Evening star., 1941-08-31
D. {. Holiday Travel
Thought Reduced
By Gasoline Scare
Tourists Held Fearful
As Station Sales Log;
18th Purudes Tomorrow

The annual Labor Day week enc
departure and influx of vacationists
was still under way in Washington
today. but there were signsA that
highway travel would rot be as
heavy in this area as had been an
ticipated after gasoline restrictions
were removed for the holiday.
This was indicated by a check
which showed that a large ma ajority
Of gasoline service stations through
out the District experienced only
their normal Saturday sales-ever
though the lid was off for the week
end and every customer could have
all his tank would hold.
Two investigations of reports that
many stations were taking advan-
tage of holiday motorists by selling
at prices higher than the 16l2 cent
fair maximum for ordinary gaso-
line recommended by Price Admin
istrator Henderson produced con-
f1icting results.
Three Found Above Maximum.
In survey of 80 filling stations
throughout the city. The Star found
only three posting prices above the
maximum for regular" gasoline. OF
these. two we're selling at II cents
and one at 17l2 cents per gallon
The other 81 dealers said they were
charging l6i2 for regular gasoline
and 1872 for high-test fuel.
In contrast, survey by the
District division of the American
Automobile Association showed that
II of so stations polled had prices
posted above l612 cents, while three
were selling below the maximum.
The A. A. A. survey noted that a
number of stations had dropped
their posted prices to the 16l9-cent
mark after the Henderson order.
and A. A. A. officials indicated the
belief that more would follow suit
over the holiday week end.
AS the District prepared to cele-
brate the holiday, President Roose-
welt, in Labor Day statement.
asserted last night that management
and labor realize now. and 1 am
sure will continue to realize. that
there must be full and uninterrupted
production" of defense materials.
Cites Anti-Axis Needs.
The production of weapons and
other materials. he said, was needed
for our protection and needed also
by the nations engaged in opposing
those who would do away with the
liberty and happiness of free peoples
all over the world"
The statement was viewed as a
forerunner to a presumably detailed
discussion of international and
domestic affairs in an address
scheduled for delivery by the Presi-
dent from his home at Hyde Park.
N. Y, on Monday.
The address will be broadcast over
all radio networks at 12:45 pm,
Eastern standard time, and will be
heard locally over Stations WMAL,
WRC, VOL and WJSV.
The Army, directly concerned with
labor'S production of war goods, will
join in tomorrow's observance. Mai.
Gen. c. T. Harris, jr.. assistant to
the chief Of ordnance, will speak at
exercises conducted by the Weirton
Steel Co., and the National ASSocia-
ton of Manufacturers at Weirton,
w. Va. A detachment of light tanks
and other combat vehicles will be
demonstrated there.
Other Government agencies also
will have hand in observance of
the day. Secretary of Labor Perkins
is to speak at Boston. Sidney Hill
man, associate director of the Office
of Production Management, will
speak on the same program with
(See LABOR DAY, Page A-10)