Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-05-14
O. P. A.
Continued From First Page.)

ecution for every gasoline chiseler
found.
Action also was being initiated in
other cities. Lee S. Buckingham,
acting rationing administrator for
New York City, announced that all
rationing cards would be tnvesti-
gated there at the end of the IA
tioning period. to determine If any
had been obtained through mis-
representation, and in Albany the
War Council directed a check OF all
x cards by the police, the Asso-
ciated Press said in a national
roundup.
On the basis of telegraph reports
the American Automobile Associa
ton estimated that IS per cent OF
the motorists registering had taken
A cards-the minimum-as COM
pared with an advance estimate OF
80 per cent by the O. p. A.
In Philadelphia, the A cards, call
ing for approximately 8 gallons 8
week, were taken by slightly more
than "a per cent of the registrants
Nearly half of the applicants got
B-3 cards, good for 81 gallons over
the rationing period ending June 80
Arnon d. Thomas, chairman o.
the New Haven District Board, sale
an appalling" number got the I'm.
limited X cards, and school off
cial at Springfield, Mass, noting tn,
-preponderance of B-3 applications
commented that "rationing is max.
ing q Nation Of liars"
More Blanks Sought.
Baltimore authorities reported 9
temporary shortage Of B-3 form.
developed there because of the large
number issued, and officials appealed
to Washington for an added supply
The regional ONCE of Price Ad.
ministration in Atlanta disclosed
that the unexpected demand for
cards had resulted in a lack of those
cards throughout five Southeastern
States, with the shortage especially
severe in North Carolina. The
Office said much confusion developed
because many travelling statesmen
entitled only to B cards, had asked
for x cards.
The o. P. A. had warned that any
sharp deviation from its 80 per cent
estimate on A cards may mean ar
adjustment in the unit value" of the
cards, which now is gallons
Oh1cials said it probably would take
two weeks to tabulate the registra-
ton figures and determine whether
a revision of the unit value was
necessary.
Liberal dispensing of x and E
cards might make it necessary to
reduce the size of each unit, it hao
been said, but new factors have en-
tered the picture since last week end
One was the decision to exempt
SO counties in the western part OF
| the several States from the ration
ing. This took 10 to IL per cent OF
the automobiles out of the ration
area, officials estimated.
Another decision eliminated the
twilight zone" extending so miles
westward from the ration territory
| The original order would have for
hidden residents of the rationeC
area to buy gasoline in this strip
without a ration card. Thus ar
Eastern motorist living near thu
border of unrestricted territory car
now cross over at will and fill hi
! tank.
Stocks to Be Cut Saturday.
Whether these two decisions would
offset any unexpected increase II
the number of drivers receiving aug,
mented rations, officials were no
ready to say.
There will be another element in.
jected into the situation SATURDAY
when deliveries to this area, already
1913 per cent below normal, are GU
to so per cent.
Prior to the Ickes statement fear
had been expressed that motorist
are only getting foretaste of wha
eventually will be their lot. Senate
Downey, Democrat, OF California
said he looked for a continued de
cline in the gasoline and fuel Of
reserves in the II Eastern State
and the District of Columbia com
prising the rationing area. If tina
happens, he added. rationing wi