The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-16
State Order Soon Regulating
the Mercantile Hours.
Action May Be General Over
Kansas by Monday.
THEATERS AND POOL HALLS?
Banner Hints. That They Will
Be Next on the List.
Most Drastic Step for Fuel
Conservation Here.

Topeka mercantile establishments
today face an order regulating their
opening and closing hours. The or
der will probably be issued Saturday
by H. C. Danner, local fuel director
and will become effective Monday,
January 81. Regulation of hours for
mercantile establishments will be in
augurated in an effort to conserve the
states fuel supply.
Letters were sent today to all mer-
chants in Topeka and Shawnee county
Immediate replies were urged and on
reports received Danner will probably
issue an order some time Saturday
An order for early closing and posSl-
bly later opening hours of all stores is
indicated in the statement which Dan
ner made in today's letter. His action
is based on recommendatlon py
Emerson Carey, state fuel adminlstra-
tor. Several days ago Carey ordered
the closing of pool halls and churches
in Hutchinson, his home town. NO ac-
ton looking to a restriction or churcn
services is indicated in banners let
ter.
All Over State.
Action similar to that in Topeka
will be taken in every section of the
state. Already a number of towns
have sought to conserve the fuel sup
ply thru closing of PAGES of amuse-
ment pool halls ana other places
Danner today stated that if it were
deemed necessary an order closing or
regulating theaters and pool halls in
Topeka would be issued.
THE serious coal shortage thruout
the country and in our immediate To-
cality has caused a great deal of suf-
fering' said Danner. ITO relieve these
al xuyi11 IN do fheir
part.
Recommendations for early closing
of places of business has-been- urged
upon county chairmen in letter by
Emerson Carey, state fuel adminiStra
tor. Il believe it will DC the means OF
conserving a large amount of coal
But before issuing an order of this
kind, 1 desire to get the views of the
merchants of Shawnee county as to
the hours best suited TO the majority
for opening and closing"
Most Drastic Step.
An arbitrary ruling concerning the
hours of mercantile establishments
and the probable closing of places OF
amusement will be the most drastic
step in this state in the campaign foi
fuel conservation. Following is State
Administrator Carey's letter to loca
fuel administrators:
The advisability of closing stores, such
as grocery stores, dry goods stores drug
stores, general stores, depa rtmentN stores
furniture stores. hardware stores. clothing
stores and such other stores and places Of
business that could be closed earlier IL
the evening than is customary-has beer
brought up good many times. ! have
not issued general order for this but
quite number of the county chairmeI
have done this, which they have a right tt
do when in their Judgment tn. fuel situa
ton demands it. BY everyone in a giver
line of business opening and closing at thu
same time, there could be no permanent
loss in trade to any one
Il would like to have you give this mat
ter serious consideration. and If you thinl
it is a feasible plan and would work
would like to have you go ahead with it IN
the way that meets with your own ap
proy8l"