Evening star., 1942-12-18
0PA Expects 10 Finish
D. T.. Fuel Oil Study
Today or Tomorrow
Statement Is Expected
Monday on Possible
Rotion System Change

The Office of Price Adminis-
tration expects to complete its
investigation of the local fuel oil
rationing situation today or to-
morrow, an OPA spokesman an
nounced today.
He said conference will be held,
probably Monday, with representa-
tives Of District fuel oil dealers to
study reports of two field represent
tatives who have been surveying
conditions among dealers here since
yesterday. A statement probably
will be issued shortly after the meet
ing, indicating whether the OPA will
authorize any modification of the
complicated rationing system as it
applies to the District.
ODT Promises Help.
Meanwhile, the Office of Defense
Transportation has promised local
fuel oil dealers assistance in hauling
oil to their storage plants from the
primary suppliers' terminals on the
Anacostia River, Lester Scott, head
of the oil heating division of the
Merchants & Manufacturers Asso-
citation, said today.
Mr.. Scott conferred yesterday with
S. F. Niness OF the Petroleum Trans
port Section of the ODT. Mr.. Niness
assured him that if dealers have
difficulty transporting the oil from
the Anacostia River terminals the
ODT will assist in providing trans
port service" Mr.. Scott said.
Will Release Trucks.
This will release a number Of
dealers trucks for use in making
deliveries of oil to consumers, he
pointed out
Following his conference with the
ODT official, Mr.. Scott issued a
statement declaring he was thor
oughly satisfied that ODT Is in no
way responsible for local transport
and distribution difficulties of fuel
OIL"
II am satisfied there is no exist
ing or contemplated ODT regula-
ton which would restrict delivery
of fuel oil to consumers during the
present emergency" the statement
said.
Dealers Chosen for Survey.
Names of several fuel oil dealers
representative of both large and
small concerns, have been furnished
the OPA by Mr.. Scott He declared
however, he is willing for the agency
to select "any or all" dealers fol
its survey because the findings
will be the same"
According to Mr.. Neukom, If any
changes in rationing regulations are
found to be desirable, the OPA will
act Immediately to make the
changes.
Possibility of eliminating some o1
the clerical detail connected with
the rationing program was dis
cussed in a general way" at con.
ference Wednesday between Mr.
Scott and Mr.. Neukom.
Mr.. Scott revealed yesterday that
OPA also is considering possible
lengthening of the overlap in the
validity dates of fuel oil ration
coupons, which might ease the dis.
tribution problem by permitting
larger deliveries to a consumer al
a single time. A change is "undel
study" by OPA, he said.
Says Distribution Collapses.
One of the OPA's investigators
was told today that fuel oil distri-
button here has collapsed under the
weight of the rationing program
The statement was made by A. P
Brown, general manager of the Ri.
naldi Coal Co., $50 Rhode Islant
avenue NE, during the course o1
the OPA's survey.
Mr.. Brown said he has been forced
to employ an extra driver and two
new assistant dispatchers and ever
with the new employees his company
Is unable to handle the work. Truck
drivers whose daily deliveries aver
aged 1900 gallons last year, nov
average only 1000 gallons a day
The two new assistant dispatchers
spend all their time checking te
see If persons who order oil have
coupons to cover the orders, and
keeping records of the number o1
coupons still held by customers who
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