The Washington times., 1903-11-01
HARDSHIP is WORKED
BY NEW REGULATIONS
Gasoline Ordinance, 1t Is
Said, Aids Oil Combine.
PROTESTS ARE GROWING
Dealers and Consumers Both Making
Complaints-AH Glasses Suffer
Increased Expenses.

The protests against the new regula-
lions restricting the storage Of gasolene
are growing The poor people. 1t was
said yesterday. are the sufferers, while
the only person or persons benefited is
the Standard Oil Company.
Small dealers and consumers alike are
complaining One OF the former said
yesterday:
should the use of gasolene in dwell
ing houses be prohibited in the District
Of Columbia. the retail dealers in gaso-
lene and coal oil would be pushed to the
wall and the retail oil trade Of the city
would be In the hands of the Standard
oil Company.
Disastrous to Trade.
1.-THE proposed police regulation pro-
hibiting the sale Of inhammable oils
Qzerosene AMI coal oil not included)
which Will burn at a Temperature less
than 120 degrees Fahrenheit IN buildings
used as dwellings, which is now before
the District Commissioners. Will, It is
Urged by retail dealers In Washington.
be disastrous 70 their trade
"At present the retail dealer sells on
the average LOCO gallons Of coal oil and
800 gallons Of gasolene each week dur
ing the winter. In summer, he sells 1000
gallons Of gasolene and 200 gallons Of
coal oil.
The reason given for this change in
the amounts sold in the different seasons
is that coal oil is used almost exclu-
sively for heating purposes, and case
lene is used for cooking. In the winter.
therefore, there is g demand for coal
oil for the heating stoves.
THE greater part of the cooking dur
ing the cold season is done on coai
stoves.
Means More Expense.
In the summer. on the other hand.
the heating stoves are put in the garnet.
the coal fires laid aside, and the gaso-
lene cooking stoves brought into use.
IF the use Of gasolene is prohibited
for cooking purposes. the few persons
not wishing to use coal fires in the
summer must turn to coal oil At pres
ent. however. there are few persons in
the District who own coal Gil cooking
stoves.
The retail dealers argue that it would
take the people year or two years 10
provide themselves with coal oil cooking
stoves and that in tire meantime there
are six summer months coming soon, in
which they would have practically no
business and would have TO abandon
the trade as a livelihood.
The Standard OIL Company. it is said,
has everything to gain from tie passage
of such a law.
1T will PUT coal oil cooking stoves
on the market, and. as has been said
before. will leave an uninterrupted field
in Washington when the retail dealers
have been compelled to go out OF bust
ness.
Affects Middle Class.
1T is said. moreover. that by far the
greater amount of gasolene is sold not
10 the poor and ignorant. but TO the
| middle classes. This is somewhat con-
trary TO the testimony given by r. c
! Baughman before the Commissioners. t
the effect that so per cent of the 400, 90
! gallons consumed in the District an
lnuaIly is used by poor and ignorant
persons. The question is raised whether
there are enough poor and ignorant per
| sons In washington TO buy that amount
OF gasolene-
Fires arising from gasolene stoves
it is said, are so few that there is nj
reason for alarm on the part of fire in
| surance companies
Referred to Counsel.
Commissioner MacIdrlano mas recon-
mended reference to the Corporation
Counsel OF the question whether TIT
Commissioners have authority to maxi
a regulation prohibiting the sale, stor
age, OF use OF gasolene or other highl,
infammable oils which will fash at
temperature less than 10 degrees Fab
renhelt IN houses used wholly or in par
for dwelling purposes. w. S. Duvall. at
torney for the Automobile Storage an'
Repair Company, held the Commission
ers had no authority to draft or enforc
the proposed regulation.
/ Numerous citizens and corporation
have submitted personal or written peti
tions, requesting action. The opinion
among District officials Is the Commits
sioners have no authority 70 draft an
prohibitive regulation, but that the as
and sale OF gasolene can only be re
stricted or regulated.