Evening star., 1946-05-09
Coal Crisis Near Stage Of Strike
On Government Truman Saws;
GIN and Chrys|er to Close Plants
225,000 Workers
Will Be Laid Off
By Auto Makers
BY the Associofed Press

General Motors and Chrysler
Corp. announced in Detroit to-
day they would suspend produc-
tion in their assembly plants as
a result of the rail embargo
growing out of the coal strike.
GIN reported its plants would be
closed within the next 10 days and
Chrysler said all passenger car as
sembly lines would be shut down
next week. Chrysler's truck assem-
bly, lines and other operations will
continue to work.
Affected by the suspension are
215,000 General Motors employees
and, Immediately, 10000 car assem-
bly, workers in the Chrysler plants.
The GIN and Chrysler announce
ments followed closely the decision
of the Ford Motor Co., other men,
ber OF the industrys. big Three"
to halt all output. Ford began its
shutdown last night: General Mo-
tors said its assembly lines will be-
gin to close Monday on a progress
sive basis.
Ford previously had announced
that due to coal and parts shortages
an estimated 10000 of it's produc-
tion workers throughout the coun-
try will be forced into idleness.
Other Closings Likely.
The country's car and truck out
put, which reached a postwar high
of 67,585 units last week, is ex-
pected to drop to around $4,000 next
week as result of the complete
suspension by Ford and GIN and
the passenger car shutdown by
Chrysler.
Few Of the other car manufac-
turers are in any better shape re-
garding supplies than the Big
Three" and additional closings are
likely.
All were expected to be hit hard
by the Government edict curtailing
rail transportation of parts Ship
ments effective tomorrow. Some in
dustrial spokesmen said a general
shutdown may be expected within
two weeks unless striking coal miners
return to work.
As the new development darkened
the Nations industrial picture.
steam-powered railroads pushed
their efforts to meet a midnight
deadline on the sweeping freight
embargo and Is per cent slash In
passenger service. Coal stocks
available to the Government for
emergency distribution dropped to
less than a half days normal supply ).
Commuters to Be Hit.
The freight embargo, ordered BY
the Once of Defense Transporta-
ton, bans hauling by coal-consum-
ing railways of all shipments except
fuel, food and other essentials. The
ODT also urged "over the road"
shippers to give priority to move
ment Of essential supplies to prevent
shipments banned on railroads from
being diverted to trucks.
The Is per cent curtailment of
railroad passenger service was ex-
pected to affect commuter service
in metropolitan areas as several rail-
roads withdrew trains, effective at
midnight tonight.
Typical of these was the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, which Cancelled the
runs OF 46 trains serving four
State area surrounding Pittsburgh.
An additional Is per cent cut in
passenger service will go into effect
May Is.
The Association of American Rail-
roads estimated that 400, 600 workers
had been laid off in industries
served by the roads. It stated that
about 1000 PASSENGER trains running
nearly 100000 miles daily would be
discontinued tomorrow when the Is
per cent slash in coal-bLrning rail
service becomes effective.
Brownouts Spreading.
Imposition of the brownouts con-
tinue in various sections of the East
and Midwest.
Detroit started observance of the
brownout last night and Mayor JEFF
fries warned that return to war
time blackout methods may be
necessary if the coal strike con-
tinues. Other Michigan cities indi-
Gated today they will follow the
Detroit example.
Chicago instituted still more
sweeping orders where dimout en-
forcement has closed theaters, tav-
erns, restaurants and garages. The
Public Service Commission ordered
retail stores and factories to close at
6 pm. daily starting today because
the city has only Today supply of
coal. A saving of almost 40 per cent
in coal consumption was reported
there.
The Illinois Commerce Commission
announced it would make its Z iginal
dimout more elastic" to or. vent
undue hardship on individuals, but
it did not change basic RESTRICT. Isl
which permit industrial users ony
"a hours of electric power a week
anu SOAAllAICkSld1 uOClS 1OuT llOuIS
daily, six days week. Persons or
firms desiring a more elastic" ap-
plication of the orders will be re-
quired to apply to the commission
and prove their need.
In North Carolina, Public Utilities
Commissioner Stanley Winborne was
quoted by the Associated Press as
hoping" it would not be necessary
to ration electric power in north
eastern sections of the State served
by the Virginia Electric g. Power Co.
Truman Soon 10 Present
His Reorganization Plan
President Truman said today he
expects to send a Government re-
organization plan to Congress soon.
na told hic oorr,c onvHfaxo,,oz ~