New-York tribune., 1919-12-11
Plans Laid for
Stricter Fuel
Rules in City
Protest Against Six-Hour
Heating Period Filed at
Washington by Stores;
Would Cut Illumination

Settlement Of the biturrircus coal
miners strife made little difference to
New York City yesterday, Not a single
display light was permitted to wink in
celebration of the event. and to-day
on even rore drastic en- 'orcement of
he Federal fuel conservation regula-
ions is threatened.
Public Service Commits Lewis
Nixon. made fuel administrator 70.
New York City by Governor smisn
ired up the Police Department in his
eff'rts to have the restrictions en-
forced. He conferred with Actirc
commissioner Leach and arranged fol
q daily report by the police to hin
on the carrying out of the regulations
At the Office Of A. T. Hardin, regiona
director o. railroads, it was said tha
the Lever act would be used agains
violators Of the fuel admins tration':
mandates. This act, wartime meas.
IRE, provides Tor a penalty of 5000
fine or two years Imprisonment, OF
both, for offenders.
Both Mr.. Nixon and Mr.. Hardin de-
MED stories of Gi agreement as to the
placing of restrictions. They con-
ferred twice by telephone, and each
time were in complete accord.
Many Fail to Obey Order
The confusion. which has character
lied the fuel situation since the re-
strictions were first promulgated, on
Monday, was not relieved yesterday
Few changes iii customary lighting and
heating schedules were made by de-
partment stores and Office buildings
yesterday, pending the result of con-
ferences with Mr.. Nixon.
1t was evident last night that many
of the Office buildings had not complied
with the fual-saving order
The new local Fuel Administrator
made an effort to Clarity the situation
yesterday by issuing a supplementary
fuel order
In it he advised that industrial plants
would not have to be closed three days
week as provided in the original
The order, he said:
~. w. Lieb, of the National Com
mittee Of Gas and Electricity, has
been appealed to to save the industries
using power in this city.
Can Operate on Old Coal
"This morning he received the fol-
lowing ruling from G. W. Elliott, sec
retary of the Central Coal Committee
at Washington:
Central Coal Committee has given
me the following Interpretation of
power restrictions. Clause /: Pub ic
utilities may continue to furnish power
to manufacturers as usual, without any
restrictions, if power is generated from
bituminous coal stocks now actually on
hand. Power restrictions not operative
until the public utility is furn shed
coal by or through Fuel Admnstra-
ton
"Mr Lieb informs me that under
these instructions there will be no cur
tailment Of industrial power for the
time being"
In discussing the restrictions, Mr..
Nixon said that with the CO weather
approaching every precaution for con-
servation must be taken. Every effort
was being made, he said, to reduce the
hardships placed upon the city by the
order, especially since it affected in
dustries and occupations in the holi-
day season.
"But with the surface coal at the
mines used up" he said, land the
necessary replacement, the time it will
take to resume operation, lift the coal
and ship it in the normal way, the
condition throughout the West and
the present diversion of coal to West
ern points, we cannot assume that or
ders carefully considered in Wash
ngton can be disregarded"
Regulations Clarified
He then made clear tne following
regulations:
Shops are permitted to use six
hours Of lighting. This can be
added to as much daylight as they
may wish to use.
Officers conyre ling the handling
of coal may use light but at min
imum.
After-hour elevator service should
be started a. 4:3O.
Consular officers are not affected.
but those in control are asked to
cnrtail their light as much as pos
sble.
Offices and Industries having re-
serves of bituminous coal can use it
as freely as they wish, but can OBJ
Continued on page three