Arizona republican., 1920-08-22
RATION|NG SYSTEM
 u KEEP GAS PRICE
 DOWN Is REQUESTED

Efforts of refining comnanies to ob ldln government support to their pro poseo plan for rationing gasoline have been unavailing, principally because the government has no aufho,,i+xr fo~ sucn acton unless it is decreed an emergency exists. Representatives of the various oil interests have been in Wasnington for several days, endeav- ofe.g osng 10 enlist the support of federal olilcials for the rationing system winch refiners propose to enforce in every state and community, if possible All federal agencies have made it clear 70 the proponents of this plan that 1t would require a special act of congress pr presidential proclamation, both of which are improbable, to enable the government to participate in any such scheme
 It was stated here today that T. A. D:nes, vice president of the Mid West Refining company. and c. c. Sheffield, or the Standard Oil company of New Jersey, constituted the committee to represent refining companies Ac- cordfng to these officials rationing system must be enforced to curtail consumption and keep prices down. feflners say they would depend upon the voluntary cooperation of dealers and consumers to make this plan eff 1ecttve- Judging from the statements of the committee, it is proposed to dole out fixed quota to each dealer. based
 
 and other gasoline consuming engines in each territory.
 Refiners anticipate formidable oppo- sition on the part of automobile deal CTS throughout the country. They claim, however, that these dealers and others will soon recognize the advan- tage of their scheme, which is intended to keep the price of gasoline below 40 cents a gallon.
 Statistics of refinery operations in May, compiled and issued today by the bureau of mines, shows an increase of 4Ss,652 gallons over the daily rate of production during the preceding month of April. It is encouraging to note that the gasoline production for May is the highest on record, the daily average being 12.292.SS0 gallons. Domestic con- sumption continues to exceed produc- tion- The consumption during May increased 28 per cent more than April. That the seasonal demand for gasoline has made heavy inroads on available stocks is indicated by the report of a reduction of 65,SS0,S gallons which was taken from the stocks. It was not until June, or two months later in the season. that the 1919 gasoline stocks started to decrease.
 It is significant to note that exports of gasoline for May were 25,125.000 gallons larger than the preceding month This official statement ap- parently confirms the charges of Cali fornia automobile dealers that exports were increasing while the domestic supply became a1armingly short A re- auction of 100 per cent in shipments of gasoline to insu1ar possessions has been reported.
 Lubricating oils. too, reached the highest point of production in May with a daily average of 2,S79,110 gal Ions. Lubricating stocks on May 8 were 136,000,000 gallons. or a decrease of 39,000,000 gallons since June. 1919 z Exports of lubricating oils for the first Il five months of this year represented ar q increase of AT per cent over the cor v responding period in 1919- Domestic q consumption of lubricating oils for the first five months of 1920 was 39. ,00t gallons. or 21 per cent larger than 1T 1gI9-