Evening journal., 1919-12-12

WASHINGTON. Dec. i2-The nrsi
modification IN the drastic restrictions
placed by the Federal Fuel Administra-
ton upon the use Of coal. following the
settlement OF the bituminous strike, was
announced yesterday, when The Direc-
,Or-Gcneral Of Railroads Walker :.
Hines. in a brief notice 90 the public
stated that because Of the near ap-
proach OF Christmas the six-hour reg
ulaiiOn as affecting stores would te
extended To- nine hours on Saturdays.
This measure OF relief Will De gratc-
iully received OF course. by Christmas
shoppers as well as by The overcrowd- d
shopping ccnters in all cities where the
>iX-hour provision as 10 the use Of
light and heat is in effect.
Moreover. 70 Is not unlikely that the
Railroad Administration viii make
further notifications of The RESTRICT ,e
regulations In the interest OF the
Christmas shopping Already a sug-
yestiOn Is being considered by Director
General Hines and The Central Coal
Committee for the issuance OF an or
der which will permit all stores 90
remain open fun time during the last
four shopping days before Christmas.
hat is December 20, %, % and 81 De-
cember q is sunday.
10 was stated at The Fuel Administr8-
ion, however. that DircciOr-Gencr4i
Hines would consider any plan whicA
might DE submitted 90 him that would
End tO tighten The handicap under
which business is being conducted. pro-
1.ded. OF course. that the enforced
c0nOmy IN the Use OF coal were car
led out as originally designed until
..a consuming market again could be
'ockcd.
a. The Railroad Administration it was
TED that the Direct0r-General would
ve the fullest consideration 90 the
lsge siion that cei1il stores be allowed
remain open without restrictions
airing Tho last four DAYS OF the
uristn3s shopping scc3son and that If
found % advisable 90 do so. afier
.arfcrrin- with the central coal COM
a.ttoe the necessary order would be
sued
The feeling IS growing I'm Government
rse+ that before the end OF another
ak enough coal will be produced by
bee organized miners. most Of whom
expected t0 be- back at work with
ID the rcNt 81 or iS hours. 20 make 70
.ossiDe for the Government TO mod
fy greatly ts conservation measures
without running any serious risk of
famine conditions.
Reports received 5y the Government.
Yesterday are not conclusive as 90 the
attitude of the miners themselves to-
ward The settlement arrived at in In
d.9napol yesterday. But there IS good
reason for believing that most Of The
strikers are not only willing but eagC7
20 return 20 work
For more than five weeks the stril,-
ers have earned little or nothing
Their strike benefit funds were tied up
by the order Of Judye Anderson and
many thousands OF families have been
living on a "shoe-string" basis for
nearly month Most Of them want
10 get back 10 work and 10 make some
mOrey for their own Christmas aside
from the necessity Of providing for
The daily living Of their families.
4 question has been raised here since
the strike settlement in indianapolis.
whether or not the new "a per cent
wage scale Is o. be a substitute for
hat now in effect or whether 10 is
merely 10 1e a modification of thal
scale and 70 may be necessary for the
Government 10 provide The answer.
II the matter remains in doubt. 30 IS