Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-02
Ickes Granted
Wider Powers
In Oil Shake-up
Secretary Continues at
Post of Petroleum
Administrator for War

President Roosevelt today
made Secretary of the Interior
1ckes petroleum administrator
for war, with broad authority to
coordinate all Government poll
cies and actions relating to oil,
In consultation with other Fed
eral agencies concerned.
The Presidents executive order
specifically provided that powers of
the War Production Board, the
Once of Defense Transportation.
the War and Navy Departments and
other agencies relating to various
phases of the oil problem were not
restricted by the authority given Mr..
Ickes. In establishing the new Office
of Petroleum Administrator, the
order abolished the Office of Petro-
leum Co-ordinator for War which
had been headed by Mr. Ickes, but
appeared generally to clarity and
redefine its functions under the
new name without making any dras-
tic changes.
Mr.. Ickes was not designated by
name as petroleum administrator,
the order merely providing that
"the Secretary of Interior shall
serve ex-officio' in that capacity.
Labor Post Discussed.
1t was pointed out in some quar-
tiers that this did not necessarily
eliminate the possibility of a cab
met shift making Mr. Ickes Secre-
tary of Labor and director of the
forthcoming new Federal manpower
program, although the President
said yesterday there was nothing on
the fire in this connection.
The most widespread assumption
was that Mr.. Ickes had convinced
the President that the work he could
do as petroleum administrator was
too important for him to give it up
to assume the duties of a manpoWer
car.
The fact that Mr. Ickes had been
discussed for the manpoWer posi-
ton was confirmed today openly
for the first time by AFL President
William Green, who conferred on
what he said was personal" mat
ter with Mr.. Roosevelt soon after
the executive order making Mr..
Ickes petroleum administrator was
issued. Mr.. Green expressed sur
prise at this move.
Asked specifically if he and Phil
ip Murray, president of the Congress
for Industrial Organization, acoui-
esced to Mr.. Ickes as manpower
director in a conference with the
President last week, Mr.. Green said,
81 don't think we went quite so far
as to discuss it in definite way"
But Mr. Ickes' name was dis
cussed as the manpower MANI"
reporter asked.
Naturally - that was discussed
all over town." Mr.. Green replied.
Surprise to Henderson.
The executive order also came as
a surprise to Price Administrator
Leon Henderson. who administers
the gasoline and fuel oil rationing
program. He conferred later with
Mr.. Roosevelt and was shown copy
of the order by reporters as he left
the White House. After hasty
reading of some Of its sections he
said it did not appear to make any
substantial changes so far as final
authority over any phases Of the
oil program is concerned.
The executive order gave Mr.. 1ckes
specific authority to determine the
areas and the times" for necessary
rationing of petroleum products in
those instances where rationing is
for the purpose Of maintaining ade-
ouate supplies" for essential require
ments. as we'll as the amounts avail
able for rationing.
Mr.. Henderson said Mr.. 1ckeS had
performed these functions as petro-
leum co-ordinator except for setting
the times when rationing shoulc
begin.
Subject to LETTERS Directives.
The authority given Mr.. Ickes over
rationing in shortage areas does not
extend to rationing of petroleum
products in areas where it is under
taken for purposes other than oil
conservation, such as the recent
Nation wide extension of gasoline
rationing to conserve tires.
Mr.. Ickes was made subject to
tSee ICKES. Page 2-XD