Evening star., 1941-08-28
Filling Stations Slow
To Fall in Line With
Henderson Prices
16.5 Cents Recommended
Is About Cent Lower
Than Average Here

Washington filling stations were
slow in falling in line today with
Price Administrator Leon Hender-
sons request to set the price of
regular" gasoline at 16.5 cents a
gallon-about a cent lower than
the present average here.
Although the Gasoline Retailers
Association hailed the O. P A. c. S.
table recommending prices for 40
cities in Eastern States as very
fair" the Washington dealers ap-
peared to be holding back for a
sign of what their competitors
would do.
A majority of the Capital stations
now sell regular for II cents, with
the next largest group getting Us
and a minority asking l8.
Some dealers, however, were SELL
ing below the new requested scale
before Mr.. Henderson's order was
made public, and others had volun-
tarily pegged their own price at
16.5.
Order Called every Fair
The Gasoline Retailers Associa-
ton predicted today that most and
probably all of the local stations
would set the price of regular" at
16.5 and high test" at 2 cents more.
Harry Wainwright, research director
for the association, said he believed
Mr.. Henderson's order very fair,
and we recommend that all dealers
abide by it."
While the prices suggested are not
mandatory, according to o. P. A. c. S
officials, they are designed to serve as
a guide to motorists, and motorists
are urged to protest vigorously
and to report to O. P. A. C. S. cases
in which gas is sold for higher than
scheduled prices.
Prices listed, Mr.. Henderson as
serted, ARE the maximums that mo-
torists should pay"
The liSt-ranging from the 165
cent figure here to 20.1 cents gal
Ion, including tax, in Manchester
N. H.-was made public because of
widespread increases of from one to
TWO centS a gdllOn.
Raise Laid to Dealers.
Recommended prices for the 40
cities. he said, in most cases are
based on prices prevailing on August
!, and allow dealer margin of four
cents a gallon. Prevailing tank
wagon prices and State and Federal
i,,
piling the list
Prices suggested for Richmond &c
cents, Philadelphia. New York
City. Boston and most other Massa
chusetts cities are lower than those
now being charged by most dealers
Mr.. Henderson pointed out. He
added:
in those cities motorists may
properly expect service station
operators to bring prices down tc
those listed and should urge the
operators to do So
Higher Than Some Cities.
In a few other cities the recon-
mended price is higherathan thai
prevailing on August l, because
of price wars on that date. 1T il
not the policy of o. P. A. C. S. to in
sist on continuation of such distreS.
prices" it was said. Officials of the
agency said that. it desired to helr
small operators remain in business
during the present difficult period.
MI. Henderson explained that it is
planned to extend coverage of the
table of prices to smaller cities
on the Atlantic Coast as rapidly as
possible and that, in general, prices
IN smaller cities will conform to
those for the nearest large city.
He urged motorists travelling
through the area to take copy of
the price table with them. The
first step in preventing unjustif1ed
increases" he declared, "is a prop
erly informed consuming public. To-
days action places in the consumers
hands the information essential for
his own protection"
10 Per Cent Figure Noted.
Mr.. Henderson's announcement
explained that the situation de-
eeloped as an outgroWth of the 10
per cent curtailment of gasoline sup
plies in the Atlantic Coast area
Some officials, who have been fol-
lowing actions of Defense Petroleum
Co-ordinator Ickes, maintained that
the Henderson 10 per cent figure in
dicated: THAT Mr.. Ickes over
estimated the supplies curtailment
In asking that consumers use one
third less gasoline than before; or 2
that Mr.. Ickes knew the real situa-
ton and asked for a greater con-
servation than was necessary to pre-.
pare the gas users on the East Coast
for possible transfer of additiona
tankers to Great Britain.
The complete list of fair maxi
mum retail service station prices
follows:
Portland, Me, 1871 cents; Man
chester, N H., 201; Burlington, VT.
1877; Boston, Mass, 1T; Worcester
Mass, 1873; Springfield, 1876; Cam
bridge, TT; Fall River, 178; New
Bedford, 1872 Somerville, TT
Lowell, l8.2, PlttSheld, 1873.
Connecticut and New York.
Province, R. l., 178; Hartford
Conn, 1874; New Haven, 178; Bridge.
port, 17.8; New York City, 189
Buffalo, 10; Rochester, 1876; Syra.
cuse, 1913; Yonkers, 1879; Albany
1877; Utica, 1877.
Newark, N. j., 175: Jersey City
IFS; Paterson, IT'S; Trenton, IT'S
Camden, IT'S; Elizabeth, IT'S.
Philadelphia, 1875; Pittsburgh, 19
Scranton, 10; Erie, 10; Reading, 10
Hazelton, 49,
Wilmington, Del, 1875; Baltimore
1872; Washington. 165: Richmond
Va, 20; Norfolk, 1875
Prices for grades other than "regu
lar" gasoline should be maintained
at their normal differentials, of
ficials said.