The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-12-05
NATIONAL FUEL ORDER
HITS INDUSTRIES HARD
Holiday Season Getting Into Full Swing When Dras-
tic Ruling by Fuel Board Forces Merchants to
Close eEarly---Manufacturer Also Affected
BY RALPH POOL

tnrDGi DN GL tllS ANNiAI VI MI "
the fuel admistration' given to
! the press Of the country for pub
fcati,n last Sunday, instructing
.b2+ stores and office buildings
may use heat, light and power
on1v from Q a. III. to 4 p. m. TAX.
mo. the standpoint that no Official
orders to close had been received
the business men of this city,
with 4 few exceptions, did not OBJ
serve the published regulations
Noniav and Tuesday. On We'd
nesdav d proclamation by Mayor
Gather resulted in the strict OBJ
seryance Of the law throuhout
the city.
The manufacturing plants Of
the city are facing a. serious
dilemma in that their employees
are showing a disposition to de-
mand full-time pay for the 48
hours which mills. factories and
the like are permitted to operate
per week. With the holiday seas
on lust getting into full swing the
drug stores, department stores
and other firms dealing in Xmas
goods will be hard hit by the en-
forcement Of the new regulations.
In short time, practically every
business and manufacturing es
tabIi>hnent in the city will be
hurt to a greater or less degree
bv the mandate of the fuel ad-
min;stration.
The ruling which will be en-
forced under the wartime powers
Of the Fuel Adrpinistraion, pro-
vides that stores and office bull
djngs mavs use seat, light and
power oniv between 9 a. m. and 4
?. III. Bakeries, restaurants and
drug stores or the sale of drugs
only may Use heat light and pow
e. from s &. N. to g p. m, while
theatres. moving picture houses
another places Of public amuse-
ment are permitted to use seat,
light and power only between l
?. m. and 1870 p. m. All adver-
tising signs and billboards using
electricity and all white way
lights. show windows and other
non-essential lights must be cut
Of entirely Industries, except
in the case Of plants operating
continuous processes, may ope-
rate only 48 hours each week.
Violation OF the order will result
in fuel supplies being cut off
from the offending cities, and in
addition the attention of federal
district attorneys will be called
to the vio1ators. It is further
pointed out that new and more
rigid restrictions may be neces-
sary at an early date, unless the
coal output can be put upon
normal basis soon
Meanwhile the coal situation
appears to be as uncertain as
ever Government officials are
hopeful that the authorized in
crease Of IA percent in the wages
of coal miners would bring many
back to work within a few days.
however the men seem still dis
posed to hold out for more mon
ey. Attorney General Palmer, in
statement Tuesday called upon
the American people to "refuse
to be stampeded by threats of
lack OF coal into concessions
which will insure unreasonably
hlgh prices in all commodities for
at least three years to come" "
Governor Roberts of Tennessee
announces that he will file pro-
ceedings against every mine in
that State not being operated
because of refusal of miners to
work, with a view to having re-
ce1vers appointed for the proper
ties and thus forcing their ope-
ration The Governor stated fur
ther that court action against
mining properties may be ex-
pected at once.
Governors of seven soft coal
Producing States in conference
at Chicago this week agreed that