Evening star., 1942-12-19
Fuel Oil
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buildings must prove that it is i'm
possible for them to convert or else
be cut of from fuel oil rations by
January.
Today's OPA announcement takes
cognizance of the difficulties many
building operators are encountering
in obtaining materials and labor for
conversion. The OPA says that If
a building operator can show that
conversion has been delayed by such
labor or material shortages. fuel oil
rations will be issued to tide him over
until conversion can be completed.
Stories Of overburdened delivery
facilities and one case in which a
clerical staff has been trebled to
handle the required paper work were
told by dealers to the OPA men who
investigated charges yesterday that
the oil rationing system has broken
down.
Reporter Makes Rounds.
A reporter from The Star ac-
companied one Of the Investigator
D. w. Goldthorp. former managing
editor of the Fuel Oil Journal and
now chief of the Eligibility Section
of OPA-on his visits to three con-
Germs.
The dealer who said he is disre-
garding OPA restrictions on the
amount of fuel oil that may be de-
livered during single heating period
was filling tanks in return for ra-
ton coupons that were not valid, he
told the OPA official.
Other dealers also attributed de-
livery difficulties to the heating
periods.
Two of the operators agreed that
delay in setting up the rationing
system was responsible for much of
the present confusion and overbur-
dening OF facilities and said that had
the amount of oil each person is to
receive been determined by October
l, the clerical problem now would
not be SO great.
Must Maintain Records.
Due to the delay, many consumers
! used promiSsory notes instead of ra-
tion coupons to obtain fall supplies
of OIL Now, with coupons being is
sued. the fuel oil companies must
take coupons in payment of the
notes and set up Office records for
their misunderstanding what nor
mally is their busiest season for fill
ing orders for fuel.
The three operators questioned by
Mr. Goldthorp could offer no spe-
cif1c suggestions for amendment Of
the rationing regulations, other than
proposing the wiping out of the lines
between heating periods.
According to Lester Scott, chief OF
the oil heating division of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton, who conferred earlier this week
with John G. Neukom, head of the
OPA Fuel Oil Rationing Division,
OPA is opposed to the abolition of
heating periods. OPA, he said, feared
that too many purchases of large
supplies Of oil might come at the
same time and dangerously dimin-
ish stocks in this area.
The agency has announced its in
tention of taking immediate ac-
ton to make any changes that are
shown to be desirable after Mon
days conference
Dealers questioned yesterday about
| the value of increasing the overlap
period showed little enthusiasm.
This would be only minor change,
they said, and would provide little
or no relief.
Elimination of some of the clerical
detail would meet with wholehearted
approval, it was indicated.
Company Begged Down."
The first dealer visited by Mr..
Goldthorp-A. P. Brown, general
manager Of the Rinaldi Coal Co..
greeted the OPA representative by
pointing out two employees They
spent their entire time, he said, do
ing paper work resulting from fuel
oil rationing.
Paul j. Crummett, general man.
ager of the Dome Oil Co., described
the firm as begged down" with
clerical detail. He estimated that,
despite the addition of two ONCE
workers, 1t would be the end of Janu-
ary before the company could set up
its records showing the amount of
oil to which each customer who had
deposited his coupons with the COM
pany was entitled.
After the record system has been
set up, it will require the full-time
services of two employees to clip and
paste coupons for oil delivered each
day, he said.
Keeps Vital Data Only.
Another company reported that 1t
has given up keeping all but the
absolutely essential" records be-
cause of inability to obtain clerical
help. Delivery truck drivers have
made many mistakes in attempting
to number coupons and do other
clerical work when they make de-
liveries, 1t was said.
OF major concern to the opera
tors were numerous calls they have
been receiving from consumers who
demand small deliveries 20 they
may use all period one coupons
before they become invalid Thurs
day. In virtually all cases, the
oil dealers, their trucks kept busy
supplying persons about out Of fuel,
were ignoring these demands.
One dealer declared that mo
matter how great the overlap be-
tween heating periods, there will
always be a situation where Gus