The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1919-12-03
DRASTIC ORDERS ENFORCED FOR
FUEL CONSERVATION IN THE SOUTH


the United States railroad admins
tration were issued here tonight by
the regional coal committee. The
orders effective at noon Monday,
December /, provide chiefly that:
Stores and office buildings may use
heat, light and power only between
8 a. m. and p. m. Drug stores for
selling drugs only are excepted.
Theaters. moving picture shows
and other public amusement places
may use heat, light or power only
between p. m. and 10:30 p. m.
Industries, except public utilities
and plants engaged in continuous
processes that cannot be interrupted,
may be operated only 4S hours per
week.
No ornamental lights, white way
lights, or other unnecessary street
lights, outline lighting, electric signs
or illuminated bill boards to be oper-
ated.
The committee is acting under the
wartime powers Of the United States
fuel administration and it announced
that Sin cases of refusal to comply
with these regulations coal supplies
or electric current will be cut off, and
where it appears that violation of
law is involved federal district at
torneys will be asked to act"
Wide Area Affected.
All territory east of the Mississip-
pi river and south of the Ohio and
Potomac rivers, except Virginia and
West Virginia is effected by this
order, which committee members said
was made imperative because of the
continued strike of soft coal miners.
The announcement to the public,
which shows certain other eXcep-
tions except to those for drug stores
follows:
Immediate and sharp curtailment
Of the uses of fuel by consumers in
the first five classes Of the fuel adj
ministration's preference list has be-
come necessary. Coal production
continues below the actual daily re-
quirements of these classes, and 1T
now is imperative that steps be
taken to prevent suffering in the
homes and the shutting down of pub
lie institutions, upon which the SAT-
ETY. and comfort of all communities
depend.
Therefore, the Southern Regional
Coal Committee, exercising the au-
thority of the United States fuel ad-
ministrator under the Lever act and
under proclamations of the president
of the United States, has determined
upon program of curtailment de-
signed to conserve the rapidly dimin-
ishing stocks of coal with the least
possible inconvenience and discom-
fort to the public. This programme
becomes effective at noon, Monday,
December /, 1919, throughout the ter
ritory under the jurisdiction of this
committee (except the state of Vir-
ginia, where the fuel situation is adj
miaistered largely by the Pochahontas
region coal committee.) In this ter
tory are the states of North Carolina
South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and
Louisiana, east of the Mississippi
River.
The committee recognizes that the
mandatory restrictions are unneces- 4
sary so far as the vast majority Of
citizens at the head of business and
industry are concerned. But, in fair
ness to that majority, all consumers
must be required to conform to the
regulations now imposed. The COM
mittee is calling upon governors of
states, mayors of cities, sheriffs and
all other public officers to lend sup
port to enforcement where enforce
ment may be necessary. The fuel ad-
ministration is exercising its author
ity through the director general of
railroads and his representatives,
consequently each railroad officer or
agent, ,in delivering and policing the
use of coal, under the direction of
his superior, is acting as a repre-
sentative Of the United States fuel
administrator. Municipal and county
officers are asked particularly to CO.
operate with these agents and Of
fieers.
an cases Of refusal to comply with
thes regulations, coal supplies or
electric current will be cut off and
where it appears that violation of
the law is involved federal district
attorneys will be asked to act.
May Go Even Farther.
at will be necessary to continue