Evening star., 1942-11-26
0PA Plans New Cut
In Petroleum Rations
In Spite Of Protests
Members Of Congress
Press Investigations to
Halt Bon Extension

The ONCE of Price Administration
today was preparing to make further
cuts in the petroleum ration in the
East and some other areas as pro-
tests swelled against the imposition
of rationing of gasoline in any form
in the rest of the country.
An OPA spokesman revealed that
the ration for fuel oil for home
heating in the East was to be cut.
No definite estimate on the extent
OF the cut nor the method of apply
ing it could be obtained.
This action, following on the heels
of the reduction in basic "a" gaso-
line rations, reflected the effort to
meet the estimated 139 ,000-barrels-
a-day deficit in petroleum shipments
to the East.
Martin Summons Colleagues.
Congress was taking an active in
terest in the whole petroleum and
rubber rationing picture. House
Minority Leader Martin called a
meeting of Senators and Repre-
sentatives from Northeastern States
next Tuesday to discuss the home
heating situation Mr.. Martins
office said the group was interested
sin keeping people from freezing to
death"
Six Western Senators, meanwhile,
called for an investigation of what
they considered a threatened fuel
shortage in the area between the
Mississippi River and the Rocky
Mountains. They charged that
confusion of authority" was to
blame.
A special House committee, ap-
pointed to investigate the plan for
Nationwide gasoline rationing, yes
terday made a report asking for a
six-month delay in imposition of the
plan This group indicated the plan
would be more acceptable if the
Once of Defense Transportation,
rather than the OPA. handled it.
The recommendations of the
House group were presented to the
House Interstate Commerce Com
mittee by Representative Anderson,
Democrat, of New Mexico.
He urged the postponement to
permit a determination of what
complete voluntary tire saving will
accomplish" 1t would give time,
too, he said, to make sure that "our
transportation system throughout
the country does not suffer a sudden
and drastic collapse through prema-
ture and forced gasoline rationing."
Senators Ask Inquiry.
A Senate investigation was asked
by Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, on behalf of himself and Sena-
tors Truman, Democrat. of Missouri;
Reed, Republican, of Kansas; Cap
per, Republican, of Kansas; Gillette,
Democrat, of Iowa and Thomas,
Democrat, of Oklahoma.
They requested in a resolution
that a flve-man committee be
named to study the production,
transportation and use of coal, nat
ural gas and petroleum products in
the area between the Rocky Noun
tains and the Mississippi and from
Canada to Mexico.
The fuel oil rations at present ap-
ply not only to the East, but
number of Midwestern States as
well-a total of 80 States and the
District
In these States, Oil now is ra-
toned on the basis of providing an
interior temperature of at least IS
degrees. One rumored proposal
would change this minimum to 63
degrees.
In its effort to save the home
heating ration, OPA already has
ordered all local boards to require
owners of larger structures such as
Office buildings and stores to convert
oil burners to other fuels when at
all possible.
This regulation also applies to
apartment houses, and new regu-
lation issued last night by OPA au-
thorized landlords to comply with
the conversion and fuel savings
programs both as to heat and hot
water in spite of rent regulations
which formerly required them to
furnish the same kind of service as
they always did.