Evening star., 1942-04-25
Drivers May Get
80 10 50 Gallons
Of Gas a Month
Legislator Told Iekes,
Not Henderson,
Will Fix Quotes
q, tho Associated Press

By the Associated Press.
Congressional circles heard to-
day that the East's 5000 900 mo-
torists could expect a gasoline
ration of 30 TO so gallons a
month, rather than the 2Ea to
gallons a week previously esti-
mated by a spokesman for the
ONCE of Price Administration.
Rationing. made necessary by
transportation difficulties including
the sinking of coastwise tankers by
enemy submarines. Is scheduled to
begin May Is in II Eastern States
and the District OF Columbia.
One lawmaker said he mad been
advised that the quota tor private
motorists would be fixed by Petro-
leum Co-ordinator Ickes, rather
than by Price Administrator Hen.
derson.
If the punch-eard limit goes as
high as so gallons q month, the av-
erage car owner should feel little
hardship. Ofiicials of the American
Automobile Association estimate
that most automobilists use about
IS gallons every 30 days.
Rails Due to Step Up Hauis.
A Senator who has made special
study of the gasoline situation said
the railroads now are hauling 600,-
600 barrels of oil and oil products q
day and soon are expected TO step
that rate UP to 100000 barrels.
Nevertheless, he said drivers in
Eastern States should not expect fun
relief from that source. For one
thing, he said, the railroads are
having dificulty getting priorities
on material needed to repair cars.
Meanwhile, it was understood that
gasoline deliveries to filling stations
in the East would be cut to one
half OF normal May | because OF
transportation problems. They AL
ready have been cut one-third.
Whatever rationing program Is put
in effect May is Is expected to take
care OF the reduction.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, of Mas
sachuetts declared Americans would
cheerfully accept gasoline rationing
If 1t would help win the war. but ne
said they want assurance 1t is rieces-
sary and that the rationing will be
done ''in a reasonable and equitable
manner"
81 hope the present program OUT
lined can be modified and will only
be a temporary tryout," he said, "and
that with the increase in Use Of rail
transportation facilities. the incon-
veniences and sacrifices required OF
the public will be found to be In ex-
cess of what may be needed In the
future"
Relief Held Possible.
In testimony yesterday before q
Senate Agriculture Subcommittee,
one of Mr.. Ickes' aides. Ralph X.
Davies, deputy petroleum co-ordi~
nator, said that in "six months or
so' it might be possible to relieve
the eastern shortage. He told re-
porters later what he had in mind
was not substitute fuel. but use OF
alternate methods of transporta-
ton to avoid the dangers of moving
the oil up the east coast by tank
ships.
One way to eliminate this danger
already has been proposed in bill
by Senator Pepper, Democrat, of
Florida. His plan calls for immedi-
ate construction of pipe line across
Florida, from Port Inglis on the gulf,
to Palatka, on the St. Johns River in
the east. Tankers from Texas and
Louisiana would unload their car
goes at Port Inglis, and at Palatka
1t would be reloaded for the voyage
north through the protected water
way.
Chairman Bailey of the Senate
Commerce Committee said he had
asked War Production Chairman
Nelson and Army and Navy officials
for their views on the Pepper bill.
Bailey said he believed the plan
might offer one solution of the
pressing problem.
Wright w. Gary OF the petroleum
co-ordinator's Office, another wit
ness before the Senate subconmit-
tee, testified that the shortage of
transport had resulted in brimming
storage tanks at ref1neries.
New Uses Sought.
We're trying to find new uses for
1t in the war effort rather than
burn 1t to get rid of 1t or put 1t back
in the ground" he said. He had
explained that it was necessary to
keep up gasoline production because
of war demands for certain by
products.
The automobile associations presi-
dent, Thomas p. Henry. said yester-
day there was no such thing as
motoring as usual" and that long
distance trips had declined between
80 and 40 per cent In the last three
months.
The association said 1t had urged
the Government to be as liberal
as possible. contending SIS per cent
of the $4,000, 900 900 passenger miles
annually constituted necessity driv-
ing" for 10000. 900 cars affected by
rationing
The A. A. A., in a telegram to Mr..
Nelson. asked for "a more realistic
appraisal of the passenger car in
the N a tiry1a1 tro :, uv,<.~f~ = ~ -. -,