Evening star., 1942-07-01
Temporary Relief
From Gas Famine
IsExpected Today
Representative Cole Sees
Hope of Relocation Of
Restrictions in East

The gasoline famine in Wash
ington and other areas of the
Eastern Seaboard was due for
temporary relief today as bulk
stations began delivery Of new
Today supplies to filling stations.
Representatives of dealers agreed,
however, that there is nothing in
the gasoline picture-at least until
the so-called permanent rationing
system goes into effect July %
to stop the periodic dry periods
coming as the Today allotments
dwindle.
Cole Is Hopeful.
Hope of some relaxation of the
rationing plan in Eastern States
was voiced by Representative Cole,
Democrat. of Maryland, who said
he and other members of Congress
from the restricted areass would
meet tomorrow with officials of the
Office of the Petroleum Co-ordi-
nator.
Mr.. Cole said Price Administrator
Leon Henderson Informed him that
he had requested the co-ordinator
to study further and recommend
changes in the boundaries of the
rationed area, conceding that some
injustices had arisen in the present
demarkati tions.
In New York, Mayor La Guardia
said, after telephone conversa-
ton with Mr.. Ickes, that he was
"a little more hopeful of securing
gasoline and oil supplies for the
East.
Price Order Amendment.
I'VE have heard from the Office of
Price Administration, he said, "and
believe before long we will be able
to get an amendment to the price
order permitting the application Of
compensation for excess transpor-
tation to apply to all means of
transportation coming from the Mid
west"
The statement was seen as an
indica ton that Mr.. Henderson might
alter the order to allow companies
not participating in the industry
transportation pool to share in
its benefits, thus stimulating further
shipment of gasoline and oil into the
East. and to let the subsidy be paid
for increased costs resulting from
the use of tank trucks, inland water
way facilities and other available
means costing more than the tanker
method.
Resorts Have Big Supply.
Some relief in the tight gasoline
supply situation was anticipated
when the new rationing regulations
60 into effect.
One cause of current shortages
arises from the fact that summer
motorists are not using the filling
stations they would ordinarily. For
example. supply restrictions pre-
beach resorts with the result that
some stations in those areas are
overf1owing with gas, while city
stations run short quickly.
Under the program to begin July
q, supplies can be adjusted more
nearly to needs, it was said.
Meanwhile, officials of the Case
line Retailers of Washington, Inc,
were pressing officials in the Office
of Price Administration and the
petroleum co-ordinator to continue
in some form the present system Of
limitation of the supplies going to
any one dealer.
Warns of Price War. ~
Harry Wainwright, executive sec
retary of the retailers group. said
he is comforting and corresponding
with Government officials, pointing
out the danger of price wars unless
restriction of some kind is imposed.
An alternative, he said, would be a
regulation against price cutting.
Some stations are going out Of
business anyway" he said. but we
want some protection for the flnan-
cially weak" He pointed out that
a financially strong operator might
be able, by reducing his prices, TO
force out of business stations which
are barely getting along.
1t has been reported that a dis
agreement exists between OPA and
the co-ordinator as to whether any
form of supply curtailment shall be
continued A spokesman for the
co-ordinator's Office said no recon-
mendation has been made as yet to
the War Production Board. which
ultimately must settle the dispute.