The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-05
OIL INDUSTRY
UNDER CONTROL
OF GOVERNMENT
California Man Is Named
Administrator Under
Fuel Department
TRANSPORTATION
CHIEF PROBLEM
Regulations Are Announc-
ed and Dealers Will
Be Licensed
(By Associated Press.)


Washington, Feb. 5.-Governmeni
control of industry was extended to
oil in q proclamation by President
Wilson last night, putting under
license the manufacture and distri-
button of all fuel oils. No mention
is made Of other oils or oil products
including gasoline and kerosene,
but they, too. probably will be put
under control soon.
Authority under the proclama-
ton is to be vested in Mark L.
Requa Of California, recently named
as chief OF the fuel administration
oil division. Licenses must be OBJ
tanned before Feb. IL by all manu-
facturers and distributors whose
gross sales of fuel, including gas
oil, amount to more than 100000
barrels a year.
A series of regulations drawn by
the fuel administration establishes
in the east list of preferential con-
sumers who must be supplied in the
order they are given regardless Of
contracts outstanding.
Difficulties of transportation, it is
declared, both in the PRESIDENT
proclamation and in statement
prepared by the fuel administration,
make licensing necessary that es-
sential industries be supplied. OPP
Grafton Of the control will put the
supplies OF the less essential in
dustries where lack of transporta-
ton creates a shortage. The pref
erentiaI list is set forth as follows:
Railroads and bunker fuel; ex-
port deliveries or shipments for
the army or navy; export shipments
for the navies and other war pur-
poses of the allies; hospitals where
oil is now being used for fuel; pub
lie utilities and domestic consumers
now using fuel oil, including gas
oil: shipyards engaged in govern
ment work; navy yards; arsenals;
plants engaged in the manufacture,
production and storage Of feed
products; army and navy canton
ments where oil now is being used
for fuel; industrial consumers en-
gagged in the manufacture of NUM-
lions and other articles under gov
eminent orders; all other classes.
In issuing the preferential list,
the fuel administration at the same
time exempted all users of oil from
the operation Of the Monday closing
order as It has been shown that
most of the oil consumers already
were excepted under previous ex-
emptions. This exemption includes
not only users of fuel oils, but also
consumers OF all petroleum and
petroleum products.
Presidents Message.
After reviewing the fuel control
act. under which the proclamation
is issued, the Presidents order set
forth:
move promptly our abundant sup
ply of fuel oil by reason OF the
frafic congestion on our railroads
and the transfer to trans Atlantic
seaboard of a. large number OF
tank steamers ordinarily engaged in
trade, and it therefore
seems desirable that q plan of con-
troll be made effective in case the
distributing companies are unable
TO transport as required fuel oil, 70
all consumers now being served.
Now, therefore, hereoy
find and determine and by this proc
lamation do announce that II Is
essential in order to carry into ef-
feet the purposes of said act, to
license the importation, manufac-
TIRE. storage and distribution OF
fuel oil to the extent hereinafter
specified. All persons, firms and
associations engaged in the business
Of both manufacturing and distribu-
ton OF fuel oil, including gas oil,
whose gross sales, amount
10 more than 100000 barrels per
annum, are hereby required to Sc
cure on or before Feb. IL, 1918, q
license which license shall be issued
under such rules and regulations
governing the conduct OF the bust
ness as may be prescribed
{ Nearly one-half Of the fleet Of on
tankers which have brought ON
from Mexico to the United states
have been withdrawn from the SER
vice. it was said last night, to sup
ply the American and allied navies.
This has depleted the oil supply in
the United States to a considerable
extent and has created a serious
situation in the east. In the west,
too, especially In California, con-
sumption Is outstripping produc-
ton. IL, tsssel. A.--.lslAsa