Evening star., 1940-02-21
Seal Asked for Ruling
On Prosecutions for
Misbranding Gas
Fraudulent Adyertisino
Section Of Code Studied
At Request Of Nichols

Corporation Counsel Elwood H
Seal today was studying the Dis
trict's criminal code to determine
whether dealers charged with mis-
branding gasoline can be prosecuted
under the fraudulent advertising
section of the code.
Mr.. Seal, who is making the study
at the request Of Representative
Nichols, Democrat, Of Oklahoma,
indicated he would not make a rul-
ing today. He said 1t would be
necessary to study the code thor
oughly before he could render an
opinion.
Mr.. Nichols, chairman of a House
District Subcommittee investigating
gasoline marketing methods in the
District, said yesterday he was under
the impression that the law now is
broad enough to permit prosecution
OF such practices, but declared he
wanted formal ruling by the cor
poration counsel.
George M. Roberts, superintend-
ent of weights, measures and mar
kets, had testified before the SUBJ
committee that there were no laws
under which dealers selling low
grade gasoline as high-test could be
prosecuted.
Club to Study Methods.
Meanwhile, the Keystone Auto
mobile Club continued with plans
made at meeting last night to
conduct an investigation into meth.
DDS used elsewhere to control mis-
representation and misbranding. as
has been charged to gasoline dealers
here.
The board appointed a commit
tee with full power to act upon
its own decision after a study
of gasoline rating laws in eight
States and other methods used
to protect consumers. Members
are T. Howard Duckett, chairman:
DR.. H. c. Dickinson Of the Bureau
Of Standards, who testified yester-
day before the special House Dis
trict subcommittee investigating
gasoline marketing methods in the
District, and William Ullman.
Prior to authorizing the investi-
CATION the board was told by Mr.. Rob-
erts that he was unable to prosecute
service station operators found mis-
representing low and regular grade
gasolines as high test. There Is no
legal standard in the District to
determine what is high test gaso-
line" he said.
A bill which would fix the octane
rating of gasoline. its anti-knock
quality, which Mr.. Roberts prepared
and gave to the District Commis-
sioners as remedial legislation has
been turned down, he said.
Defer Timing Decision.
The board decided to postpone its
decision on the need for a central
traffic timing control to correlate
the spacing of green and red lights
IN the heavily travelled thorough
fares until further study is made
by William A. Van Duzer, director
of vehicles and traffic. Mr.. Van
Duzer estimated it would cost close
to $150,000.
The board adopted a motion to
seek an annual appropriation of be-
tween 1 and per cent Of the
$425,000 invested in traffic light
equipment for use in maintenance.
Mr.. Van Duzer said the present
maintenance appropriation Of 1900
for an electrician and $1,000 for
repairs was inadequate.
Technicalities in the law requiring
competitive bidding and therefore
specifications has left an unex-
pended balance of $500 of the $500
provided Mr.. Van Duzer for safety
education and promotion.
How" he asked, ARE you going
to write specifications for a radio
script or transcription record?"