Evening star., 1928-10-07
AUTO|STS WARNED
OF "GYP' PUMPS
"A. A. A. Check-Up Shows
Many Short t-Measure
: Filling Stations.

Urging the importance Of admins
trative machinery in all States for the
enforcement Of weights and measures
laws, the American Automobile Associ-
alton declared today that the loss to
car owners of the country at the hands
of "gyp" operators of gasoline pumps is
conservatively estimated at $20,000,000
The statement of the national motor
ing body, it was said. is based on an
analysis of a check-up made by af1li-
ated A. A. A. motor clubs and by civic
authorities at widely separated points
throughout the country.
"This estimate of loss to the car
owners through dishonest vendors of
motor fuel" said the statement, "tS in
all probability an underestimate rather
than an overestimate. The inadequacy
OF enforcement machinery is at the root
of the evil and in order that this may
be corrected we have prepared as the
basis of action by our clubs an analysis
OF the situation as regards weights and
measures laws and the enforcement
thereof in all States"
The national motoring body pointed
out, however, that the existing condi-
tionS should not be attributed to the
responsible oil companies or station
owners, as it has been found that they
are as anxious as the public to elimi-
nate the dishonest operators and the
petty thieves who flourish in the ranks
Of pump attendants.
The statement continues:
I'm one Middle Western city q
eheck-up Of gasoline stations disclosed
that out Of 81 stations tested, Is (or
out Of every 81 was short-selling the
motorists. This shortage ranged all
the way from l pint to quarts out of
every gallons sold. This occurred in
one of the States where weights and
measures law is in effect and actively
enforced.
There were 1880, 100000 gallons of
gas sold in the United States in 1927.
It is safe to assume that at least one
short sales and that the shortage aver
aged quart in every gallons.
This simply means that the motor
lists were 'gypped' out of some 100000
900 gallons Of gasoline in 1927 and that
at the current average cost Of gasoline
their money loss was at least $20,000,-
600.
Not long ago the weights and
measures inspector of an Eastern city
with a car population Of less than
100000 declared that the motorists of
Tie CAIy sW6T6 1OSlLS S3UUUUO year
through sales. It will readily be seen
If this average held true for the coun-
try as a whole the total annual loss
would be more than three times the
minimum estimate of loss We have
made.
I'm an important Southern city
check-up of 100 purchases of gasoline
resulted in IS prosecutions, with % con-
Victions, the evidence proving shortages
ranged from quart to 2 gallons in a
6-gallon sale.
s"The method employed in conduct
ing periodical check-upS provides that
men acting in cooperation with A. A. A.
clubs and civic authorities have their
cars equipped with dummy gasoline
tanks, which are in their usual place
on the car, and second tank with
which to operate the car is usually con-
cealed under the seat or in some other
location where it is not noticeable.
These men visit gas stations of Ques-
tionable reputation and make 5-gallon
purchases. The gasoline is then taken
out Of sight and measured for accurate
volume"