Evening star., 1942-09-26
Bootleg Sales
.0fGas Books in. !.
East Charged
81
Claim Follows Order
By LETTERS Putting
All u. S. on Rution
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

ny JAhNAIo - A~A~ wv
A spokesman for the oil In
dustry charged today that cou-
pom rationing of gasoline In the
East was failure and said fur
ther restriction on car use would
have to be imposed If Nation
wide rationing was to obtain the
desired objective of conserving
rubber.
The declaration followed an an
nouncement by Rubber Director
William NJ. Jeffers that he had is
sued a directive to the Office OF
Price Administration calling for Ma
tion-wide rationing of gasoline on
the same basis as is now in force in
the District and II Eastern States.
The oil official charged bootleg
ging of gas coupons was widespread
in the East with coupons being sold
Illegally on nearly every street
corner" He predicted a wave Of
bootlegging after Nationwide ra-
tioning is put in effect that would
put the prohibition era "in the
shade" He said there were other
leaks in the rationing system.
Curb on Sales Urged.
There must be some limitation
on the amount of gasoline to be
sold the public" the official said,
"if consumption is to be cut to any
appreciable degree. There has to be
either a limitation on the total
amount of gas or some other sys-
tenn such as the Eastman plan.
'You can't expect the small filling
station operator, who has no par
ticular place in the war effort and
whose sole means of livelihood is de-
rived from sale Of gasoline, to be too
conscientious in handling coupons.
A man must have bread and meat
for his family"
Under the plan proposed by De.
fense Transportation Director Jo-
seph B. Eastman, which has never
been announced officially, it is un-
derstood that car owner would be
asked to set his mileage for official
driving. His speedometer would be
checked and sealed. Penalties would
be imposed if the car was operated
above the allowed figure.
OPA Views Contradicted.
The charge that coupon rationing
has failed was a contradiction Of
OPA statements. The agency has
commended the current rationing sys-
tenn was reasonably tight" and has
cut consumption about 40 per cent
below normal.
Mr.. Jeffers accompanied his order
| with an appeal to motorists outside
the current rationed area to limit
driving to only essential needs until
the rationlng plan can be put in
force. A Government spokesman
said Nation wide rationing could be
placed in effect probably by Mo-
vember l, and not later than No
vember Is.
Extension of rationing to the 81
States outside the East is purely q
rubber conservation move. It was
strongly recommended in the Baruch
report on the rubber situation, which
led to the appointment of Mr.. Jeffers
as rubber director It was the first
directive issue by Mr.. Jeffers since
his appointment early last week.
About Gallons Weekly.
The action means that the average
driver in the entire country, even
in the great oil production States Of
Texas, Oklahoma and California,
will be limited to the slightly less
than 4 gallons a week allowed in
the East. The man with an oil well
in his back yard will be no better
off than his countryman who never
saw we'll.
Mr.. Jeffers' directive follows:
81. The Office of Price Admins.
tration is hereby directed and au.
thorized to institute Nationwide
gasoline rationing on the same basis
as the gasoline rationing program
now existing in the Eastern States.
80. 1t will be understood that aft-
er the installation of a Nationwide
gasoline rationing, the Office Of De-
fense Transportation will review the
program from the standpoint OF It's
effects upon the transportation
service of the Nation.
"3. The existing arrangements be.
tween the Office of Defense Trans.
portation and the Office of Price Ad-
ministration relative to rations for
commercial vehicles in accordance
with general order ODT No. 21 will
be continued and extended through.
out the Nation"
Provides Tire Inventory.
The ODT order referred to is one
which will provide the office with
complete inventory of all tires nav
on the wheels of the country's more
than 100000 non-military CONNER
clal vehicles or held for use of the
vehicles. 1t requires application be
made for certificate of necessity
showing use OF the vehicle and re-
stricting mileage and load. Every
operator must report the number
and condition of all tires in his pos.
session by sizes, including both used
and new tires.
It was said this inventory Of tires
(see JEFFERs, Page AID