Evening star., 1941-08-27
Hauling Of Oil
East in Special
Trains Proposed
Hearing Will Open
Tomorrow; Davies
First Witness

Fleets of special trains hauling
nothing but oil tank cars between
Western sources and the East Coast
may be the answer to the gasoline
shortage which will be advanced by
q Senate investigating subcommit-
tee. The Star was informed today
by Senator Maloney, Democrat, OF
Connecticut, chairman.
In an effort to solve the problem
from another angle, formation OF a
Tanker Control Board was an
nounced today by Petroleum Co.
ordinator Ickes and Admiral Emory
s. Land, chairman of the Maritime
Commission.
With the duty of bringing to a
higher point of coordination "all
effort bearing on the ALLEGATION and
utilization of tankers owned or con-
trolled by American companies" the
board will include also representa-
tive Of the Navy and three members
from the petroleum industry.
Chairman of the new board will
be Acting Petroleum .Co-ordinator
Ralph K. Davies.
Davies First Witness.
Mr.. Davies will be the first to
testify before the Senate gasoline
investigating group, a subcommlt-
tee of the Senate Commerce Com
mittee, when it opens hearings to-
morrow morning at 1890 o'clock.
Secretary Ickes was invited but is on
0 Western vacation.
The hearings will open under at
n1osphere created by President
Roosevelt's assurance yesterday that
the Eastern motor fuel shortage will
become less acute by spring.
Chairman Maloney said he is
"very hopeful that if shortage OF
petroleum transportation facilities
does exist we can press into serv-
ice the tank car surplus
Besides idle cars; we might divert
. lot that are now being used for
less vital hauling" he said.
without studying the question. I
believe that the main difficulty with
rail transportation-high costs-can
be met by using entire trains.
think q very substantial reduction in
cost could be expected"
With operation Of all United
States tank ships brought under
Government direction through the
new control board, an official en-
phasized there was no intent to
commander the tankers but that
the board would pool ships and di-
rect operations in cooperation with
si1ipowners. The move is intended
IN part to assure equitable supplies
for independent oil operators who
do not own tankers, it was said.
Bowen Vice Chairman.
M. w. Bowen, assistant director
Of the Maritime Commissions Di-
vision of Emergency Shipping, will
be vice chairman. Other members
are Comdr. w. M. Callaghan of the
Navy, E. Holman of the Atlantic
Coast petroleum industry, j. r. Par
ten, Gulf Coast petroleum industry,
and l.. E. Fleming, Pacific Coast in
dustry.
Meanwhile, confusion still exists
IN the District in administering the
present gasoline rationing system, it
was indicated today. The local gaso-
line retailers association dispatched
q telegram to Price Administrator
Leon Henderson setting forth:
That some suppliers are still de-
hvering full quantities" to their
retail dealers and the dealers SELL
ing all the gasoline the public will
buy" Other suppliers have cut by
more than so per cent their deliv-
cries to some dealers, the associa-
ton asserted.
Amid such chaos it is little wonder,
the association said, that some sta
ton operators are raising prices.
The association advocated an i'm
mediate price order from Mr.. Hen
derson's Office but expressed the hope
that filling station men may not be
marked as "profiteers." Mr.. Hen
derson Is expected to issue a gas
price order today.
Never in our history has a group
OF small businessmen been so kicked
around and confused as we have the
past two weeks" the association de-
clared.
Pipe Lines Due by Spring.
Mr.. Roosevelt told his press confer
ance yesterday that more petroleum
will be pouring into the East by
spring because additional tankers
will be launched and two pipe lines
probably will be in operation. The
forecast was based on the assump-
ton that sinklings in the battle of
the Atlantic will not increase strik-
ingly.
Whether or not there is a bona
fide shortage is the principal ques-
ton before the Senate investigators
Senate Minority Leader McNary
yesterday asked the investigating
subcommittee to extend its inquiry
to the West Coast situation. He said
he wanted to determine the exact
situation in the Pacific States.
Nye Attacks Program.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota attacked the Ickes oil con-
servation program with the com
ment that the shortage was 100
per cent occasion for performance
to create war consciousness,
An opposing view came from Act
ing Co-ordinator Davies, who issued
this statement on the Senate In
vestigation:
I'VE welcome this opportunity to
present the facts of the situation
It will serve as a means for en-
tightening the public as to the con-
ditions we face"
Mr.. Davies has contended that
much false information, including
~phony" statistics, has been cir.
culated and confused the public
This is a point the investigation
may touch
The committee may also delv'
into the British need for the Amer
lean tanker fleet transferred II
lease-lend service.