Evening star., 1941-10-24
Most Dealers
Plan 10 Retain
Gas Curfew
Few Owners Take
Steps to Resume
24-Hour Service

dom granted them late yesterday by
Petroleum Co-ordinator Ickes.
Harry Wainwright, research di-
rector for Gasoline Retailers OF
Washington, Inc, predicted after a
survey that a vast majority OF
both independent and company
operated stations will continue to
adhere to the pm. curfeW-if COM
petition does not force longer hours.
Mr.. IckeS said yesterday dealers
could sell as much as they wish at
any hour.
A newspaper reporter polling gas
stations in every section of the city
discovered a few owners were out
hunting new employees in an effort
to begin 24-hour service today. On
the other hand, many reported they
would stay closed even on Sunday.
A majority of those questioned
said they would never" return to
all-night service.
1--WE enjoyed sleeping at night,
was the comment.
Man Power Shortage Faced.
In Washington, station operators
are already faced with a severe
shortage of man power, Mr.. VAIN
wright said. Il don't know what
we'll do if we try to stay open longer
hours" he said.
There was no indication that
prices would drop here as more
gasoline becomes available. A
spokesman said the price of regular
gasoline is 1872 cents per gallon at
most stations, or about half a cent
higher than was normal at this
time last year. He said this boost
Is justified in the light of the rise
in the cost of food and other
products.
British to Return Tankers.
Mr.. Ickes released the brake on
gasoline consumption yesterday with
GllC I1ldO ~ G11AAS4 tSalA
tankers now in British service Will
be returned by November 80. 1t had
been previously announced that Is
tank ships would be loaned back to
the United States, and the total of
40 ships can carry as much as ID, 400
railway tank cars, a method OF
transportation pressed into service
increasingly during recent weeks.
Two other factors have eliminated
the danger of winter petroleum
shortage, it was said. An unusually
warm autumn has delayed use of
oil furnaces and the petroleum CO.
ordinators restrictions, coupled
with public cooperation, has kept
consumption to point where high
er gasoline stocks could be built up
than existed a year ago.
Sir Arthur Salter, head of the
British Merchant Shipping Mission
here, informed Mr.. Ickes that the
rs boats could be returned to Amer
lean work. In doing SO, he handed
Co-ordinator IckeS a verbal bouquet.
u >. ASSISTANCE HalIeO.
AT the time the program (of ship
transfers. was instituted, our con-
dition definitely was not good" the
British official declared. with oil
playing such vital role in this war,
the assistance provided by the
American people has been of in
estimable value.
80 promptly and effectively was
the American program put into force
that we are now able, months ahead
of time, to bring about the release
OF tankerS from the shuttle service"
Two big puzzles remained today
Will Mr.. Ickes abandon his plans
for giant pipe line from the Texas
oil fields to the New York area?
What will happen to the new and
elaborate system of using railroad
tank cars?
Officials in the Office of the petro-
leum co-ordinator said they did not
know the answer to either question
early today. They indicated a be-
lief, however, that Mr.. Ickes will
continue his support of the $8O,OOO,-
900 pipe line project, projected by II
big oil companies, on the ground
that necessity may again arise for
lending Britain tank ships. Sir Ar
thur Salter commented in his mes
sage that "the hazards of war are,
of course, uncertain and the
British government is confident that
If the need again arises it will be
met. ="
Decision Up to Oil Firms.
The decision on whether railroads
will continue to move much petro-
leum is apparently up to the oil
companies. Even with rate reduc-
tions agreed to by the railroads, they
have contended that rail shipments
are expensive. On the other hand.
they have now built vast unloading
capacities in the New York-Phila-
delphia refinery area, and have an
investment in these. A leading ana
lyst in the oil business estimated
last week that rail shipments had
reached flow of 10000 barrels a
day, an amount approximately
equivalent to the carrying capacity
of IS tankers.
The pipe line decision may not ul-
timately rest with Mr.. Ickes. Be-
sides congressional opposition, he is
faced with refusal of the Office
OF Production Management to grant
him prioritieS for sheet steel. 1t was
indicated for time that he might
be granted priorities Tor seamless
steel, but priorities have not been
issued, although Mr.. Ickes' office
claims to have discovered idle pro-
ductive capacity.
In various sections of the Coast
a movement was being launched to
retain the O'Clock curfeW for filling
stations.
The Gasoline Station Council of
Metropolitan New York circulated a
request that member stations close
nightly until a decision can be
reached on making the curfew per-
manent. The Jersey Petroleum
Marketers' Association, claiming to
represent 1000 retailers, said it
would seek to hold the present sys-
tenn. Peter Hooper, president of the
New England Gasoline Dealers As
sociation, said "aS long as everybody