Evening star., 1942-12-19
A Books Likely to
Stoy Under Bon if
Not War Essential

Slight relaxation OF the ban
on gasoline sales was in prospect
today after the emergency shut
down yesterday, but there was
little hope in sight for the aver
age motorist.
Officials were at work on what
OPA Administrator H n ders n
termed a thoroughly integrated
plan" to replace the drastic sup
preston, and while 1t was far from
certain what form this would take,
1t was considered highly likely that
all "a" books except those needed
for essential driving would remain
under the ban. A large number of
the 100000 "A" books cover cars in
essential uses, according to the
OPA.
Tighter Control Likely.
1t is considered likely also that
there will be a campaign to tighten
control over the supplementary "B"
and "C'' books, and a cut in the
value of those coupons also was a
possibility. Another move antici-
pated was that the OPA would con-
fer with the Office of Defense Trans
portation regarding suspension for
the emergency of operation of all
delivery trucks that are not abso-
lutely necessary.
The revised regulations are due to
go into effect at midnight tomor-
row in the District and II Eastern
States where the shutdown was ap-
piled with little warning, catching
thousands of cars with empty tanks
sometimes right at the entrance
Of filling stations.
One confusing element was in
jected into the situation by the an
nouncement that motorists could
cash one coupon for emergency
purposes, the official Interpretation
being vague, and reports indicating
that determination as to eligibility
was resting largely with filling sta
tion operators, who were applying
varying standards - some exceed
ingly liberal.
U. S. Workers Protected.
Whitney Leary, District rationine
administrator, declared that he in
terpreted emergency regulations tc
mean that Government workers ano
other persons could cash coupons
for essential driving.
Mr.. Leary said Government EN-.
ployes were entitled to buy gas te
get to and from work. He addec
that this Interpretation would apply
to all persons in essential occupa.
tions. He pointed out that the Dis.
trict transportation system, heavily
burdened before the current emer.
gency, faced a load that is larger
than it can carry.
Asked for more detail, Mr.. Leary
replied that he considered news
paper workers, for example, as en-
titled to emergency rations. Doc
tors and others engaged in main
tanning the health and welfare of
the community, he added, "of
course, should get all the gas they
need to perform their duties" He
declared those in the essential
classification should be allowed to
cash a second coupon if needed, but
that this should not be done unless
the supply in the gas tank was
lower than the amount called for
by the coupon.
Armed Services Come First.
Mr.. Henderson, in announcing
that the suspension of all but ra-
tions for commercial vehicles pos
sibly would be lifted by midnight
tomorrow, said stations should fur
nish gas for cars used by the armed
services and mail carriers. He
added the emergency coupons will
be good for use by workers in war
plants where their transportation
to and from work depends on their
gasoline"
At the same time, however, a sup
Elementary order forbade any mo-
torist in New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
and the District from purchasing
any gasoline-no matter what the
emergency-unless his tank con-
tanned less than three gallons.
The purpose, OPA explained, was
to prevent any driver from circulat-
ing from filling station to filling
station to fill up his tank.
This restriction, some officials
said might be applied to the re-
naming eastern shortage area COM
prising Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, Virginia, North
and South Carolina, Georgia, Flor
ida and West Virginia.
Meanwhile there was accumulat-
(See GASOLINE. Page A-3D