Evening star., 1918-01-14
Fuel Authorities Expected to
Announce General Program
of CurtaiIment.
PURPOSE IS TO RELIEVE
COAL SHORTAGE IN EAST
Less Essential Enterprises, Includ.
ing Theaters and Churches, Will
Close for a Time, If Idea Prevails.

Requisi.ioning of coal supplies of Ger
tain industries for distribution to house.
holders is one of the plans under con-
sideration by the Fuel Administration
for relieving the coal shortage in the
east
A general plan of curtailing the use
Of coal by the less essential industries
Garfield, probably tonight or tomor-
row.
Homes Must Be Kept Warm.
Homes must be kept warm at an
costs. DR.. Garfield said today. Fuel ad-
ministration officials look for little in
crease in coal shipments during the
next ten days, and declare that most
communities must get along with what
fuel supplies they have and what little
the railroads can move to them over
snow-bound lines.
State fuel administrators have power
now to curtail supplies Of any industry
and to requisition any coal they hold
in store. but bad weather Conditions are
so widespread in the states east of the
Mississippi that a general policy OK
curtailment is considered necessary.
I
be closed down for a week and longer
If it appears necessary to keep house,
holders supplied. Public utilities Will
escape the order, as will in large meas
ure industries producing war supplies.
Plans Include Washington.
Plans of the United States Fuel Ad-
ministration to curtai1 supplies of coal
ITO Industries in the east will include
Washington in the territory covered
by the first rules to govern the use
of fuel in non-essentia1 commodities.
Such an order may result In the
closing of theaters, churches and
amusement places in the District for
part time, officials of the fuel admin
istration declared today.
Allied theatrical interests OF New York
are up in the air today over the pro-
posal of the state fuel administrator
| for New York to close theaters three
nights a week to save the fuel supply.
lPaR. NOyes of the CONSERVATION dfvf-'
| sion OF the national fuel administra-
ton is in New York today In CONFER
ence with State Administrator Wfggins.
theatrical promoters and managers OF
other enterprises that would be the
first to feel the blow II general curtatl-
ment is adopted.
Plan to Be Worked Out.
plan for general curtailment will be
worked out with the return 1onorrow Q.
No plans have yet been formulated lor
New York, but it was agreed that any
general program to cut down the use OF
fuel in New York and other eastern cities
will affect Washington also.
Fearful of another period of distress on
account of the general fuel shortage IN
the east if a second cold wave hits this
section officials are gravely concerned
over the question of supplying the govern
ment needs and the requirements OF the
countrys essential industries. Munitions
.,f iroe
officials especial concern
Theatrical interests of New York have
submitted an array OF statlstics 10
prove that closing the houses VIII noe
effect a saving 1t is pointed out that
the saving in money would be insig-
nificant In comparison with the amoohs
of revenue the government would get
from box office receipts.
Say q. S. Would Lose.
The government, by this theory, would
lose money II Washington theaters were
compelled to close a part OF the time.
on the same proportion that 1t would
lose the war tax revenues in New YORK.
Hundreds of performers would Dc
placed on half salaries here and stage
hands and theater employees Wouio Dc
similarly affected.
Closing Not Likely, Officials Say.
officials do not regard the closing of
tbeaters here, even for a part time. as
a probab biity at the present time. De
cause as yet there has been no dennite
program of fuel curtaiiment. When Mr.
Moves returns to Washington tomorrow
he will make his recommendations re-
snectins New York to Administrators
Garfield and orders affecting the gen
eral situation in New YORK ana tne
east will include washington, IL -
stated.