Evening star., 1941-08-21
Some Retailers
Cut Gasoline
Sales Sharply
Dealers to Druft
Rotioning Policy
At Rally Tonight

A sharp curtailment of gasoline
sales-in some cases as much as so
per cent-was begun by many WASH
ington operators today in an effort
to dole out remaining supplies on a
daily basis to avoid extended shut
| downs near the end of the month.
Dealers were acting as individuals
rather than a group pending the
formulation Of general policy Of
ratloning at a meeting called at 8
o'clock tonight at the Interior De-
partment By Harry Wainwright. ex-
ecutive of the Gasoline Retailers OF
Washington.
A few dealers began rationing
when the 10 per cent cut in sales
was announced August Is. but
| numerous others delayed positive
action until Ralph x Davies. deputy
petroleum co-ordinator. warned yes
terday afternoon that only a Today
reserve remains in the East Several
Of the latter dealers today were cut
ting their sales to mon essential"
consumers up to so per cent, it was
said.
Future Delivery Sales.
Many Washington operators have
been notified by New York sup
plier that they can expect in the
last two weeks Of August delivery
Of only 80 per cent of the total Of
gas they sold in July. the key month
on which the original 10 per cent
slash in sales was based.
There were reports today that
some dealers were taking cash from
regular customers for future de-
livery Of gasoline, mostly during the
last few days of the month and the
Labor Day week end. Regular Gus
toners. it was said, were getting til
best of the curtailed distribution
Maloney Asks Inquiry.
Meanwhile, Senator Malone.
Democrat, of Connecticut today
urged speedy congressional investl-
cation to determine whether the
East actually faces a gosoline short
age.
Il want to learn if there Is an
actual shortage or if we are being
pushed around for psychological
reasons" Senator Maloney told re-
porters, saying he would ask the
Senate Commerce Committee to
act Immediately on his resolution
for an inquiry.
He proposed that special Senate
committee determine if there was
an actual shortage of gasoline and
fuel oil and also recommend means
of assuring an adequate supply of
fuels for national defense purposes
without undue hardship to busi.
ness enterprises and consumers GEN
orally"
British Aid Move Seen,
Senator Clark, Democrat. of Mis-
souri,, said he was especially inter.
ested in learning if it we're necessary
to cut down American consumption
in order to supply Britain with fuel,
or if such steps we're being taken to
emphasize the AL out" viewpoint
of aid to Britain.
Senator McNary of Oregon, the
minority leader, predicted there
would be almost solid Republican
support for the Maloney proposal on
the Commerce Committee, Of which
he is member.
In view of priority granted to
commercial and other essential"
motor vehicles, the new rationing
may reduce gasoline allowed for
pleasure or "non-essential" cars to
half the usual consumption during
the last of this month.
ID. c. Retailers to Meet.
Mr.. Davies listed stocks on hand
in detail to discredit rumors that
Federal warnings were "phony" and
that there were ample supplies in
the East
Estimates of "near-sighted proph-
ets," he said, failed to take into
account large amounts of gasoline
and oil earmarked for defense needs.
Mr.. Davies also described as
wholly and completely false"
figures circulated in this country to
show that Great Britain has a
tanker feet ample to supply her
war needs. He issued the state
ment in reply to unofficial reports
that 1t was unnecessary to transfer
American tankers to the English.
Mr.. Wainwright said the purpose
of the retailers meeting last night
is to impress on dealers the serious
ness of the gas shortage and to agree
there is job to be done in daily
reduction of sales so that Washing
ton will not be without gas at the
end of the month"
of this meeting is to impress on
retail dealers the seriousness of the
gas shortage and to agree there is
a job to be done in daily reduction
OF sales so that Washington will not
be without gas at the end of the
month"
Maj. Snow TO Speak.
Mr.. Wainwright and Mai Beverly
c. Snow. chairman of the District
Petroleum Conservation Commit
tee, are to address the meeting.
1t was generally agreed that many
District operators have been over
selling daily quotas since August IS,
when the new rationing order went
into effect to supplement the pm.
to Z am. curfew measure.
Mr.. Wainwright said he will ask
(see GAS, Page A-3)