Evening star., 1941-08-27
Ickes Invited
As First Witness
AT Oil Inquiry
Acting Co-ordinotor
Probably Will Go
Before Senute Instead

Assured by President Roosevelt
that the East Coast gasoline short /
age will become less cramping by I
committee has invited Petroleum 4,
Co-ordinator Ickes to appear as first
witness in the oil inquiry beginning .
tomorrow.
With Secretary Ickes vacationing
in the West, it was expected that
Acting Co-ordinator Ralph K. Davies
would appear instead.
Mr. Roosevelt told his press confer
ence 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.
Maloney Heads Inquiry.
Whether or not there is bona
fide shortage is the principal ques-
tion before the Senate investigators,
a subcommittee of the Commerce
Committee, headed by Senator Ma
loney. Democrat, of Connecticut
A symptom of the confusion on
this issue was seen yesterday when
Mayor Roy Lecraw of Atlanta tele-
graphed the petroleum co-ordinator
to please wire me whether or not
there is a genuine gasoline shortage
and whether you desire us to con-
tinue our efforts for gasoline con-
servation."
The Atlanta Mayor quoted an in
dependent oil operator of his city
as saying he had over 100000 gallons
of gas on hand, with trucks and
tank cars rolling daily to the source
of supply.
IF there is plenty of fuel in At
lanta and if we have the transpor-
tation, why should the people OF
Georgia be made the victims OF
propaganda" asked Mayor Lecraw.
Ordinance Is Attacked.
Another development in this area
was the launching in Superior Court
of legal attack on the Atlanta
ordinance closing all filling station
from 4 pm. to am. daily and all
day Sunday. A group of 40 inde-
pendent station operators petitioned
for an injunction.
Meanwhile, dealers in other
Southern localities reported their
gas supply was running so low they
may have to close before Labor Day.
Senate Minority Leader McNary
yesterday asked the investigating
subcommittee to extend its inquiry
1 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 a 100
per cent occasion for performances
to create war consciousness.
An opposing view came from Act
ing Co-ordinator Davies, who issued
this statement on the Senate in
vestigation:
1--WE welcome this opportunity to
present the facts of the situation.
1t Will serve as 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 point the investigation
may touch.
Whether idle railway tank cars
have been efficiently utilized is an.
other point at debate, and the COM
mittee may also delve into the
British need for the American tanker
fleet transferred to lease-lend serv-
ice
The gasoline hearing will begin
at 1890 am. tomorrow in the Senate
Commerce Committee room.