Evening star., 1942-05-17
Confusing the People

wv SSFS
The various rationing programs
as officials in charge of them have
repeatedly stated-cannot be sue
cessful unless the people, knowing
what is expected of them and under
standing the need for it, are prepared
to Cooperate to the best Of their
ability. That being the undiSputed
fact, it is all the more difficult to
understand why some aspects of
these rationing plans, instead Of
being presented in a manner calcu-
lated to enlist full public support,
have been handled in a fashion
which cannot fail to confuse and
antagonize the very people whose
cooperation is deemed to be essen
tial
At the moment, the greatest con-
fusion surrounds the gasoline ration
ing program. In a letter to the
Governor of Vermont, the President
blames the press for initially con-
tributing to this confusion and says
that the Government departments
most directly concerned have not
reduced this confusion as rapidly
as might have been the case. The
fact is that the press was not re-
sponsible for the original confusion,
and the confusion is greater at this
time than it has ever been because
Government departments and agen-
cies have made it so.
1t is clear from the record that
there has been confusion from the
beginning between the Office Of Price
Administration and Petroleum Co.
ordinator Ickes as to the quantity Of
gas that motorists would be per-
mitted to use. This confusion may
have been due to real difference OF
opinion as to the need for stringent
rationing, or it may have resulted
from the fact that MIR. Ickes and
the o. P. A. spokesman were not
talking about the same thing. But
the essential fact is that the con-
f1icting statements originated in
Government agencies in April, that
the confusion continued to be evil
dent in appearances OF administra-
ton officials before a House COM
mittee early this month, and that,
in the District at least, it is greater
now than it has ever been.
For example, the o. P. A. ruled last
week-during the controversy over
the issuance of x cards to congress-
men-that information as to the type
of cards given out was confidential.
But the President on Friday said
that he thought they should be
made matter of public record, and
the o. P. A. now is drafting regula-
tions to make public the names Of
x card holders.
More confusion apparently exists
| in another quarter. Leonard P.
Steuart, head of the District ration
ing board, has announced that all
holders of x and B cards-with the
exception of exempt" congressman
are to be investigated with view
to possible criminal prosecutions.
Holders of B cards, according to Mr..
Steuart, must use their gasoline only
in driving to and from work and
in pursuit of their gainful occupa-
| tions. Those with x cards, he says,
must use their cars up to 80 per
cent of the purpose for which the
cards were issued. Any other driving,
he said, would be illegal. But this
view, certainly with regard to
B cards, is not In harmony with
what o. P. A. has had to say on the
subject. According to the latter
agency-and it makes the regulations
B cards are intended to provide
means of getting to work. But If a
motorist can find some other means
of business transportation, he is
privileged to use his gasoline as he
sees fit.
Thus, the confusion mounts, and
to the confusion threats Of criminal
punishment are added. Such a state
of affairs, as the President said in
his letter, is "disruptive" of morale
But the remedy does not lie in at
tempting to place the blame on the
press.
What is needed is better under
standing of the fact that the sole
objective of rationing is to conserve
gasoline and tires, that public CO.
operation is necessary to attainment
of this objective, and that the people
will respond willingly when they are
met halfway by all officials in charge
of the program. The chances are