The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-17

es K S Ferguson. regional ration ma G6rect0r of the ofiee of price administration
 Ferguson said his oface was aware os the facts and that some action may be taken today,
 "waShtngeon offacialS at this mo- MeNt are eugage0 in studying how t0 meet the problem of assuring 'Saepphes to maintain essential serv~ SeeS,~ Ferguson said,
 Noting that the regional office merely carries out the policies of Washington. he said that "an- no@neeMent of a decision may be expected from Washington today"
 Harding declared that the Short- ase was due to the growing pinch of transportation. eo the increased military demands and to the de- msnSsS 0e civilian coupon-holderS,
 Warning that the situation on both gasoline and fuel oil may be- come even more acute" Harding appealed to the public to use ''aS hteAe as possible"
 Harding was asked if he planned any conferences with city officials, oil industry executives, or other persons. and said that he had none scheduled, There have been daily conferences between Harding and hSS stan as they watched the sup ply Cswfnale and the demand tn- crease
 His office and representatives of major oil concerns have made rec concentrations to OpA in Washing ton, Har6ing said,
 Mayor F. H. LaGuardia also has made representations to OPA, ask ing that provisions be made to keep the police. fire and sanitation de- partnaentS and other city services roNhNg, The sanitation department was reported to have only enough gasoline to last through the week. end.
 John Martin, assistant general manager of Socony Vacuum. said ! his eoSapany had available only one days supply of gasoline. Similar statements were made by other large oil companies.
 Martin Satd that the oil cofnpan- \ les must give gasoline to anyone who asks for it. whether or not he | is considered an essential driver, l. o0 industry representatives have met here several times within the last fw days with government off eials, including Robert Collier. di- rector of marketing for the petro- leNra administration office.
 Que result of the conference was Said to have been an appeal to the var prou0ction board for an order reducing still further the present gasoline ration, Officials also were reported eo have discussed 6 plan to abolish X coupons and curE draSttcally the issuance of B cards ' Washington. Dec. iT--(uPl-IhI Ofaee of Petroleum Administration said today that gasoline inventories along the entire east coast were low, and that the shortage wai marked particularly in the region between New York and Washing | ton.
 { A spokesman refused to confirm reports that the amount of gasoline in New York city had dwindled tc less than a days supply. but ad- naitted that the shortage in the
 metropolitan area was the most acute on the eastern Seaboard. Reports in New York said that Mayor Fiorello II. LaGuardia had notified Petroleum Administrator Harold I. Ickes of the situation tr New York. and had asked the Of- Ace of Price Administration to is- sue an immediate order to halt the sale of gasoline in that city except to physicians and for emergency uses.
 Ickes' once said Laduardia'S telegram had not yet been re- eeived, and OPA said 1t would take no action until it had been ofilcially informed by the Ofi1ce of Petroleum Cooxdinator, IckeS was in New York today. and his once said ht would probably confer with La GNardia on the oil shortage.