Evening star., 1918-01-09
TO CONSERVE COAL
INVOLUNTARY PLAN
Fuel Administration Suggests
Budget Scheme Applicable
to All Factories.
BIG ANNUAL SAVING IN VIEW

6t0 ANNUAL SAvINQ IN VIEW
A plan for the conservation Of coal
based on . voluntary budget scheme for
manufacturers, has been worked out by
the fuel administration. Agreements
are to be entered fnto. backed BY orders
of the fuel administration. which will
be applicable to all factories Of each
industry.
Reduction in consumption Of possibly
$4,000, 900 tons Of coal for tho year is
contemplated. The Army and Navy,
munition works. other war material
factories, public utilities and domestic
consumers will be the only classes OF
consumers to receive 100 per cent of
their needs while the war continues.
Manufacturers already have been
called into conference to put the plan
into operation, and the annual saving
promised by the first group will be be-
Increased Demand in 1917.
In 1917 the increased demand for coal
amounted to 100, 900, 900 tons. while the
Increase in output was about 45.000.0o0
tons. Under the same conditions this
year the untitled tonnage would be
taken care of by the reduction in fac
tories not contributing directly TO the
prosecution Of the war.
Curtailment of fuel consumption nee
essarily implies reduction OF output py
the factories, SO the fuel administra-
tion sees in its program and IN tne
diversion of labor and materials to war
work. The budget by agreement Is
adopted in lieu Of thU often proposed
arbitrary classification Of Industries
into essential and non-essential dl-
visions.
ut is believed" the fuel administra-
tion's announcement says, that the
operation of this plan will forever lay
the ghost of the agitation to cut on
non-essential industries. and VIII au-
dramatically balance the relation be-
tween the production and consumption
Of coal and prevent any repetition OF
the present coal shortage"
Curtailment Already Effected.
One Of the striking instances in
which curtailment already has been ca
fected is in the brewing industry. Rep
resentatfves of the American Brewers
Association and others affiliated with
the making of beer volunteered a re-
duction of 100000 tons Of coal annual
ly Other industries which have been
fuel administration have been paint
and varnish, wall paper, confectionery,
ARTIFICIAL ice, boxboard and glassware.
The voluntary reduction of one days
running each week by the poaooara arg
manufacturers will amount to 100000
tons q year and will take 10000 car
loads of merchandise freight on the
congested railroads.
The fuel administration has asked
that other industries get in touch with
washington without waiting for formal
Invitation. There are more than 100
Industries not engaged In war work
which must curtail their use OF fuel be-
cause Of conflict with the nations war
needs.
Discusses tNon-Essentiar Industries.
-rhese industries. sometimes mis-
called .non-essentiar industries" says
the announcement, "are the backbone
Of the country's economic system. They
employ 100000 workers and from
them must come the taxes and bonds
dustries have never objected to any
curtailment of coal or material or men.
which could be shown to be necessary
TO win the war 1t was the indefinite
orders which during the last two or
three month has alarmed the leaders
Of business and finance"
Committees representing various
groups of Industries will be shown by
the administration the amount of coal
available for all purposes. the amount
reouired for war purposes and domes-
tic consumers. and the total curtaii-
inent. which must be effected to supply
these demands. They will be asked on
patriotic grounds, as well as for their
own future interests. to volunteer a
reduction in consumption and to advise
the best method of curtailment SO as
to affect only the the hs.;ness less essent'ai por-
All arrangements will be made by the
manufacturers themselves, but. when
an agreement has been reached, the
fuel administration will issue formal
vided by the food control law. making
the agreement applicable to the entire
industry.
To Provide for "Safe Shrinkage."
Percentages of curtailment probably
will vary in different industries. but
win be estimated in every case with a
view to a practicable and economically
safe shrinkage of output. In proper
tion as an industry contributes less of
domestic necessities to the war, it will
naturally increase its Contribution of
self-limitation.
Elasticity of the plan Is regarded by
the fuel administration as one Of its
chief assets. The total curtailment of
coal consumption when completed will
equalize theoretically the coal demand
of the country with the supply for
1913. If later it develops that there
still is a prospect of scarcity a slight
increase in the voluntary curtailmeft
can be arranged quickly and without
confusion. The plan was summarized
by the fuel administration as follows:
THE new plan bitches up all the in
dustries of the country to the fuel
budget and gives them. which Is all
they ask. the fullest liberty of action,
excepting liberty to use coal needed for
war purposes"
For 8-Hour Work Day for Women.
Miss Mary Anderson and Miss Agnes