The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-17

another IL Saturday, which latter day
IN some industries Is half holiday.
In excepting public utilities from
the order and giving them preference
with househoiders, the governm emit
was confronted by the prediction that
unless this were done many of these
public utilities, including gas and cleo
trio companies. would be compelled to
close down and the people dependent
on them rendered helpless.
At the Offices of Director General
McAdno Ii was stated tonight that the
congestion of the railroad lines re
sponsible FOR the coal crisis Is begin
/ ming to loosen up, Despite this, how
ever II was explained that the supply
ri coal in the retsil yards In the East
had been so depleted during the Pc
r.od Of the regent storm that drastic
action such as that taken tonight was
regarded as absolutely necessary.
Penalties Severe.
Or Garfield said that failure to OBJ
serve The order win make 81 person
able 10 the provisions of the Lever
law. This imposes maximum OF
- coo fine or a jail sentence.
The order fts IN with that Of Di-
rcctor-General DcAdoo giving prefer
orce 20 cots,. food ard bunker coal for
allies. T'ht Two have been in confer
eucr several times over the problem
and the only difference lies In the fact
that MIR McAdoo is moving other
emergency essentials besides coal.
Question already has been brought
up whether the fuel administrator has
any power TO order man not to use
coal that he already has on hand
Distribution Of coal and curtailment
through distribution, it Is pointed out,
can, Of course, bring about the conser-
walton ends by not delivering to n per-
son who persists In violating the law.
II has been hinted in some quarters
that same factories. whose owners are
not patriotic enough TO put them
solves 10 any disadvantage. win per
stst in using what they have on hand
and carry the matter to the courts.
Reports received b. the director
general of railroads gave DR. Garfield
som" measure Of hope that there VIII
Eot have TO he second period OF five
days suspension Of industries Trains
are being moved out Of the snow
bound districts. with some promise OF
q fairly free movement OF the coal
supply within tho next four or FIVE
days
should Save 80, 900, 600 Tons.
Or Garfield says that the scheme
Of i've days suspension and the Mon {
day holidays ought TO conserve about
30 Geo 600 tons Of coal
This will carry the country, and |
PARTICULARLY the northeastern section /
which Is IN worse shape far over the I
danger period 1t is hoped. The Mon
day holiday. It is expected, will be
dropped before even the spring Ia
Under way. by which time the coal |
movement will be as near normal as
the authorities can hope TO attain |
during the war emergency.
Although all details as the ar
engagements made are withheld by the
affected. assus ance was
given today by admin stration off,
cials, that, despite the fact that the
order does not exempt war Industries,
the WORK OF keep'rg the war & s@tra cts
OF the governm mt going will not be
seriously impaired. Testimony given
he fore the senate war probSrs by or
d.nance officers Of the war department
has been TO the effect that on many
OF The shell orders, contractors are
ahead OF schedule time.
The matter was threehed ont
thoroughly at the White House con
ference when the president Ia said
10 have both the secretary of war
end Secretary Daniels before CIV
ing his approval to the edict.
Congress May Object.
Members Of congress indicated to-
nicht IN many instances that resoiu-
tions may be introduced tomorrow In
congress demanding an explanation
from the government for the action
action.
OTcials OF the fuel administration
tonight on the curtan:
a Aat
he no apprecia BILE hodup in the out
put of war munitions, inasmuch as
the country had been running full
steam ahead" OF late and was we'll
stocked up with reserve supplies. AL
ready at terminal points there are
large stocks OF these supplies await
Ing shipment abroad.
The first intention was TO make the
svc-day period start tomorrow, but
fear that the industries affected would
rot be able to adjust themselves to
ouch a sudden curtailment gained the
respite until Friday.
1t was strongly intimated that II
u present order proves insufficient,
to permit the coal famine to be re.
lieved where the relief Is intended {
subsequent orders of the same char. /
acter or an extension OF time on the
present one will be resorted to- I
Representatives in Washington OF q
she ve~y big Industries companies
we're thunderstruck at the drastic eff
feet of the order and some question
~ the legality Of the step. One or
y'vo fatty challenged the right of the {
government TO prevent industries using
Curing the prescribed period reserve v
~ miles OF coal which they may have
N hand.
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