Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-12
|0i|Consumption
To Be Reduced
By Z Per Cent
Slash Will Mean
20 to rs Per Cent
Gas Cut in East

6us Cut in East
Petroleum Co-ordinator 1ckes
disclosed today he had recon-
mended IL per cent cut in Pc
troleum consumption, which
would mean a 20 to Is per cent
reduction in gasoline in the II
States of the East Coast ration
ing area.
Mr.. Ickes said at a press confer
ence that he understood his recon-
mendation, prompted by the opening
of the African front, had been ac-
copied by the War Production Board
and the Office of Price Administra-
ton.
In terms of barrels, the recon-
mendations call for a reduction OF
10000 barrels a day in petroleum
products distributed to East Coast
industries and civilians.
Necessary to Crack Down."
Refusing to estimate the effect
If the reduction on ration card hold
ers, the Secretary predicted that it
will be necessary to crack down"
on persons who have not converted
their heating systems from fuel oil
to coal. He said suggestions as to
how the reduction might be dis
tributed had been contained in his
recommendations to the WPB and
OPA.
MI. Ickes pointed out that East
Coast oil and gasoline supplies now
must serve the Mediterranean and
Atlantic African coasts.
What has been our East Coast
supply now must be split three ways
in addition to all the other burdens
of global war it BEARS" he said.
THE fuels for 1t. Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower's forces and the British
9th Army have been assembling for
months, but what they have isn't
all they need. And what they need
they will get"
Mr.. Ickes described the opening
of the African campaign and the
petroleum situation as giving every
oil and gasoline user on the East
Coast a chance to participate in that
great operation"
Stocks Not High Enough.
The Secretary called for further
voluntary curtailment of consump-
ton of both fuel oil and gasoline,
declaring that the most direct
action that any citizen can take to
support those forces is to cut his
own home oil and gasoline consump-
ton so that these essentials to VIC
tory go first to where it does the
most good"
Stocks of petroleum on the East
Coast have been steadily improved
in the last few weeks, but still are
not high enough, Mr.. Ickes said
He cited deterioration of tank cars
as a factor that Is beginning to
hurt" Pointing out that the aver
age age OF tank cars is Is years and
that IA per cent of the cars now
spend their time in repair shops, the
Secretary declared the situation
wouldn't improve" Only limited
number of new tank cars are being
built, he said.
May Reduce Rations.
Meanwhile, a campaign to elm
mate non-essential driving - and
even the possibility that the basic
"A' gasoline ration may be cut
was under consideration by the OPA.
The War Production Board has
ordered that ways be found to cut
civilian consumption of petroleum
in the East as result of the pinch
which has developed in shipments
to the rationed areas.
The OPA has indicated it will
first reduce non-essential consume
ton and it was pointed out that
gasoline for pleasure driving was
probably the least essential purposs
for which fuel was being used.
Rail shipments to the East de-
clined during the week of October 81
for the second straight week. During
the October 81 period, an average Of
1884 barrels a day were shipped.
This compared with 1928 barrels a
day averaged the week before.
Henderson to Make Changes.
Leon Henderson will make the de.
cision on what ration reductions
are to be made within the next two
or three days, it was said.
The fact that reduction in East
ern fuel consumption had been
ordered was first revealed yesterday
by Stephen E. Fitzgerald, War Pro-
duction Board information director,
you can say" Mr.. Fitzgerald said,
that every effort will be made to
meet clearly every essential civilian
need.
For instance, you can assume that
we will try to cut elsewhere before
we reduce fuel oil for heating
homes"
Mr.. Fitzgerald said that Chairman
Donald M. Nelson's directive was
issued to Leon Henderson as director
OF the WPB's Office of Civilian Sup.
ply and not in Mr.. Henderson's ca.
pacity as price administrator.
Mr.. Henderson's experts are max.
Ing study to determine what the
petroleum supply situation is and
where cuts may be made with the
least disturbance to civilian needs