The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-19
LAUNDRIEs CAN OPEN

expected to make public a list of inter- pretations in specific cases which will be given general application Some of these rulings were made today and exempted among others, certain mines producing necessary metals, the manufacture Of ammonia, the manufacture of ice, the operation of laundries (except on the Monday holidays), the manufacture of medical supplies for the army and navy and the manufacture of main equipment
 In addition to a long list of exemptions Of food producing plants and related in- dustries, 1t was announced that addi- tlonal exemptions would be made by state food administrators.
 Officials who have contended for months that the best way to handle the coal situation was by denying fuel to nonessential industries viewed the clos ing order with more favor tonight when they learned of the exemption of war in dustries. The order as it stands cuts off all of the so-called nonessentials. and While 1t denies fuel also to many indus tries producing necessaries, 1t was eyi- dent tonight that it's application would
 be far less drastic than at first believed.
 LETTER TO SENATE Dr. Garfied's letter to the Senate fol- lows:
 Permit me to confirm the message which 1 sent to you yesterday afternoon by MT. Baker. clerk of the Senate. It IS my earnest desire that the mem- bers of the Senate should know that as an executive officer of the government l would not willingly treat request of the Senate with other than the greateset respect. The order suspending the op- eration of industrial plants in portions Of the United States was issued only ! after deliberate consideration and will, l firmly believe, aid effectively in pro- vidng coal for domestic consumers. for the prompt bunkering of ships carrying necessary war material abroad, and for the relief of the serious congestion at the docks and at many points in the section covered by the order I still be- lieve it should stand. To delay the ap- plication of the order would only add to the congestion. It would be but natural that industry, in the interval, would re- double it's efforts to increase supplies on hand.
 'To permit factories with a coal sup ply to operate during the period of sus- pension would allow many producing ar ticles least essential to the war to con- tinue while some producing articles the most essential would be compelled to shut down. Moreover, continued produc- tion by those well supplied with coal would delay if not defeat the relief con- | templated by the order
 RESOLUTION TOO LATE T should add that the resolution was presented to me at 6:35 D. m yesterday afternoon and that the order was signed at 5:45
 Instructions for delivering coal from industries closed down during the five day period went out today to all local representatives of the fuel administra- tion. They directed that supplies reach ing their destination be taken over by the fuel officials and distributed among the preferred class of householders, hos pitals, public utilities and others whom the order does not affect At the same time Secretary McAdoo sent telegrams asking all railroad presidents in the eastern territory to cooperate with the fuel officials
 M'ADOO ENDORSES
 Secretary McAdoo made this statement indorsing the fuel administrators stand:
 T think the results of the order will be very beneficial to the country in the end" he said. .It was drastic action and not very pleasant, but I cannot help thinking that it will give us a chance to clear up this transportation conges- tion and in little time we will be mov- ing along in better condition than be- fore. The order was a great deal like serious operation, bad for the time, but beneficial in the end"