Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-02
COAL SUPPLY $
 SHUT OFF FROM N0N-ESSENTIALS
Restrictions More Drastic Than During War Put Into
 Effect.
SHUTDOWNS THRUOUT
 NATION WILL FOLLOW
Orders Permit Variations So That Local Emergencies Can Be Met Government to Guarantee
 Fairness.

I Washington, Dec. War ti;Ne l restrictions on the nations use of coal, more stringent even than those applied during the war, were order- ed into effect today to slave off a fuel famine.
 Moved by reports of diminishing coal stocks and growing danger of distress i'll numerous sections, the government sought no compromise with striking mine workers whose walkout forced the emergency, but asked for national determination to endure privation and discomfort un- til coal mining was resumed on it's terms.
 Fuel Administrator Garfield, act ing in conjunction with the railroad administration, gave notice that hereafter only the essential consum- CTS included in the first live classes of the war priorities list would be supplied with coal, and asked the help of all state and municipal au- thorities to make rationing effective.
 The order, which made national those restrictions already put into local effect by regional coal com- mittees where the pinch of fuel shortage has been felt, cuts off sup plies from all but transportation agencies, which includes inland and coastwise shipping as we'll as rail- roads; federal and local government institutions and establishments, in- cluding concerns working on govern ment contracts; public utilities, in- cluding newspapers and retail deal CTS. Railroad administration off, cials conceded that it meant wide- spread cessation of industrial oper- ations and was justified only by the gravity of the situation -
 ''It is necessary that coal shall be used only for essential purposes" Dr. Garfield said in giving public notification of the step.
 Public utilities consuming coal should discontinue to furnish power, heat and light to non-essential in- dustries and should consume only sufficient coal to produce enough light, power and heat to meet the actual urgent needs of the people. Advertising signs and displays of various kinds necessitating the use of coal should be curtailed and no coal should be distributed for such purposes"
 Officials said the terms of the or der as given were framed to allow the greatest possible variation in To- cal arrangements, so that emer- gencies could be met by action best suited to that result. Industrial establishments operating their own power plants will be forced to shut down when present supplies are exhausted, while the operations of those whose power is supplied from public utility plants will be cur tailed or continued in the discretion of lccal agencies and officials. Dr. Garfield noted further that the government would bc glad to leave supervision and control of distribu- tion by retail dealers entirely to any state, county or municipality, which may make provision therefor"
 These arrangements, it was sug- gested would all be maintained while they proved adequate, but the federal government would hold fi- nal power to intervene by cutting off coal supplies where rationing measures are not being fairly or fully taken
 Officials were hopeful that the advance of IA per cent in mine workers wages would result in get ting some of the men back to work, especially in view of the fact that coal operators generally were back ing up the offer. But at the same time it was said that a period of several days would he required be- fore the effect of this could be de- termined. Members of a mine op- erators' committee were in Wash in"ton watching the situation. and rrorarin~ for general session Wednesday. when details of appli- cation for the IA per cent increase will be arranoed hut had no reports of work resumption.