Evening star., 1941-08-11
Officials Renew
Appeal for Cut
In Use Of Gas
Commissioners Urge
Voluntary Effort
To Avoid Rotionine


The Commissioners today made
another urgent appeal to the citizens
of Washington to join actively in the
voluntary effort to reduce gasoline
consumption in order to forestall
any compulsory rationing of petro-
leum products.
The appeal was in the form of a
proclamation which warned that
the advent of drastic, compulsory
rationing of petroleum products is
being hastened by the seeming in
difference of the public to the va
rious pleas for a reduction in the
consumption of petroleum products. !"
The city heads declared that VOL
untary reduction efforts have not
met with a ready response from the
public. and pointed out that Petro-
leum Co-ordinator Ickes had re-
quested responsible officials to re-
double their efforts lin the hope
that the necessary reduction can
be accomplished in the American
spirit of cooperation and that
drastic compulsory rationing can be
avoided"
Commissioner Proclamation.
The proclamation declared:
I'VE the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia do urge the
people to realize fully the critical sit
uation of the impending storage of
petroleum products, to be equally
cognizant of the necessity of con-
servation in the use of petroleum
products and to cooperate whole
heartedly in the conservation meas
ures recommended by the Petroleum
Conservation Committee of the Dis
trict of Columbia, slower speeds,
gradual acceleration and decelera-
ton. elimination of unnecessary use
of motor vehicles, elimination of
idling of motors, checking carbu-
retors and ignition systems with
view to avoidance of gasoline vast
age. etc, and to accomplish the
necessary reduction in gasoline con-
sumption in the American spirit of
cooperation to the end that drastic
compulsory rationing of petroleum
products may be avoided"
No Action on Tests.
The Petroleum Conservation Com
mittee had recommended Saturday
that the Commissioners direct police
officers to require inspection tests of
all cars whose owners indulge in
lack rabbit" starts or permit smoke
belching exhausts, but the city heads
took no action on this proposal
today.
The Commissioners twice have de-
clined to issue orders to metropolitan
police to follow the lead of park
policemen in conducting vigorous
campaign against non-co-operating
motorists. Just when the city heads
will act on the Conservation Com
mittee's latest recommendation is
not known.
A general survey of service stations
and garages here showed only one
place which reported a definite in
crease in the number of motorists
who have had their cars checked
on for fuel-saving adjustments. One
other station reported "a little but
not a whole lot" of an increase.
Few Mention Campaign.
Stations and garages visited said
drivers naturally were interested in
getting as much mileage as possible
out of their gasoline. but that few
mentioned the gasoline conservation
drive as a cause of call for a motor
tune-up.
J.H. Carmichael, service man for
Haley's, Inc, said, Quite few are
coming in He added that five or
six a day ask for a mileage checkup
and some have mentioned the drive
as cause for their visit to the
garage"
Most of the garagemen agreed
that the Washington motorist thus
far has paid no more than normal
attention to oil and gas consump-
ton.
J. H. Hoffman, service salesman
for H. B. Leary, jr. g. Bros, sug-
gested that drivers try to improve
their mileage through carburetor
adjustments. He said he didn't
think there had been any increase
in drivers seeking to save on fuel
consumption.
"It is the same today as it has
been in the last few months" he
added. Nobody has mentioned it
from the gasoline conservation
point, but those coming in have
talked of poor mileage.
Reports 20 Pct. Increase.
At the Capitol Servicenter, John
F. Riordan, mechanical supervisor
of the garage, estimated perhaps
a 20 per cent increase" in the num-
ber of vehicles being brought in for
inspection because of the campaign
to save gasoline.
Mr.. Riordan also said local motor
lists more and more are getting into
the habit of having their motors
tuned and checked between every
$500 and 10000 miles driven. This
naturally, helps save gasoline, he
added.
The supervisor remarked that a
number of motorists who brought
their cars in for adjustments specifi-
cally mentioned the publicity given
the drive as their reason for want
ing checkup.
Virginia Valves Drivers