The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-02
ONLY ESSENTIAL CONSUMERS ID BE
 ALLOWED COAL, IS
 FEDERAL RULING
Restrictions Even More Drastic Than Those Ap- piled During War Or
 dered Applied to Slave
 Off Coal Famine
sr AsseIatea rrsss

Washington, December l.-- Wartime restrictions on the nations use of coal, more stringent even than those ap- piled during the war, were or dered into effect today to slave off a fuel faminine.
 Moved by reports of diminishisg coal stock and growing danger of distress tn numerous sections, the government sought no compromise with striking mine workers whose waikout forced the emergency, but asked for national determination to endure prfvation and discomfort until coal. mining. was re- stunned on it's terms.
 Fuel Administrator Garfield, acting in conjunction with the railroad admin istration, gave notice that hereafter only the essential consumers included in the first five classes of the war priorities list would be supplied with coal, and asked the help of all state and municipal authorities to make ra- tioning effective.
 The order, which made national those restrictions already put Into local eff feet by regional committees where the pinch of fuel shortage has been felt. cuts off supplies from all with the ex- ception of transportation agencies. which includes inland and costwise shippings as well as railroads; federal and local government institutions and establishments, including concerns working on government contracts; public utilities. including newspapers. and retail dealers Railroad admins tration officials said that 1t meant 1 widespread cessation of Industrial opv | erations. only fusAFea~A as gravity i of the situation.
 Tt is necessary that coal shall be used only for essential purposes Dr. l Garfield said in giving public notinca- 1 tion of the sksf s4sa3
 MUST CUT OFP POWER Public utilities consuming coal should discontinue to furnish power. heat ard light to nonessential indus tries and should consume only suf- 1 ficient coal to produce enough h<ht. | power and heat to meet the actual urgent needs of the people. Advortis- | ing signs and displays of various kfnds necessitating the use of coal should bs curtailed and no coal should bs dis 1 tributed for such purpose
 l officials said that the terms of ths | the greatest possible variation in local | arrangements, so that emergencies l could be met by action best suited to | that result. Industrial establishments 1 operating their own power plants will 1 be forced to shut down when present supplies are exhausted, while the op- | erations of those whose power Is sup l piled from public utility plants will be l curtailed or continued In the discretion | of l Garfield noted further that the "gov- ernment would be glad to leave super vision and control of distribution by 1 retail dealers entirely to any state. | county or municipality which may | make provision therefor"
 These arrangements, 1t was suggest ed. would all be maintained while they proved adequate, but the federal gov | ernment would hold a final power to intervene by cutting or coal supplies where rationlng measures are not be- ing fairly or fully taken,
 GARFIELD's STATEMENT .It is necessary that coal shall be used Ionly for essenyal purposes" said pr. Garfields statement, explaining the gov ernment's action Public utilities con suming coal discontinue tofurnish power. Iheat and light to essential industries land should only consume sufficient coal Ito produce enough light, power and heat to meet the actual urgent needs of the people Advertising signs ani displays Iof various finfs necessitating the use of coal should be curtaiIed and no coal should be distributed for such purposes.
 "I.ursuant to this policy I have re- luuested the rairoad administl aton in the tistriltuion If coal now or hereafter in it's position to limit dstrbuton to these essential and urgent uses As far as practicable until the conditions warrant l A change, the distribution of coal will be limited to the first five classes of the priority list
 Retail dealers who distribute coal for household requirements, heating hotels. buildings, hospitals, and go forth, should take every precaution to see that coal
 is only delivered where it Is absolutely
 required. and then only in such limited quantities that the supply may be dis ltrihnted widely and prevent suffering.
 ..The state and other local authorities
 can materially aid In inspecting and su-
 neryislng such distribution by retail deal
 CTS and the United States government
 xtl, he glad to leave the supervision and
 control of such distribution by retail
 dealers entirely to any stata county of
 mn, iciraiity which may maSe provision lthe, efor. The distribution to the reta6
 dealers must necessarily be administered
 hv inc railroad administration in pursu-
 sne. ot the orders already made by ths
 Tinted States fuel administration II
 carrvlng out the priorities which have
 hsen prescribed under the Lever act"
 officials were hopeful that the advance
 If "A ger cent In mine workers wage
 word result in getting some of the mel
 .r,nuttnued on Pare Two,