Evening star., 1942-12-09
CouponsNeeded
For Fuel Oil
After Today
lckes Says Petroleum
For Heoting Will Be
Scarce for Duration

SumerS must use ration cou.
pons when they buy fuel oil.
The OPA said today that most
of the coupons in the 30-State
rationed area we're in the hands
of applicants and that there
would be no further extension
of the date when they become
effective.
Locally, it was indicated that
more than half of the fuel oil
ration books were out and that the
remainder would be ready in q
matter of days. There will be SONS
delay in distributing books to per-
sons who waited until the last min
ute to apply for their rations. APP
plications are still coming in at tho
rate of 500 to 1000 a day.
Oil to Remain Scarce.
Secretary of the Interior 1ckes
predicted last night that heating oil
would remain scarce for the dura-
ton of the war, but said that if con-
version suggestions were carried out
the supply should be sufficient to
prevent real hardship"
Mr.. Ickes, speaking as petroleum
administrator, termed gasoline ra-
tioning "a closed issue for the en-
tire Nation SO long as the rubber
problem remains to be solved"
OF heating Oil, however, he said in
radio speech THE problem not
only warrants discussion-it de.
!! mandS it,
Discussing the matter on a sec
tional basis among the 80 States
where fuel oil rationing is in effect,
he said, I'VE have felt that it was
perfectly fair and proper to give
preferred attention to New England
since that region is farther from the
source OF supply, the winter arrives
earlier there and is relatively Sc
we're"
For similar reasons" he added.
I'VE have given particular attention
to the north portions of the Mid
western States, although thess
States, fortunately, are nearer to the
producing and refining centers."
Huge Saving Seen.
The Secretary said voluntary In
dustrial conversion from oil to coal
use would result in saving of moro
than 35,000,000 barrels of oil am
nually on the East Coast and 50,-
100000 barrels In the Middle West
and we are hoping for many add.
tional conversions"
But.this is not enough he added.
I'VE now nave the power to COM
pei conversion by an industrial fuel
oil user who is physically able to
make the change. So far we have
not invoked this power. We have
now reached the point where we are
going to have to DO so.
"We are also recommending to
the War Production Board that do
mestic users of oil. who have on
hand the equipment to convert to
COAL be required to do so, If coal Is
available locally, which it is in most
/ instances"
No More Promissory Coupons.
The distribution of the ration
books was expected to bring order
out of the confusion in the fuel oil
; situation. Ration book holders will
be able to take stock of their sup
plies, figure out exactly how much
they are going to have to see them
through the winter-and how much
of this supply they have already
used.
OPA officials said there should be
no instances in. which homes are
forced to go without heat because
they have not received their coupons.
They explained that consumers still
have 150-gallon inventory reserve
on which to draw in case of emer.
gency.
Dealers will no longer be allowed
to accept ''promisory notes" in re-
turn for oil. These dealers, in fact,
! will have to start collecting ration
coupons for the oil they have dis
pensed in recent weeks under These
notes.
1--WE hope that distribution of the
ration books will clear up the situa-
tion,' an OPA spokesman said,
People will know where they stand.
The fuel oil situation is terrible and
now that people are beginning to
realize that they are not going to
have much Oil this year, there seems
to be a tendency to blame the Short
age on the OPA.
I'VE have tried to work out the
fairest method of distributing ths
| oil. Certainly, it's complicated. But
there was no other way to do it and
be fair about it. We couldn't lust
say that every one could get IS per
cent of the oil they had last year.
That would penalize the man who
used Oil sparingly last year.
This has been a tremendously
complicated job and we are sure
that it is going to work out all
right"
May Extend Coupons Life.
Ration coupons for the first heat
ing period will be good until De-
, cember l8, at least. An extension Of
this period for another week beyond
this date is now under considera-
tion. This mean that consumers
will have sometime after they get
| their ration coupons to order up the
full amount of oil.
OPA officials said they felt that
| there was little danger of any one
running out of oil between midnight
tonight and the day when they re-
ceive ration coupons. Throughous
the rationed area, it was estimated,
85 per cent of the ration books have
been distributed.
In Washington, more than $4,000
applications have been received,
The local OPA has had III paid
workers on the job Of processing
| these applications and this force
was supplemented by 238 volunteer
workers, who have given nearly
. nm hnysrc 20 H.