Evening star., 1942-11-27
Gasoline
Continued From First Page

first definite step taken in this direc-
ton.
The OPA earlier this month re-
duced gasoline rations on the basic
"a coupon from four to three GAL
Ions as step toward meeting the
petroleum crisis. Whether the 10
per cent cut in fuel for home heat
ing will meet the l39, ,O00- -barrel-a-
day deficit in the East could not
Immediately be determined.
The Senate committee called in
| Mr.. Ickes to discuss the fuel oil sit
| uation after Rubber Director Will
liam M. Jeffers. Price Administra-
tor Leon Henderson and Defense
Transportation Director Joseph B
Eastman had joined in promising a
common sense effort to work out
local difficulties in the Nationwide
rationlng of gasoline to save rubber
after December /.
we have maintained storage
stocks of heating oil pretty we'll"
Mr.. Ickes testified '---
Turning to Senator Brewster, Re-
publican, of Maine Co-ordinator
lckes remarked: You are getting
more than the other sections be-
cause your winters are longer and
colder"
Your figures don't keep us warm"
Senator Brewster replied. smiling.
Would Have Ickes Control.
While Mr.. Ickes was testifying,
Senator OMahoney, Democrat. of
wyoming reiterated his belief that
one agency should be given co-ordi-
mated control over Oil problems and
added, I nominate Mr.. Ickes."
Senator O'Mahoney called atten-
tlon to a report a Senate Public
Lands Subcommittee made last
month. showing that each of the
following different Government
agencies deal with some phase of
the oil situation: Interior Depart
ment, Office of Petroleum Co-ord-
inator, War Production Board. and
Office OF Price Administration.
Chairman Truman asked Mr.
Ickes If he cared to comment on
Senator OMahoneys suggestion.
The Secretary of the Interior said
he did not, adding that he could
not improve on it.
Mr.. 1ckes said he thought people
in New England worry too much
about the number of tank cars COM
ing IN. whereas his Office approaches
the problem from the standpoint of
total available storage capacity. On
that basis, he said. New England
now has rs per cent of its required
supply.
Asks About Second Line.
Senator Burton, Republican, of
Ohio asked about the possibilities of
starting another pipe line to in
crease the East's oil supply.
Mr.. Ickes said that the project is
waiting on the granting of priorities
and estimated it would take a year
to complete it from the date it was
started.
Gov. ELECT John Dempsey of New
Mexico, former member of the
House, went before the committee to
explain some of the gas and tire
rationing problems confronting his
State, where, he said. there is so
much gasoline it is being poured
back in the wells.
He said his people recognize the
need for rationing and saving tires
and will make any patriotic contri-
button required, but declared ration
ing should not be on the basis of
every individual in the United
States getting the same amount.
Senator Truman said all of the
responsible officials had informed
the committee earlier today they
intend to apply common sense in
meeting local problems.
Stresses Individual Needs.
Mr.. Dempsey said it was danger
Gus to limit a sheep herder in New
Mexico to one spare tire when he
must drive over mountain roads in
bad weather.
He also asserted that tires and oil
are wasted by the regulation requir-
ing gas ration book to be used
only for the owners car. He said
if two car owners In New Mexico
could make long journey In one
car. using both of their ration books,
it would save more rubber than If
both went in their own cars. He
had in mind a case where one per-
son did not have enough tickets to
make a round trip
After today's hearing the COM
mittee plans to pursue the ration
ing problem further, with hearings
in the West, starting Monday In
Kansas City.