Evening star., 1941-08-28
Gasoline
Continued From First Page.)

his lengthy prepared statement was
this:
ITO summarize the situation, let
me point out that we are now enter
ing the critical quarter. I have at
tempted to review some of the fac
tors involved in this difficult prob
lem and to give you some idea of the
actions taken by the co-ordinator.
In the end, what is it all about?
I'VE are asking American motor
lists to adjust their carburetors and
to forego some of their pleasure
riding to aid in the defense of the
Nation. We live in a world at war.
The sinews of war are fed by pc
troleum. The more petroleum we
can supply to those fighting for
democracy, the farther we can keep
war from our shores.
1T is not high price that we are
asking American motorists to pay.
We are asking only small contri-
button for great cause. 1t has
been pointed out that We cannot
have national defense and business
as usual. 1t must also be recog-
nized that we cannot have national
defense and joy-riding as usual
The Congress and the adminiStra-
ton have with great foresight and
wisdom committed this country to a
definite line of action in order that
the greatest threat to democracy
ever loosed upon the world may be
wiped out. How futile it is to sup
pose that in war dependent upon
petroleum, that the nation which
supplies the greatest part of the
worlds oil should not find it own oil
supply affected. How futile it is to
suppose that the demands of a de-
tense program which is taking up
all of our aluminium, a great part of
our steel, our power, our ships, our
men, should not also take up a
large part Of our nefrdhdm.
Minimum Curtaiment Necessary.
I'm the final analysis, as Ameri-
cans, We must recognize that the
war is taking large amounts of our
: OH and requires tha-Ase of the nor.
NAL means of transporffng it. When
that fact. is recognized; We ti1enscan
see that the use of less gasoline is,
indeed, small price to pay for
adequate national defense. So far.
by reason of the many steps we
have taken, we have held the situa-
ton somewhat in hand. With the
cooperation of the public we can
continue to hold it in hand. as
sure this committee that with the
full cooperation of the industry
we are bringing into effect every
possible alternate means of getting
OIL into the seaboard area. There
VIII have to be curtailment. It
Will be the minimum curtailment-
but we cannot see how it can be
avoided. A slight reduction in over.
all consumption through the COM
ing months is sufficient to solve
the problem. This We can accom-
push with public co-operation-co-
operation which I know the public
Will cheerfuly give when it realizes
the necessity and understands the
1actS. We are united in the defense
OF our Nation. We should be united
IN our efforts to contribute to that
defense" ''
Stocks Must Be Built Up.
AS a sort of prelude, Mr. Davies
pointed out that the winter months
comprise the heavy consuming sea-
son on the Atlantic Coast and stocks
10 meet that heavy winter demand
must be built up during the summer.
Last year from April to August.
ne explained, stocks on the Atlantic
Coast were increased by 10000 900
barrels, although the demand for
oil during the last four months will
be about 100000 barrels more
than last year. December consump-
ton, he said, usually is 20 to 20 per
cent greater than that of August.
Shortly after I assumed duty
Mr.. Davies declared, "I was advised
oy one OF the large companies on
the East Coast that on the basis of
Its experience and the figures II
had compiled, it would be necessary
to reduce the supply of gasoline
Tor pleasure car driving by so per
cent. You can imagine the stagger-
ing effect OF such cut. Yet We had
responsible company which had
seen the supply situation steadily
deteriorating, brought to the con-
vlction in July that such a pre-
clpitous step was absolutely neces-
Sary. The co-ordinator decided that
We would take every other step pos
sible before resorting to such severe
measures.
Therefore, We directed our efforts