Evening star., 1941-08-01
Most Stations
Expect 10 End
Night tGasSa|es
Ickes' Request Meets
Willingness; Job
Factor Minimized

stations in Washington will comply
with Secretary of Interior Ickes' re-
quest that retail stations in the
District and II Eastern and South
ern States close from 7 pm. to Z
am, beginning Sunday.
Representatives of the industry
declared there is no doubt of the
willingness of the retailers to OBJ
serve Mr.. Ickes' recommendation,
but they stressed that it is i'm
portant that the closing action be
unanimous or worked out on such
basis that unfair competition in
hours of operation is avoided.
Compliance also was forecast in
Maryland by spokesmen for the in
dustry. in view Of the need for con-
servation. H. A. Crouthamel, presi-
dent of the Maryland Association of
Petroleum Dealers, said that from
800 to 1900 service stations would
be affected, including 300 in Bal
timore.
Mr.. Ickes made the proposal at
his press conference yesterday, ex-
planning that the action was neces-
sary because of transportation diff
culties caused by transfer of so oil
tankers to Great Britain.
Other Measures Possible.
In appealing for cooperation of
the 100000 service stations in the
Atlantic Seaboard area affected by
the threatened transportation short
age, Mr.. Ickes warned that unless
his recommendation achieves re-
suits, other measures, including pos
sible use of ration cards. might be
necessary.
1t was learned that the next step
likely will be a fiat 10 per cent re-
duction in the supply of gasoline
furnished retailers.
Speaking in this capacity as De-
fenSe Petroleum Co-ordinater, Mr..
Ickes stressed that responsibility for
effectiveness for the closing plan
is to be squarely up to the industry.
Suppliers of gasoline were asked to
take such action, including the
refusal TO make further deliveries
of motor fuel, as may be appropriate
in cases of continued and deliber-
ate failure on the part of any re-
taller TO observe the recommenda-
ton"
Doubts Prosecution Power.
He expressed doubt that the Gov
ernment has the power under exist
ing statutes to prosecute violators,
but voiced confidence that the pc
troleum industry and Siadividual
service stations operators will CO.
operate. He emphasized that the
industry marketing committee for
the Atlantic Seaboard district had
recommended that the dispensing
of gasoline at all retail outlets in
district one (Atlantic Seaboard) be
confined to the hours of Z am. to
pm. seven days a week"
Officials of the Interior Depart
ment asserted that the action will
be subject to interpretations to take
care OF interstate trucks. buses and
other commercial vehicles as well
as doctors automobiles and ambu-
lances that do not have access to
private gasoline pumps.
Harry Wainwright research d.
rector Of the Washington Retail
Gasoline Dealers, Inc. estimated
that more than 1000 persons are
employed in the city's some CTS
stations. This figure was based on
a conservative" estimate of six
workers to a station, on an average,
he said He calculated that at
least another 1000 persons are en-
ployed in stations in neighboring
Virginia and Maryland.
Little Firing Foreseen
Mr.. Wainwright agreed with sew
eral other gasoline industry officials
here that there would be relatively
little unemployment caused by the
new closing schedule. They pointed
out that attendants now working
at night probably will be needed
to take care of anticipated greater
demands in the early morning and
the late afternoon.
However, estimates from Louis
Klmmel, manager of the BROOKLYN
and Queens gasoline merchants.
were that 100000 men would lose
their jobs throughout the Eastern
seaboard. He estimated the Shut
downs would cost 10000 their jobs
in metropolitan New York alone.
One official stated frankly that
he believed results in gasoline con-
sumption from the closing period
| would be poOIioiblo ssDaooIo ,.;1I
simply buy their gas during the
day" he said. That's about the
only difference it will make" The
same view was taken by Maryland
officials
Mr. Ickes described the area
through which the nightly black
out" of gasoline stations would be
effective as follows:
Throughout the States of Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, MasSa-
chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Is
land, New Jersey, Delaware, Mary
land, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Georgia, the peninsula of Flori-
da, the District of Columbia, and all
marketing areas in or east of the
Appalachian Mountains in the
States of New York, Pennsylvania,
Virginia and West Virginia, and
such additional marketing areas in
said States where any substantial
part of the motor fuel supplied is
either produced in any of said
States, or shipped into such areas
from any point east of such areas.