Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-26
GASOLINE IS TOPIC
At BUREAU HEARING
Joint Committee of Two Bodies
Hears Suggestions on Stand
ardization of Product.
NEED OF GRADING URGED

Suggestions for solving the question
of standardixing gasoline were received
| today by the joint committee of the
bureau of mines and bureau of stand
ards charged with the duty OF deter
mining what would be a reasonable
standard. The committee is sitting at
the bureau of standards and is hearing
testimony from oil refners, jobbers,
state oil inspectors and automobile en-
gineers
The information given the committee
this morning by several Of the speakers
tended to show that there was no demand
for the federal government to fix a stand
demand for some law which would pre-
vent any one from mixing kerosene with
gasoline and selling 1t as gasoline.
Mr.. Burton's Suggestion.
After some little testimony along this
line. Vice President Burton Of the
Standard Oil Company of Indiana sug-
gested to the committee that It should
outline some plan for determining when
kerosene had been added to gasoline.
He said he had no suggestions to offer
as to how this could be done, but
thought that the committee in the light
of the knowledge it had of the situa-
ton could easily do this.
Guy Stephens, representing the Texas
Oil Company, suggested that gasoline
should be divided III two grades and SO
labeled that the consumer could know
just what he was getting. He said
there was demand for knowledge
about gasoline on the part of the con-
sumner at this time.
A l.. Clayden. representing the Society
OF Automobile Engineers, warned the COM
mittee that In fixing specifications for
gasoline they should not lose sight of the
millions of cars now in use designed to use
the grade of gasoline now produced. To
change them SO as to use the heavier or
poorer grades of motor fuel would involve
an outlay of $1,000 0,00O He said the
majority of cars now in use cannot use
the heavier grades Of fuel
Regulation L. Not solution.
Regulation Of the sale Of gasoline by
making specifications is not the solution
to the complaints about the product. 1t
was suggested at the afternoon session of
the joint committee OF the bureau Of
standards and bureau Of mines, which is
seeking to determine whether there is
need. for standardizing gasoline. The
regulation. It was suggested, should come
In the way Of requiring a person who
mixes kerosene with the product after it
leaves the truck wagons to SO state it.
govern the situation, according to r. L.
WEIGH OF Chicago, representing the West
ern Petroleum Jobbers' Association, and
not any laws Of Congress. He said that
the matter had simmered down to a ques-
ton OF fraud. He said that the country
should be informed that the oil industry
was up against the most serious situation
imaginable in attempting to supply the In
creasins number Of motor cars in the face
trrSN
Mr.. WEIGH took the stand that the peo-
pie were obtaining gasoline cheaper than
they were any other product, and said
that the people did not demand gasoline
on specifications.
Could Not Reach ALL es
W. NJ. Burton. vice president Of the
Standard Oil Company Of Indiana,
pointed out that federal law govern
ing the sale Of gasoline would reach
only Q comparatively small amount Of
the product The general counsel Of
his company, he said, had advised him
that 20 long a. the gasoline remained
the property Of the company, whether
not subject to the laws Of interstate
commerce.. II the federal government
should act, he doubted very much II
the states would follow the standard
uXcQ " tho government Tor n1B COM
pany, he said he would prefer to take
his chances with the state legislatures.
He said he was opposed to anything
that looked like grading. and that It
was of paramount necessity that the
refners be left free to meet the de-
mand as they could or they would
never be able to take care of the large
consumption of the product. There
should be little or no restriction in
the matter, he said. Mr.. Burton also
believed that the corrections should be
1eveled at the garage men and other
distributors. for 1t was there. he said,
that frauds were practiced by putting
kerosene into the gasoline.
c. d. Chamberlain. representing the
National Petroleum Association, said
that his organization was opposed to-
anv federal regulation