Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-17

consumption would have been determined
on. This plan will limit the use of coal
to the less essential industries under
self-rationing basis.
Louisiana and Minnesota. which lie
partly on both sides of the Mississippi,
We're specifically included as a whole in
the list of States to which the order
applies.
The order is expected 20 go far towards
clearing choked and congested railroad
tracks and terminals. 1t was regarded to-
night as likely that Secretary McAdoo,
directOr-general of railroads. might de-
clare II rail embargo against the shipment
of the products of plants closed down II
necessary further to relieve the roads.
WEATHER is BLAMED.
The critical coal situation is blamed OH
the unusually severe weather of the last
week. which has made it impossible in
many instances to move coal at all and
which has cut Off the fuel supplies of
whole cities.
Officials who worked out the curtailment
plan came to the conclusion, they said
tonight. that the homes must be kept
warm at all cost. Reports have poured
into the fuel administrators offices for
days past telling of intense suffering in
many parts of the country. Some of the
largest cities of the East have run 50
short of fuel already that local fuel off,
cials have stopped industrial activity to
provide homes with coal
THE FEW EXCEPTIONS.
Besides shipyards and factories pro-
ducng foodstuffs the few exceptions to
the general rule forbidding the use of
coal in the periods specified are plants
which must be continuously operated
to prevent injury to the plants them
selves. newspaper plants and printing
establishments which publish current
and periodical magazines.
On the Monday holidays besides man
ufacturing plants the following con-
sumers will be forbidden to use coal:
Business and professional offices lex
ccpt to prevent freezing) except those
used for government offices or banks
and trust companies and those housing
physicians and dentists; wholesale and
retail stores, with exceptions for drug
stores and those that sell food; all
amusement places and saloons. State
fuel administrators may close the bank
and trust company buildings If they
think necessary.
On the holidays subway, surface, ele-
waited and suburban cars will. be per-
mitted to use only the amount they nor
mally consume on Sundays.
| Some domestic utilities probably will
be exempted from the order in supple
mentary rulings, including laundries, ice
plants and hundreds of others upon which
the people are dependent for supplies
and service.
/ Cutting off coal to non-essential indus
! tries had been expected in Washington
/ f.... N 4
that they were not Disseminated against
in the order because Of the fact that /,
was almost impossible to classify indus.
tries as essential and non-essential
Thousands Of factories producing so-callet
essentials, it was pointed ont. suppl,
either directly or indirectly plants which
themselves manufacture goods vitally
needed by the government or by the pub
lie. Most of the industries manufacturins
war goods are said to have on hand more
manufactured supplies awaiting railroad
and ocean transportation than have ths
non-essentials. Suspension of few indus
tries is expected to interfere with deliv
cries II the railroads can move the good.
In their present congested state.
GERMANY MAY TAKE NOTICE.
Ofhcials tonight foresaw that the Ger
man government might distort and max.
much OF the order to improve the morale
OF the German people, but they said thi.
danger was neglible when compared will
that of permitting the fuel situation to col
tinue unimproved.
The order was issued under authority
conferred in the Lever food act, which
provides a fine of 5000 or Imprisonment
for violation of it's provisions and warn
ing was given that it would be strictl.
enforced.
To prevent industrial unrest II was sait
tonight the government might make
formal request on industries affected b.
the order to pay their employees during tn
time they are idle.