The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1927-09-22
GOVERNOR BYRD MAKES
PUBLIC STATEMENT IN
REGARD TO PRICES OF
GASOLINE
~ Garter WOrmeley)

elimination against Virginia
in. the matter of wholesale
prices of gasoline, to discuss
which Governor Byrd recently
called a public hearing in the
senate chamber at the state
capitol here, the Governor last
night released the following
public statement, which is self
Explanatory:
When complaint was made to
me that the gasoline consum-
ers in Virginia were being
charged more for gasoline than
in other Eastern States | at
s,lce communicated with the
governors of all the states, re-
questing information as to = :
prevailing, or average, price OF
gasoline in their respective
states. | especially emphasized
the fact that | did not desire
prices due to abnormal com
petition, but the, standard OF
average prices.
The replies showed that Vir-
ginia was being charged from
one to two cents more for for
gasoline retail (after allowin
for tax than other Eastern
states, excepting Maryland and
West Virginia. Believing in OPP
en- and frank discussion of pub
lie questions, | then called in
cooperation with Attorney-Gen
eral Saunders a conference of
+, the leading gasoline importers
to explain this apparent dis
elimination against Virginia.
At the conference l made it
clear that | had requested the
he spirit of broad cooperation
that [ was opposed to govern
mental operation of business or
unnecessary interference with
business. | also said that | re-
srarded gasoline as a public ne
cessity; that Virginia was only
asking justice, and | hoped the
price level in Virginia would be
placed on an equality with 9th
err states.
The conference was entirely
barren of results. In explanat-
ion of the personal letters from
the other governors the only re
ply made by the oil importers
was that the information given
me was erroneous. No attempt
was made to justify the higher
prices in Virginia, or to discuss
with frankness the inequalit-
les now existing with respect tC
gasoline prices.
SOFAS to act with entire fair
ness to the oil importers, | re-
Trained from a statement at
that time, Notwithstanding my
disappointment at the attitude
shown at the meeting, so as to
again communicate with the
4governors and obtain confirm
lation or denial of the lower
prices existing in other states
| have now received kilograms
from the other governors
which are conclusive in proof
that the retail price of gasoline
is substantially lower in many
importers to meet with me ir
other states than in Maryland
West Virginia and Virginia
The prevailing retail price OF
gasoline in Virginia is % cents
to "a cents, except in Rich
mond, where an unexplained re.
duction of 2 cents per gallon
has been made. After deduct
ing the tax the net price is Is
cents. The same net price ex,
lists in Maryland, West Virgin
ia and the District of Columbia
showing that for some reason
this zone is selected by the OF
importers for higher gasoline
prices than other zones.
| have confirmed by telegram
the following net retail prices
after deducting the tax, in 9th
er eastern states, many OF
which are not so favorably loo
, ated with respect to transport
alton as Virginia: Virginia Is
cents Except in Richmond II
cents) New Jersey, 16 to Is
cents. Massachusetts, Is to 1e
cents, some Is cents. Rhode
| Island, Is cents. Delaware, II
!, cents. New York, Is cents. New
Hampshire, II cents. South
Carolina, 10 cents. North-Car-
! DINA, Is to 10 cents, most Is
. cents. Georgia, II cents.
I make no mention of the low
er prices existing in states close
to the producing fields. These