Evening star., 1942-12-24
Gas, Fuel Allotment
Increases for East
Unlikely, Iekes Says
Predicts Second Holiday
If Autoists Buy More
Than Actual Needs

There is no immediate prospect
Of an increase in the gasoline and
fuel oil supplies in the East Coast
States and the District. Petroleum
Co-Ordinator ICkes told a press con-
ference today.
At the same time. he criticized
those people who failed to coop
crate with the Government in con-
serving gasoline, fuel oil and other
scarce commodities. He predicted
another gasoline holiday" if auto
mobile owners make a run on gaSo-
line stations and buy more fuel than
they actually need at one time. The
present 25 per cent cut in the unit
value of B" and &C" gasoline Ia
tloning coupons would be sufficient
10 tide over" motorists during the
present emergency, he said.
Mr.. Ickes expressed deep concern
over the coal situation and indi-
Gated that the supplies Of both an
thacite and bituminous coal would
reach the pinch" stage next sum-
mer unless more coal is mined.
Cooperation Requested.
He said he had already requested
the mining industry and labor to get
together Immediately and straighten
out their troubles to avoid a pos
sIble crisis in the coal situation
According to figures in possession
Of Mr.. Ickes. 636000,000 tons of coal
we're mined in this country las year.
Next year. Cos 100000 tons will have
to be produced. This includes 600,-
100000 tons of bituminous and
SIS 100000 tons of anthracite.
MI Ickes revealed that at the
request of the oil companies he is
considering abolition of the so-called
gasoline courtesy cards" which al
low motorist to buy gasoline on
credit
Allotment Unchanged.
The present allotment of 365000
barrels of gasoline a day for the
East Coast States and the District
would remain in effect, Mr.. Ickes
said.
1t was pointed out that the $685.
900 barrels per Gay is the same
amount that has been allocated
since the reduction in the unit value
Of B" and &C" coupons.
Mr. Ickes declined to comment
on the method of rationing fuel
oil in the East Coast States which
has resulted in barrage of criti-
ciSm by both dealers and consumers. /
He said the problem was not his
and belonged properly to the OPA. !
He admitted that strong efforts are
being made to have the ceiling
price on gasoline raised, but this
matter too, is up to the OPA to
settle, he said.
Secretary Ickes took occasion to
pay tribute to Leon Henderson, re-
tlring Office Of Price Administration
chief. He said he thought Mr.. Hen
derson had done a good job" and
in time will get credit for it. More
over, he declared it is unfortunate
from the point of view of the"public
for Mr.. Henderson to give up his
job at this time.
L can't imagine how any one who
tells the American people what they
can and can't have can escape criti-
CiSm," he said
Conferences Set.
Meanwhile, OPA officials were to
meet next month with representa-
tives of Eastern gasoline dealers for
discussion of the operators request
for boost in price to offset the loss
of revenue resulting from the recent
large reduction in automobile gaso-
line rations.
The appeal for a price increase
was made by Harry Wainwright. |
director CT the Gasoline Retailers of
Washington, Inc. Though Mr..
Wainwright made Representations
only for filling stations in this and
the Baltimore area, consideration is
being given by OPA, it was under
stood to requests for increases
throughout the Eastern shortage
area.
Just how much the price to motor
lists may rise could not be ascer-
tanned, though a boost of a cent a
gallon was mentioned. MI. VAIN
wright said he presented the dealers
problem 10 OPA and preferred to
leave it to the agency as to the
amount of relief to be given. An
OPA spokesman stated prices might
be adjusted to meet the situation in
the various localities.
Economic Director James F. Byrnes
yesterday warned he saw no hope for
increased allotments of fuel oil or
gasoline along the Atlantic Seaboard.