Evening star., 1942-09-03
Demand for Oil Gar
To End Confusion
Nears Showdown
lckes Reported Choice
Of Industry; Fuel Oil
Cut of Is Pct. Seen

Growing demands for a single
Government wartime oil admin
istrator, to end the division of
authority blamed in several
quarters for public confusion,
appeared headed today toward a
showdown at the White House.
Creditable but unquotable sources
said the oil industry's choice for
such a powerful job was Harold
l.. Ickes, the Secretary of Interior
who now bears the title of "petro-
leum co-ordinator,
Mr.. Ickes himself, nettled by in
Movements with the Office of Price
Administration headed by Leon
Henderson, joined with those in
siMing that all regulatory authority
be placed in the hands of one Off :
cial, He stated his position to mem
bers of the Petroleum Industry War
Council.
~Nfsv Mesn~L Less& Uas oifre.a-s~ v
Mr.. 1ckes, commenting at press
conference later, said he had long
favored one-man control of oil
''as matter of principle.
He announced at the press con-
ference that all tank cars used for
transportation of gasoline in the
Midwest and Southwest have been
requisitioned to move petroleum
products-especially fuel oil-into
the East.
He said emphasis was being placed
on the transportation of oil for home
burners. adding that 1T may mean
a reduction in the amount of gaso-
line available for automobiles in
the East.
The new reouisition order, Mr..
1ckes said, was expected to add
around 5000 to the $4,000 cars that
last week delivered 823,260 barrels
of Oil daily to the now-rationed II
Atlantic Seaboard States and the
District of Columbia.
Rationing Order Due Soon.
There were simultaneously re-
ports that buildings and homes
along the Atlantic Seaboard which
depend on oil heat may face a cut
| of from Is to 80 per cent of normal
! consumption under rationing pro-
/ gram being considered by the War
Production Board. A WPB order
/ rationing fuel oil is expected within
the next few days. The date for
/ registration probably will be fixed
/ between September Is and Octo-
Der Is.
The industry's favor of Mr. Ickes
for the oil "czar" job presented al
ironical picture, as the Interior Sec
retary only few months ago was
regarded as dangerous "meddler'
by many oilmen who accused him
of trying to "Federalize" the indus
try, under his control.
A resolution was placed before
the Petroleum War Council yester-
| day asking that all Federal oil DOW
ers be placed with Mr.. Ickes, but
this was reported to have beer
tabled when point was raised that
such action might offend other Fed
eral officials now having a hand ir
oil matters.
The council composed of man,
leaders of the petroleum industry
is headed by William r. Boyd, jr
president of the American Pc.
troleum Institute.
Conflict Brings Demands.
II Demands for single oil authorit,
grew out Of conflicting statements
emanating from Mr.. Ickes and thu
OPA as to the need and prospec
Of rationing.
The fuel rationing order by WPE
it was lntimated, will not only in
Clude the II States in the East nov
affected by the gasoline rationinj
program, but some of the Midwest
ern States where gasoline can b
bought without limitation.
No one at WPB would disclose tn,
States where fuel oil rationing vii
be put into effect. 1t was learned
however, the rationing area, will
the exception of few States wher
there are large oil supplies, may b.
extended as far west as the Missis
sippi River.
The program has been recon
mended to Chairman Donald M Mel
son of WPB by special COMMITTEE
on fuel oil made ap of Undersecre
tary Of War Patterson, MI Hender
son and Mr.. Ickes and his assist
ant, Ralph Davies.
While details of the committee
recommendations were not revealed
it was said basic rationing is con
templated which would permit home
to be heated at an average tempera
ture Of 68 degrees, with supplemental
rations to be issued on the basis o
need. A plan also may be worket
out, it was said, whereby ration