Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-07
COUCH HOLDS SMALL. ]. H0pE: 0F
 LOCAL. RELIEF ]. Does Not Believe Pine Bluff Can Be Excepted From the
 Closing Order. RULINGS IN SIMILAR
 CASES ARE CITED Tells People They Should Watch Newspapers for Their Guidance Train Schedule Changes
 Effective Tonight.

H. c. Couch, state fuel adminis- trator, said over long distance iron Little Rock, last night that he held little hope that special dispensa- tion would be granted Pine Bluff merchants on the closing hour ruling, because of the use of gas here.
 q have not obtained a definite statement from St. Louis, as yet" ne declared, "but a similar request from Atlanta, where gas was ins use, and another request for exemption ill a city where water power was in use have even been turned down.
 "It appears that Pine Bluff and the rest of the Arkansas gas-using cities will have to obey strictly the regula- tions, and hope for relief only from the conference next Tuesday when the compromise plan to end the strike will be settled.
 MT. Couch declared that he had been informed by the regional coal committee that the public should be told to look to the newspapers for their information and guidance. OrI- CTS, he said, are issued and often be- come obsolete before the coal con- mlttee can get them to all fuel ad- ministrators.
 Obey Orders Here.
 Pine Bluff last night generally obeyd the instructions of the com mittee. Places of business, except drug stores, closed at 9 o'clock. Un- less there is some order to the con- trary before Monday they will ob- serve the new closing hours then also.
 Chief of Police Stewart, acting at the orders of Mayor Hollis. had two officers make round of the business establishments yesterday and inform them that the police would enforce the orders.
 The only order which came from the regional coal committee by the press wires last night had to do with modification of the previous closing order.
 The dispatch concerning it is as follows:
 'The southwest regional coal con- mittee tonight modified the order it issued Tuesday permitting retail establishments, drug stores excepted. to remain open only from 9 a. m. to D p. m. on all days except Mondays and Saturdays.
 The new order permits such es- tabllshments not using gas or elec- trlc light or power generated by gas. electricity, coal or coke in excess of necessary amounts to prevent freez- ing of water pipes, to arrange their own business hours"
 "The committee today, however. issued an order permitting gas and electricity lighted display advertising only between sunrise and 6 D. m.. and requested municipal officials in the district to discontinue all necessary gas and electric street illumination.
 The committee controls the coal distribution in Missouri, Kansas. Me- braska, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and part of Alabama.
 Train Changes.
 MT. Couch declared that he believ- ed this order to have been made for those communities where wood is burned. It did not except Pine Bluff In his opinion. he declared.
 Four Missouri Pacific and four cotton Belt trains will be taken off in this section. effective at 12:01 a. m. Monday. No. and No. A. thru Cotton Belt trains are to be discon- tlnued. Two of the Pine Bluff-Lit- tie Rock trains also are to be talk een off by the Cotton Belt. these be- ing No. 431 and No. 432. Iron Mountain trains discontinued are No. lO4. which leaves Pine Bluff for the north at 5:10 a. m.. No. 1O3 which leaves Pine Bluff for the south at l0:47 p. m., and the Pine Bluff ac- commodation which goes south from Pine Bluff at 5:25 p. m. and north at 8:35 a. m.