Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-08-24
D. c. GASOLINE WAR
SEEN
Ickes' Aid Held Not Neces.
sary by Petroleum Com
mittee Head.
Settlement of washington's gasoline

Settlement Of Washington's gasoline
price war without the intervention OF
Secretary Ickes, oil administrator, was
predicted today by L. s. Scott, chair
man of the District of Columbia
Petroleum Committee.
An agreement is expected to be
reached early next week, probably
after Tuesday, he said, as the result
of committee work now under way.
Price Remains Unchanged.
Meanwhile, the price of gasoline
remained unchanged. Cut-price, or
so-called "third grade" dealers, con-
tinued to offer their unbranded motor
fuel at 10 cents q gallon and the
larger companies and independent
dealers selling well-known brands
stuck to their price of - cents.
Secretary Ickes, asked about his
attitude toward the price battle, char
acterized it as "about the silliest thing
I ever heard Of"
I'VE stopped one Of these gasoline
price wars and we can do 1t again" he
said. He explained, however, that the
matter had not yet been formally pre-
sented to him for action.
Scott announced today that num-
Der of committees have been ap-
pointed and he expects settlement
to result. He is proceeding, however,
with plans to take the case before
the District Commissioners at their
regular meeting Tuesday. With him.
he expects to have tax officials Of the
District, Maryland and Virginia.
Bootleg" Charges Made.
The chairman charges that gaso-
line is being "bootlegged" in the Dis
trict and that q number of indie
pendents are financing their battle
with taxes withheld from the authori-
ties.
Russell F. Barrett, one Of the indie
pendent dealers for whom warrant
was taken for failure to pay taxes,
had the accusation dropped today
through the intervention of his at
torney, j. Chase Mckenzie, who ten
dered $643 to c. A. Russell, deputy
tax assessor for the District, yesterday.
The money was accepted after twice
being refused when offered by Bar
rett himself.
ST think they wanted TO make an
- M nj
simply because he was the last to
offer his taxes"
Barrett charged that Scott is at
tempting to becloud the issues in
volved by bringing up the question Of
taxes and bootleg" gasoline.
1.-THE real issues involved in the
price war;" Barrett said, ARE the
questions Of preferred discounts al
lowed taxicab companies and the small
differential allowed the independents
who handle unbranded and unadver-
tised gasoline"
Settlement Is Reached.
At the conference of the District
Of Columbia Petroleum Committee
yesterday the independents were rep
resented by e. r. Duncan, jobber
and member of the code organization,
who has sold unbranded gasoline to
q number Of the companies involved
in the present war. Duncan acted
as their spokesman, and after the
meeting, Scott announced that q basis
Of settlement had been reached.
Further developments may be an
nounced today, he said.
"At conferences held today between
gasoline suppliers and third-grade deal
ers," he declared, "a basis for solution
of the present gasoline war was de-
termined upon. Committees have been
appointed to work out the conditions
for q settlement of the present situ-
alton and the adjustment Of differ
ences will depend largely upon what
these committees are able to &C
complish in ironing out the difficulties
existing within the industry.
However, it will take several days
before these committees can accom-
plish their work, and in the mean
time it is expected there will be no
change in the present price Of
gasoline"