New-York tribune., 1918-02-12

Garfield Expected to Sus-
pend Monday Restric-
tions To-day
Backbone of Fuel
Shortage Is Broken
Mild Weather a Big Factor
in Helping to Move Coal
to New York

AS a workless Monday yesterday g
{ gross misnomer. Every agency from
mild weather to politics operated to-
gether in New York to put premium
on industry and cause those who de-
sired to coax trade to hang out the
business as usual sign.
But it is a problem that the city
probably will not have to solve again.
Dispatches from Washington last night
announced that Fuel Administrator
Garfield probably will issue an order
to-day formally suspending the Monday
holiday. Improved traffic conditions
and mild weather were given as the
reason for this action, which will place
.,orthern Atlantic states on par with
the Southern states, which have ceased
TO observe the day.
The backbone of the work!ess day
theory was broken. apparently, with the
cxempting of the 20O,0 900 garment work
ers here because of their plea that
that idieness would be forced upon
them when they could least afford IT..
An eleventh hour exemption for mllli-
rers, for the same reason, added an
other army of workers and many more
buildings to be heated to the already
long list OF those to whom the closing
decree would not apply.
Then came all Of the allied trades
OF these two industries, claiming and
obtaining exemption on the grounds
that it was necessary for them to op-
crate in conjunction with the milliners
and garment workers. To these were
added the numerous small business
men throughout the city who argued
that their business was seasonal and
that they had right to remain open
if others did.
Office Buildings Full
And, finally, mild weather made work
in unheated Offices not only possible
but comfortable, with the result that
hundreds of fuelless office buildings
held their full complement of tenants
throughout the day. The streets of
lower Manhattan presented an appear
ance of activity at the end of the after
Moons business that was far from in
dicating idleness and empty buildings.
But as fuelmoving day it was far
more successful. More than $4,000 tons
of coal arrived in the city before noon,
and the prospects of larger deliveries
because of the mild weather and
clearing up of freight congestion on
the railroads were pictured last night
as being extremely bright.
Motor trucks and horse drawn vehi-
cles formed parades along the water
front, and the fuel was moved away
from the terminals as rapidly as ii
arrived. Nothing but a refusal of the
miners to work to-day, on the ground
that union rules do not require them to
work on Lncoln's Birthday, will pre-
Tent the city from obtaining a respecta-
BILE surplus of fuel by the close of the
week, fuel experts said.
Holiday Continuation Helps
The combination of a Saturday half
holiday, Sunday closing. workless Mon
day and Tuesday hplidav were looked
upon as almost sufficient. coupled with
mild weather. to solve the fuel prob
lem for the city. During the three and
one~half days of partial leisure it is
estimated that not more than two
thirds of the coal normally consumed
the deliveries of fuel to the city during
those days thus far have been far
above previous famine day receipts.
The mild weather is working won
ders," said Albert H. Wiggin, State
Fuel Administrator. "The situation
still is grave upstate, but we are doing
Just what will be done to enforce a
healthier respect for the workless day
should there be more of them is
something that still was puzzling the
local Fuel Administrators last night.
The complaints of violators of the de-
cree in the city yesterday were so
numerous that the United States Mar
shal's Office did not have sufficient men
to send out and investigate them. with
the result that many of the stores con-
,inued to do business without even an
oral warning
Many Violations in BROOKLYN
The largest number of violators Of
ne closing order were found in Brook
iyn. On Flatbush Avenue and in the
busiest section of Fulton Street many
stores were doing business as usual
throughout the day. Business men who
had needed the Garfield order for
patriotic reasons complained to Fuel
Administrator Gunnlson, of Brooklyr,
declaring that such competition was
unfair. The Administrator called .he
attention of the United States Mar
shals Office to the situation, but was
told that there were not enough men
Oh the staff of the Marshal to invcsti-
gate the cases.
list of the violators was made but
It is not known what will be done with
hem, IT anything. Doubt as to tie
.alidity of the law under Which it had
been planned to prosecute those who
failed to respect the Garfield order was
expressed, and this was one of the
reasons, ii was intmatcd, why no ar
rests had been made.
Long Island Sound Open
A combination of favorable winds and
temperature resulted in breaking up
the ice on Long Island Sound during
the day. Many tugs with tows that
had been held up off Whitestone. Long
Island, near He'll Gate, were able to
proceed because of the disappearance
of the foes. Their captains found
clear water close to the Connecticut
shore almost to the New Haven break
water.
Practically all of the tows were laden
with coal for New England's badly
handicapped industries, many of them
engaged in producing war supplies. A
continuance of the warm weather is