The public ledger., 1918-01-18
COAL ORDER FOUGHT
AS MILLIONS FEAR IDLEAESS-
CONGRESS- Is AROUSED BH
U. 8. ACTION. 4
Garfield, Fuel Administrator, Sum.
moned Before Probe Committee
and Resolutions Ask That
Decree Be Delayed.

Washington, January 17-Senators
Hitchcock, Nebraska, and Gallinger,
New Hampshire, today introduced res
olutions calling on H. A. Garfield, fuel
administrator, to delay for five days
operation of his order suspending in
dustries to save coal.
Both resolutions request action be
delayed that time may be given for
protests to be heard, investigations
made and information obtained" re-
garding the order.
The Senate subcommittee investi-
eating coal conditions decided today
to summon Garfield before 1t at once
to explain his drastic shutdown or
der.
The decision was reached at con-
ference between Majority Leader
Martin and Senators Reed, Vardaman
and Jones of New Mexico, members Of
the investigating committee.
Industrial America rose up today
in violent protest against the order
suspending the operation of virtually
all great plants in the eastern half of
the country for five days.
Under an avalanche of hundreds of
thousands Of kilograms, Garfield laid
plans with state aids for putting the
order into effect at midnight
Unprecedented numbers Of tele-
grams flooded the White House, pro-
testing, demanding revocation Of the
order, calling for Garfield's removal
from office and pointing out the dan
gers, nationally and internationally
of throwing the economic status OF
the country into furore.
Challengers that Garfield had usurp-
ed powers he does not possess were
heard from all points, including both
houses of Congress.
To which the fuel administration re-
piled that under the Lever bill and
priority powers, authority is granted
for restricting fuel, the measures pro-
viding powers to stop shipments OF
fuel to any consumer who fails to
obey the government mandates.
The war government itself was con-
fused as to the scope Of the Garfield
order. Hasty conferences between
Garfield and Shipping Board officials
resulted in declaration that some
plants-among them the fabricatine
steel plants-will close down.
There will be no delay to the ship
ping program, however, because suf-
ficient supplies are now en- route to
yards to supply all needs.
Hundreds of questions revealed the
vagueness of the order to thousands
Of communities affected. The Mon
day holiday order especially hGl
caused general confusion.
This order, Garfield explained to.
day, affects only the eastern half oi
the United States, but fuel administra-
tors in the western states have the
power to enforce the Monday holiday
there also.
For the time being, all must rely or
the newspapers for information
though official and detailed orders
will be sent out as soon as possible
Garfield said.
The order is solely for fuel restric-
ton, 1t is stated. Those business Of.
fees and other establishments which
wish to remain open, though using nc
coal, can do so, 1t is exlained.
This would permit heatless saloons
barber shops, dance halls, office build
ings and the like.
A request that labor not be allowed
to suffer during the five days or sub
sequent Mondays affected by the dras-
tic fuel order was made by Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield.
DR.. Garfield sent a telegram to
John p. White, of the United Nine
workers of America, saying:
"Please state that orders closing in
dustries for five days will not slow
down mines. I am making provision
for that and also include in my ap-
peal request that labor be not allow
ed to suffer during the five days or
subsequent Mondays affected by the
order.
81 feel confident the great mass OF
employers throughout the country
will regard this as a necessary Incl
dent of the war to be borne by them
and not shifted to labor"
Millions Of dollars In wages and
output are affected-but 30,000,000
tons of coal must and can be saved
by the order, 1t Is stated.
Problems rising out OF the hard
ships faced by more than 100000
employees in the affected territory ad.
mittedly are great.
Distribution Of coal to all establish.
ments except public utilities and Q
few indispensable institutions wai
stopped this morning.
All factories east Of the Mississipp
River-even those working on wal
contracts and excepting those man
lufsoturinf bsrishable food--must sus