The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-24

washington, ~ I. - tVLihtH'l'S
Friday. January Is, all industrial
plants east of the Mississippi and in
the states of Minnesota and louisiana
excepting foIty-three specified plants
engaged il vital war work were closed
for a period OF five days upon order oil
Fuel Administrator Garfield.
This is the most drastic and sweep
Ing fuel priority law ever issued by
the government Its purpose rs TO
meet the coal famine.
The saEe order fixes every Monday
from January 2S TO March %. lnclu-
sive. as holiday. On such days all
,heaters and other places OF amuse-
meut must close. other nOnesential
b, siness must curtail their activities.
Several exceptions were made with
regard to industries like blast fur
naces. which would be ruined by any
stoppage OF their plants and manufac-
lurers of perishabe foodstufls.
Newspapers are exempted entirely
from four or FIVE coalless days be
tween January IS and % inclusive, but
are limited to one edition on the nine
Mondays designated.
To Protect Business.
Every effort has been made by the
government to carry out the order
without undue interference with bust
ness. The priority order was issued
following a conference at the White
House attended by the president Fuel
Administrator Garfield, Secretary OF
War Baker and Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels.
Between temporarily suspending the
vital war industries and meeting the
drastic severity of the coal famine
President Wilson chose the latter
course.
Administrator Garfield said that the
order will not only prevent delivery OF
coal to all industries for the fye-day
period mentioned, but will prohibit the
use on these days of any reserve sup
plies. This is done in order that per
manent relief may be obtained by re
stocking supplies available for house
hold and public utilities use,
The Garfield curtailment order was
signed in the teeth Of resolution
passed a few moments before by the
senate. demanding postponement
Fifty out of the siXty.nine senators
voting on it, favored its passage. only
nineteen voted in the negative.
President Backs Garfield.
Al the same time Fuel Administrator
Garfield backed to The limit by Prcsi.
dent Wilson, issued statement de
Tending the action taken and explain
ing that 1t resulted not so much from
shortage OF coal as from the almos
hopeless congestion Of the railroads
II is estimated that between 100000
and 100000 workers, earning be
tween $15.000.000 and $20,000,000 I
day in wages. VIII be affected Botl
DR.. Garfield and President Samue
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor, appealed to the employers
not TO curtail wages OF men, but tC
pay them over the period of inactivity
A total loss of between $500 900 ,00(
and $l.750O00,OO0 in wages and pro
duction values combined was predict
ed in the debate in the senate.
Enforcement Of the order will bc
undertaken through the 5000 state
and county fuel administrators, scat
tered through the area involved.
At the suggestion of the navy de
partment the building OF destroyers
vitality needed TO meet the Forthcoming
German undsrsea spring offensive. viii
not be interrupted. Eleven of the ex
emptions have to do with this matter
alone.
At the suggestion Of the war depart
ment three exemptions were decided
upon. Under them. there is to be m
interruption in the manufacture o
powder and heavy forgings needed 70
field guns
Text Of Revised Order.
The official text OF the government
coal restricting order as issued b.
Fuel Administrator Garfield follows:
Regulations making provision for
more adequate supply of fuel for rail
roads, domestic consumers, publ
utilities and other uses necessary {
the national security.
The United States fuel ADMINISTERS
tor, acting under the authority Of a
executive order Of the president G
the United States, dated Aug %, 1871
appointing said administrator. In flu
therance Of the purposes Of said OF
der and Of the purposes Of the act Q
congress therein referred to approve
Aug TO- 1917. and finding it essenti5
effectively TO carry out the proylsio
of this act. to make provision for
more adequate supply Of fuel for raj
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