The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-20
Gas Curiailmeni
Is Felt Here

lie station ~ - wei cared for
ire normal allowance would b s.
per cent a uzlsl requirements.
Soue Have Cut Driving
Actually many crvers nave a.
ready curtsiled their operations a.
lezst the - per cent required
under rstioning provisions
Those. however. who have BEEN
making hit and miss purchases al
over town and country we're ex-
peeied 20 face 70 little tnoonven-
renee in that they nav D. able
only 70 acquire one of tao or three
gallons at any time a. any one
station.
This = because the stations
bulk gsllonage hss beer reduced.
and each station operator. in the
general rule. wiil be protecting ms
supplies TO meet demands Of his
regular customers.
Hours Question Unsettled
TIE question Of hours stu hung
unsettled Thursday after long de-
bate Many stations will be found
closed az : o'clock Thursday night;
there will be others that will hang
on until 10 p. m, others until mid
night. especially downtown where
thester crowds are to be accom-
moiated
Neither independent operators
or big company stations have
settled the arrangements Of hours
beyond the required compliance
with the 72-hour week limitations.
restricted TO six days a week.
Hard 10 Find on SUNDAY
Il may be found something OF
job TO locate station open on
Sunday. Those patronizing par
ticulsr dealers had best ascertain
directly from them what hours
they viii be open for business.
Thus far, in spite of some in
sistence on the part Of dealers and
organizations. the government is
not telling anybody in the Pc
troleum retailing business what
distribution he shall make Of the
u business hours per week at
his disposal.
One factor that downtown
/ stations are considering is whether
they will be violating the spirit
or letter Of the regulations if they
keep open evening hours for park
ing purposes and sell no gasoline
or OIL There's no ruling on the
point
Eastern States Affected
Eastern States affected by the
rulings are Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida least Of the Apalachicola
river, Georgia, Maine. Maryland.
Massachusetts. New Hampshire,
New Jersey. New York, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania. Rho e
Island. South Carolina, Vermont,
Virginia and West Virginia.
The price ceilings. an
nounced Wednesday night by
Acting Price Administrator
John r. Hamm, provide that
no price may be charged for
gasoline higher than the one
for the grade posted at the
close of business or at IL p. m,
March Is.
Where no price was posted, a
service station may not charge
more than the price of the last
sale for a similar grade during
the 6o-day period prior TO March
ID. Filling stations which have
come into operation since March
Is will be governed by prevailing
price levels in their areas.
Ceilings for 60 Days
The price ceilings are establish
ed for 90 days, and probably will
be followed by permanent ceilings,
as the situation demands. The
price for each grade OF gasoline
must be displayed conspicuously.
officials said. in figures at least
five inches tall.
Wilful violations of the
price order are punishable
upon conviction by maximum
fine of 5000 or imprison-
ment for one year, or both.
Hamm indicated also that the
OPA Is considering licensing
operators in affected states TO in
sure compliance with the price
ceilings.
The War Production boards de-
livery reduction order provides
that filling stations may remain