are working both on war orders and on contracts for the general public. The preferential board would decide how they should use fuel allotted to them and how much fuel they should be permitted to have.
 The plan furnishes the first definite m ove~to put American industry on 8 strictIy"war basis. The question of re- stricting the operations of the less es- sential industries has bothered govern ment officials since the outbreak of war, but thus far the problem has not been dealt t-Wifh directly
 The pnrpose of the new plan will be, it was explained tonight, to disturb the
 
 and many of the industries engaged in producing materials*n considered es- sentiaEwill be converted into munition plants.
 Taking the glass industry as an ex- ample, Dr. Garfield said that there has been a large overproduction of glass ware. The aim will be to restrict the manufacture of glass strictly to the forms that are essential. Many a.rti- cles such as vases, will not be manu- factured afterthe program is in force. Other industries will be treated in a similar fashion.
 Most of the industries whose pro- | ducts are not regarded as essential 1 to prosecution of the war already 1 have agreed to a, voluntary curtai1rne ent of their coal consumption and it ic | planned to work in cooperation with 1 them and to prevent hardships and 1 unfair discrimination.
 1 The Preferential board will be chosen by the heads of the four de-
 partments. Neither the food nor the 1 railroad administration for the time 1 being will be represented, but both
 will assist" in operation of the pro- l gram