Evening star., 1942-12-10
Fuel Coupons
May Be Ready
By Week End
Only d Boards Behind
On Applications,
Steuort Says

Only four Of the Districts Is area
rationing boards were still behind
today IN processing applications for
Tue loll rations, according to l.. P.
Steuart, rationing officer for the
district. He said coupons should
be ready for everyone by the end of
this week, excepting in cases of late
application.
Large STATS of volunteers, includ-
Ing more than SO persons from ma
tional OPA headquarters, have been
sent TO the four places where the
work of processing has fallen behind.
The boards that were still tagging in
getting coupons out to consumers
were No. II, 458 Indiana avenue
NV; No. 20, the Jackson school on
II street between Thirtieth and
1hlrty-flrst streets NV; No 21, the
oyster School, Twenty-ninth and
calvert streets NV, and No. 81, at
the DeanWood School, Whittingham
street and Lane place NV.
The delay was attributed largely
to the fact that many consumers
tailed to turn in their forms until it
became apparent they would obtain
no more oil on promissory notes
after last night. The OPA said the
promissory note system was def
n1tely ended and that it was believed
coupons would be ready for all the
Nations oil consumers within an
other week. The note method had
created vicious circle, it was point
ed out. Although it was necessary to
use this method to allow people to
obtain oil while the coupons were
being issued, many persons delayed
filing their forms as long as they
were still able to get fuel without
coupons.
The deadline on the use of promis-
sory notes was set back three times
from the original November l final
date. The postponementS were nee
essary because few persons were re-
ceiving coupons until recently.
Emergency Plan Set Up.
Householders in danger of run
ming out Of oil before they receive
notice their coupons are ready will
be taken care of promptly If they
appear at their area board and ex-
plain the situation, it was said In
such cases the applications will be
handled at once and the coupons
turned over to the applicants.
Complicating the work of the
boards was the fact that they have
been obliged to handle concurrently
with the fuel oil matter such ration
ing problems as gasoline, tires, sugar
and coffee.
Among other things, they discov-
cred when coffee rationing went |
into effect that many people had
not received their war rationing
book No. !, issued last spring in
connection with sugar conservation.
Hundreds Of applications have been
coming into board Offices from per-
sons who either failed to apply for |
the books or who were not granted |
books at that time because they pos
sessed quantities of sugar in excess
Of the amount allowed. Coffee ra-
tioning has made it necessary for
them now to rectify this condition.
More Gas Sought.
Another problem for the area
boards was created when the value !
of "a" book gasoline coupons was
reduced from four to three gallons.
The boards have been flooded with
an avalanche of applications for "B"
books from motorists who previously
were able to get along on their
monthly quota of 16 gallons but who
now find they can't manage on u
gallons a month.
Boards have also been plagued
by citizens who, when they receive
their fuel oil coupons, believe they
have been dealt with too harshly.
Many of these complaints, it was re-
ported, come from people who have
forgotten that the amount of oil
they had in their tanks at the be-
ginning of the season counts as part
of the seasons ration. Some per-
sons also forget to count the so gal
Ions of fuel oil provided for in cou-
pons of specific denominations
which are attached to the ration
sheet on the opposite side from the
unit coupons, each of which is now
worth 10 gallons.
Enough Oil Here.
Meanwhile, the supply of fuel oil
being hauled into the District was
adequate to handle local require
ments, it was believed. Some dis
tributors, earlier this week, reported
they were out of oil and unable
to have it transported from Balti-
more. This situation was being re-
lieved, however, by the inaugura-
ton of a pooling system. 1t will
permit dealers whose stocks have
run out to draw on the reserve
supplies of other companies.
This arrangement was worked out
recently by Petroleum Administra-
tor Ickes and representatives of the
Petroleum Industry Committee.
1t was also reported by oil industry
representatives that efforts were be-
ing made to move more oil into the
District directly from Louisiana by
rail, thus averting the use of auto
transport. Under present regula-
tions of the Office of Defense Trans
portation 1t is not permissible to
haul oil by rail for a distance as
short as that between Baltimore and
Washington.