Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-23
In the Motor World
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

TT was thought that after the un.
favorable tests conducted by the
Bureau of Standards with the Co
i operation of motoring officials and
the American Automobile AsSocta-
ton that the question OF blending al
cohol with gasoline was to be dropped.
It appeared that the argument was over
inasmuch as such mixture was decld-
ed not to be advantageous or economic
al in the operation of motor car.
However apparently, this Is not the
case. The American Motorists Associ-
alton through its local manager.
Thomas ]. Keefe, in fact declares it is
anything but the truth. His association
contends that the fight has just started
and that great effort will be made at
the next session Of Congress for a law
making the much-discussed mixture
required by statute. In his argument
It is limited that the proposed aid to
grain growers is linked up with aiding
alcohol concerns, too. OF course, this
would add to the sorely needed Govern
ment revenues, but 1t does not seem
logical for the Government and farmers
to profit at the expense solely Of the
motoring public and to the detriment
of the combustion chamber Of the ma
chine. Revenues can be obtained in
fairer ways.
Mr.. Keefe's objections to renewing
the battle for the so-called gasoline
highball" are contained in part in q
specially prepared statement.
PURPOSES Well illustrated.
The statement of Representative
Everett M. Dirksen of Illinois, regard
ing the advantages Of providing farm
relief by forcing motorists to use alco-
taNl ofnv. fYrn1 1nl In TtHs
Washington Sunday Star Of May IA,
well illustrates the purposes of those
attempting to put over this scheme on
the American public. 1t is useless to
attempt to answer all arguments made
for most of them are untenable, many
Of them highly controversial, and some
of them ridiculous But some should
be answered in order that the American
motorists may not be deluded by false
impressions.
Blended fuels have been used abroad
for years. They reduce the cost of
gasoline to. the consumer in countries
which, lacking domestic supply, must
depend upon expensive imported fuel
Also they provide means of disposing
of government alcohol. No country
with an adequate gasoline supply of its
own imposes upon its citizens the forced
use of alcohol blends And govern
ments which have tried thus to impose
upon their citizens have become alarm
ed over the growing stocks of alcohol
and the evident disposition of motorists
to avoid use of blended fuels whenever
and wherever possible. In view of
foreign experience and the enormous
foreign stocks of alcohol now on hand,
it would be the height of folly to force
the United States, which has an over
supply OF petroleum and its products,
including gasoline, to overstock itself
with alcohol also and thus augment q
world supply for which no complete
use yet has been found.
Theory Held Not New.
There is little that is new in alcohol
blend legislation. Representative Will
liam E. Hull, predecessor Of Mr.. Dirksen
and representing the same sixteenth
Illinois district-home of so many large
commercial alcohol Observation-Disclosures
Q blending plan in an earlier Congress.
Mr.. Dirksen is quite right in saying
that farm products lend themselves to
alcohol production. But why haven't
the alcohol distillers recognized that
fact and themselves promoted the cause
OF farm relief by using these products
instead of making their alcohol from
imported black strap molasses? The
fact is, alcohol can be made from almost
anything, with the possible exception
of old razor blades. But to make alcohol
Is one thing, and to make it economi-
cally Is something else again. Therein
may be found the answer as to why
the Representatives. distillery constitu-
ents haven't patronized the corn farmer
We could scarcely expect them to pay 60
cents and more per bushel for corn
when they can get imported molasses
at cents gallon. They can't depend
upon the motorists-not yet, anyway
to take up the slack in this disparity
Of costs
3 The Representative speaks Of the
enormous corn acreage of the Corn
Belt and the enormous production of
corn. But why plant so much corn.
and why continue to plant it, when
the Nations corn consumption has been
declining for more than 20 years? Per
capita consumption of corn meal, for
instance, 1898 pounds per year In 1899,
was only 1913 pounds in 1927. Even
the hogs are eating less corn. Scientific
a0ricT1t1IriStS have learned fhof n lie