The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-01-17
RAIL CONGESTION
IS RESPONSIBLE,
DICTATOR SAYS
Production Not to BIama But
Mines Must Keep Running,

Outstanding developments and
fssturss today In the Situation
arising from the fuel administrs-
tons order forbidding business
EAST Of the Mississippi river for a
period Of five days and enforced
Monday holidays thereafter are;
Protests pour into congress and
President Wilson against the fusi
order.
Senate moves 10 check operation
Of Garfields mandate.
Institutions affected make frantic
preparations TO observe the new
law.
Fuel Administrator Garfield
called before senate to explain JUS
tification OF his action.
g State Fuel Administrator p. A.
Norris OF Oklahoma declares no
such attion probable In this state.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l7--Dr. H. A
federal fuel administratprs
was called before the senate today and
told his reasons for issuing the order
iofbidding business for five days i'd
all portions OF the United States east
Of the Mississippi river,
The fuel and railroad situation, he
said, made the action imperative.
"This order was issued" the fuel adj
ministrator declared, because Of q
lack of coal for private consumers and
utilities, not a lack OF production"
The purpose OF the order" said DR..
Garfield, ris not to interfere in the
slightest degree with the loading OF
coal at the mines. This Is made clear
IN the amplilication OF the abstract"
All On Equal Basis.
A modification decided OIL this mornt
ing, DR. Garfield said, put all consum-
ers in the preferential list on an equal
basis with no preference shown to any
ono class.
DR., Garfield said that the plan was u
to permit certain war industries Ia
operate, despite the order
ShipbuIldng, he said, was one of
them, but If the industries to be ex-
rTpted we're classified in the order 10
Would cause a storm OF protest and
embarraS the fuel administration.
Dr. Garfield said Secretaries BakeA
and Daniels were preparing such list
Necessary Plants Exempt.
The list of exempted industries. DR..
Garfield said. would include those I'm.
mediately necessary In the conduct Of
the war. Aside from shipping and airs
planes, he said, he did not know what
the list would contain
The order was made necessary,
Dr.. Garfield said, BY transporta-
tion, which had made Il impossible
TO supply industries and At the same
time furnish homes and public in
stitutions. The necessity for NOV
Ing ships, he said, was 80 great
that drastic measures were com
Pulsory.
81 have beel discussing this with
business men for month" said DR..
Garfield '1f companies fail to paw
wages for these idle days, they will not
be doing their par"
Not Lack Of Production.
This order was issued bedsuse OF
lack of coal for private consumers
and utilities" said he. This was not
caused by lack OF production, but, az
we all know, by conditions we have
faced since December g."
The fuel administrator evidently re-
ierred to weather conditions.
The section of the order marked a,
&c" published today has been changed
to make that clear, he said All coal
mined and arriving at destination ~
the five day period under contract will
be turned over 10 the state fuel admls-
istratotS.
Senator Reed adjourned the hearing
at ; 20 o'clock and the committeeman
then returned 10 the senate
Aroused and fearful OF the fuel ad-
ministration's order to suspend opera
ton OF industrial plants to meet tho
coal situation, republican and dero-
cratic leaders in the senate today ln-
troduccd resolutions to suspend it.
Senator Hitchcock, a democratic y
leader, moved TO suspend the order
for five days pending invsstigs-.s
ton. He acted after eonfsrring
with other democratic leaders.
Senator Gslliuycr, the rvpublkaa
leader. after conierrine wish othsrs cf
his party. introduced \ yssolutioa ~