Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-12-04
GOVERNOR ISSUES
NOTE OF WARNING
ON COAL SITUATION
LOWDEN INSISTS PEOPLE SAVE
AS THEY NEVER SAVED BEFORE
--UTiLITIES BOARD TO ACT.

Chicago, Dec. i.--Govcrnor Lowdcn
at his suite IN the Blackstone hOteI
yesterday 'wadcd into" the fuel crisis
problems, conterring with nine opera
tors, miners representatives. and con
servation committees. Late last night
lfr issued Il proclamation OF warning
TO the people of Illinois.
Early in the day the Governor tel
ophoncd James NJ. Wikerson, char.
man OF the State Public uuntieS
Commission, urging That they work
fast and do something to rem.
edy the coal situation, as II is getting
increasingly serious"
His proclamation calling upon the
people OF illinois to conserve coal as
they never conserved before, as Il
means OF STAYING off famine, came
on the heels OF the final conference
OF the day, in which he met the com.
mittee OF five" headed by Samuel In
sui.
Proclamation of Governor.
The proclamation issued by the
ttNtIHOl lOuONa 3,
The coal situation in Illinois and
in the country at large is serious III
the extreme, The supply of coal is
very limited, no relief in sight, and
possible coal famine at hand. Ony
by the most sparing use of coal VIII 1t
be possible to conserve what VIII be
required for absolutely necessary
purposes The Public Utilities Com
mission has today issued an order, IN
substance as follows:
The commission ordered all pubic
utilities subject to its jurisdiction to
immediately cease turni 5hlng service
for all unnecessary interior and eX-
TENOR illumination, including signs.
display lights and show windows; to
permit service to shops, business es-
adjustments ana warehouses teXCept
cold storagel for but six and one-halt
hours per day, provided. where there
is continuous operation, such service
must be discontinued TOR tWo working
days each week; TO permit service to
retail stores III the central district OF
Chicago from / o'clock a. m to
O'Clock =. III. only, and in the outiy
q,
i O'Clock p, NJ on Saturdays; TO per-
init service to Offices banks and other
places of hu ,iness, including office
buildings from clock a. m. TO 800
O'Clock p. III. each day: to permit ser.
vice to theatres AMI similar places OF
amusement Tor six performances each
week one in the afternoon and five
in the evening. without restriction up.
on motion picture houses.
II urge upon all consumers of coal,
whether they come under the jurisdir-
ton of the Public Utilities Commits.
sion or not, to follow rigidy the pro
visiEs OF this order also urge upon
all users Of coal, whether for indus.
trial, commercial or domestic purpos-
es, to conserve with the utmost care
their present supplies, Only by follow
ing strictly these rules VIII We be able
to avert possible disaster. This ap-
peal is not only to citizens and bus
mess interest OF Chicago, but 20 those
Of the entire state, and earnestly
call upon them to observe It.
FRANK O. l.OWUEN."
lowden Meets harrington.
luouSII an LHt tpHlclttS llolSIei
that The question of operating tae !
mines was, for the time being at
least left in the hands of federal au-
thOrtieS, the Governor did meet
Frank Harrington, president of the III
inois Federation OF Miners The
Governor would not discuss the sig.
nificance OF that meeting.
Il, was mereiy~an informal talk IN
which the Governor sought some sug-
geston- for handling the coal slua-
ton said the miners leader, who
left the city Immediately after the
conference.
did the Governor ask you about the
pros poets of the Illinois mine workers
accepting the II per cent wage IN
crease and going back TO work." he
was asked.