Evening star., 1942-12-01
Gas Rationing Starts
For 100000 Motor
Vehicles in Nation
Wild Scramble Precedes
Deodline as Drivers Low
In Oil Stocks and LIQUOR
Ey the Associated Press,

FS the Associated Press.
About $1,000, 900 passenger cars
and 100000 commercial vehicles
went on a mileage-reducin diet
today as Nation wide gasoline
ratloning set in to the accom-
panlment of both praise and
protest.
For II Eastern States where the
luel curb was inaugurated six and
nall months ago, 1t was Just an
other day of restricted driving. But
for motorists elsewhere, the old cry
OF "flll up the tank" was newly out
moded.
More than 80 per cent of the
drivers in today's rationed area have
their basic "A" ration cards, the
Off1ce of Price Administration esti-
mated, emitting them to four gallons
a coupon-calculated to be a week S
supply. The Eastern zone, with the
exception of West Virginia, gets
three gallons for an "A" coupon.
Scramble for Reserves.
The beginning of Nation wide gas
oline rationing ended wild scram-
Bile by motorists to lay in a reserve
stock-liquor as we'll as gasoline
for emergencies.
They stored the fuel in everything
from abandoned filling stations to
open diShpans, despite frantic warm
ings from fire department officials.
Even before the midnight ration
ing deadline. two fires were blamed
on the makeshift storage devices and
at least one man was burned Sc
verely.
Opposition to the gasoline con-
trolls, imposed to save rubber,
brought a retort from Undersecre-
tary OF War Patterson last night
that I'VE cannot and will not deny
our soldiers the finest equipment
In order to cater to the whims
of those who don't seem 70 realize
that their country is at wal"
Declaring that the Army already
has cut rubber uses several times
at the expense Of maximum eff
cheney in some cases, Mr.. Patterson
added that I'VE can't reduce our use
of rubber any more without risk
ing the safety of our men and
hampering our operations"
Yandenberg Fears Chaos"
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
of Michigan, told the Senate yes
terday that extension of the ration
ing program was premature and
inadviSable." He predicted that
tor
will bring confusion and chaos"
and IAN inevitable breakdown in
the system"
He contended that rationing off,
cials were depending on their eX-
perience in the East as basis for
curtalling gasoline consumption in
''the wide open spaces out West"
and that thousands of drivers are
confronted by impossible curtail-
ment."
Meanwhile. OPA said the "a"
book ought to give sufficient mile
age until local ration boards can
issue supplemental B" or &C" books
Issuance of new transport rations
for trucks. buses, taXis and other
commercial vehicles on a basis OF
certified war necessity, also was re-
ported nearing completion. Com
mercial operators who have not yet
received their certificates may OBJ
tain temporary fuel rations.
In the newly rationed areas, mo-
torists who have not asked for the
basic "A books may apply at local
boards starting Wednesday. Deal
ers and distributors must register
with the local rationing boards to-
day or tomorrow to report gasoline
supplies on hand at 1901 am. today
when the program began.
Tire Deadline Postponed.
If car owners want to continue
obtaining gasoline, OPA reminded,
they must file their tire serial num-
bers with local boards in time to
get a tire inspection record by De-
cember r. The deadline was post
poned from December /.
Farm State Senator's, meanwhile
renewed a demand for immediate
construction of plants to manufac-
ture grain alcohol for synthetic rub
Der production. Chairman Gillette
of a Senate Agriculture subcommit-
tee said the group will seek to find
out why Rubber Administrator Will
liam M. Jeffers failed to start prof.
ects to make 100000 gallons of
alcohol annually from grain.
While the remainder of the Ma
ton was engrossed with gasoline
storage there was another rush
down in dry Oklahoma-to stock up
on liquor before gasoline rationing
became effective and stopped travel
to nearby wet States.
State law enforcement officers
fondly hoped the rationing would
eliminate bootleggers-just as sugar
rationing already has eliminated
moonShiners to large extent.
Bourbon S. a Pint
Already a pint Of bourbon is
quoted at SIS and Oklahoma Safety
Director Walter Johnson said that
while big bootleggers might be able
to pool their gasoline supplies, the
price of the small quantities avail
able would be so high the average
man wouldn't know any was on the
market.
Tulsa officers reported that high
ways from Joplin, Mo, and Fort
Smith, Ark, have been carrying
heavy traffic in recent weeks. most
of 1t motorists bringing home a case
or two of liquor.
Elsewhere. though it was gasoline
that was worrying motor car owners
and fire departments.
In Los Angeles, there were reports
several weeks ago of motorists leas-
ing vacant filling stations and stor-
ing huge caches Of gasoline in the
tanks.
Others less fortunate were using
any sort of contalner available.
Several Fires Started.
A couple travelling cross country
tn Ca liforpia stonpino 0ver of Alhr-