Evening star., 1922-12-17
STANDARD SOUGHT
| FOR GASOLINE
Campaign May Be Undertak-
en- by Maryland Auto
mobile Club.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE. December ia cam
paign for the adoption Of a standard
for determining the quality of gaso-
line may be undertaken by the Auto
mobile Club of Maryland, which has
referred the question to its board of
governors for study, at the sugges-
tion of DR.. A. r. L. Dohme.
According TO DR.. Dohme. the Auto
mobile Club is enthusiastic in Its
support of the idea. and the board OF
governors, after making thorough
investigation of the problem. would
instruct its counsel. Edgar Allan Poe,
to draw up the legislation, necessary
to put the plan evolved into effect.
Difficulty Seen.
The objection has been raised by
some that it would be difficult to put
DIR. Dohme's. idea into practical op-
the chemist, it seems, 1t would be
easy enough to establish a standard
by which the quality of all gasoline
might be judged.
Spencer A. Covell. now gas cngi-
neer for the public service commls-
oaoi anu .OIiuCIiy CoHIlcCltu " III tHc
United States bureau Of standards.
explained that gasoline is made up of
a number of liquids called hydro
carbons. which volatilize at different
temperatures. A desirable gasoline
would be one which volatilized over a
small range of temperatures and
comparatively low. If a maximum
volatilization temperature were es-
tabiished and the content Of water
and other inert matter specified. Mr..
Covell said. fixing a standard would
be relatively easy. as would the
analysis Of samples for alleged viola
;ions.
DIsaErees With Idea.
Mr.. Covell was not inclined TO
agree with DIR. Dohme, however. when
the latter said that the plan could be
put into operation with little diff
Guilty. Unless all the gasoline used
in Maryland were refined in this state
and all the gas" refined in this state
were used here. he pointed out. a ma
tional act would be required, and even
then enforcement would be difficult.
Otherwise. with no such standard in
effect in other states. great confu-
sion would result. Much of the gaso-
line used in Maryland is refined else
where.
To establish a standard of quality
would not mean. DIR. Dohme said. that
dll EdSOllue SOlO must necessarily De
of the same composition. The manu-
facture of improved fuels he explain
ed. would not be interfered with
Any law which was enacted would
merely provide that when a mar
bought gasoline" he would get al
least a definite minimum of poten-
tial power.
No Large Force Needed.
He does not believe that a large
force of inspectors would be required
to enforce the law. "One or two in
spectors. who might visit any dealer
at any time, would be sufficient" DR.
DOhme said.
An entirely opposite view Of the
question is taken by John y. Mack
all. chairman of the state roads com
mission. who was active in advocatine 6
the gasoline tax established by tn.
legislature last winter. such a Law
would be entirely unnecessary anG
wholly impracticable." he said. 'Tht
motorist has the choice of a doZer
different makes and blends. He uses
the fuel that gives him the best re-
suits and the manufacturer of pool
gasoline goes to the wall.
Several automobile mechanics de
clared. however that the driver of ar
automobile could not tell with any
certainty which particular fuel was
giving him the best service.