Evening star., 1946-12-04
Embargo
Continued From First Page,

assure that coal-burning locomotives
can be kept running on reduced
schedules until mid-February.
They did not predict a coal strike
lasting that long but said the fuel
saving measures are precautionary
in event no more coal is mined be-
fore then.
New Passenger Curb Ordered.
The measures, coming in swift
succession late yesterday, hit both
nome and factory. They:
/. Clamped an embargo on all
rail freight and express shipments,
with the exception of commodities
and supplies necessary to the main
tenance of public health and safety,
effective at 1891 am. Friday.
2. Ordered second rs per cent
cut in rail passenger mileage, effec-
tive 11:59 pm, Sunday. :
8. Limited the weight Of parcel
post to five pounds in packages
measuring not more than Is inches
in length and so inches In length
and girth combined, effective 1901
m, Friday.
4. Subjected all export shipments
except bulk grain, livestock and ex-
ports for the armed services to ship
ment under special permit, effec-
tive last midnight.
To Cut Shipments 50 Per Cent.
officials of the Office Of Defense
Transportation estimated the en-
barge action would reduce freight
and express shipments so per cent.
The new slash in passenger mile
age for coal-burning trains presaged
new layoffs in the railroad industry,
where $4,000 already are idle.
ODT Director j. Monroe Johnson,
explaining that his reports indicate
that the railroads only have 27-
day coal supply on hand at the
present rate of consumption, as
serted that:
MY deadline (for taking further
action was set at rs days. We are
too close to that to postpone action
any further. Industry and
the public will be hard hit by the
restrictions, but we cannot further
continue to gamble with the coal
stocks on hand. We have an en-
tire Nation to feed"
The net effect of the orders on
the public can be summed up brief
ly: Christmas travel and mailing
viii be curtailed severely; there will
be increased unemployment, as in
dustry throughout the Nation either
drastically clrbs operations or shuts
down entirely due to the freight re-
strictions.
Excepted from the freight en-
barge are food, livestock and poultry
feed, livestock and poultry, dry and
liquid fuels. medicines, drugs, sur
gical instruments and dressings,
newspapers, magazines, newsprint,
printing ink, water publication
chemicals, insecticides and fungi
cides, ice, drinking water and a
number of other supplies considered
necessary for the public health and
safety.
Likewise, the following four classes
of goods are not affected by the par
eel post limitations: Live day-old
poultry; seeds, plants and other
nursery stock; eggs. butter and other
perishable foods, and medicines,
drugs, surgical instruments and sur
gical dressings.
Nor do the limitations apply to
packages being sent to members Of
the armed forces serving overseas.
Ordinary international parcel post
Is prohibited.
Diesel Use May Ease Impact.
The freight embargo will be ad-
ministered by w. c. Kendall, an Of
fetal of the Association Of American
Railroads. Railroad reaction, as ex-
pressed by another official Of the
association was simply this:
I'VE want to move every pound
of freight possible and still stay
within the intent of the order, which
is to save coal"
He explained that although the
order made on exception for rail-
roads which operate Diesel equip
ment, he felt that If a road could
show it could handle more freight
with Diesel locomotives than al
lowed under the order 1t would be
in an excellent position to obtain
exemptions.
10000 Plants May Close.
Other industry reaction:
A rail spokesman at Chicago pre-
dicted that the new cut in passenger
mileage would strike sharpest at
commuter service and long haul
traffic east Of Chicago.
Leverett s. Lyon, chief executive
officer of the Chicago Association Of
Commerce, estimated that the en-
barge would result in the gradual
closing of more than 10000 indus
trial plans" in the city area. He
added.