Evening star., 1943-10-01
Ration Changes
Expected 10
Cut Gas Use
A Book Holders Get
Slight Increase, but
B and Cs' Are Reduced

The Office of Price Administra-
ton S revision Of gasoline ration
ing will give A-book holders in
the East an additional p gallon
a week, but will cut the overall
motoring public's fuel consump-
ton considerably, examination
OF rationing figures disclosed to-
day.
The change in ration coupon VAL
ues, effective last mir light, applles
everywhere East of the Rocky
Mountains. OPA increased the Ara
TONS OF Eastern motorists from IL
to gallons week, while the value
OF B and c coupons were reduced to
2 gallons in all sections in the Rock
les and on the West Coast.
OPA statistics show there are g.
100000 ration bookholders on the II
Eastern States and the District. all
OF whom have the basic A ration.
These will get slight increase in
rations provided they have not spent
coupons ahead of time.
Essential Travel to Be Met.
Officials said 100000 of the Easts
motorists have B books. while l.
$4,000 possess Cs. All of these ap-
proXlmately 6467 900 are cut a half
gallon for each coupon in their
DOCKS, which far outnumber the A
coupons. on which they will be able
to get additional gas Only 20 Der
cent of the motorists, OPA said, have
A books only and will benefit from
the rationing equalization" B and
c coupons had been worth o. gall
Ions in the East.
OPA has promised some help for
the holders of supplementary rations
however, saying that war workers
and others will be given gasoline for
essential travel.
The percentage Of motorists hold
ing B and c books in the Midwest
ana southwest Is even larger than
IN the East, spokesman said. Car
owners IN those sections will be
punched" more by the rationing
changes than motorists in the East,
Ofhclals said it was hardly likely
that motorists holding only A books
hao retained proportionate num-
per OF coupons TO last through the
current ration period. II was pointed
out that many motorists spend all,
or nearly all. of their scant allow
ances for pleasure travel.
OPA said the B and c Reductions
would accomplish virtual equaliza-
ton OF rations through an area
where supplies are short" and stimuli
/ taneously align gasoline consump-
ton with amounts available.
Inquiry to Proceed
Chairman Lea of the House In
| terstate Commerce Committee in
| dlcated that the new setup would
have no effect on proposed in
vestigation of gasoline rationing and
| distribution.
Our chief aim" he said. will be
to clarity the supply situation. learn
whether existing restrictions are
justified and see what is being done
to increase production of fuel"
Hearings at which Government Of
flcials and industry representatives
Will testify start in about two weeks.
Mr.. Lea said.
The B and C value changes. which
OPA said were made to provide the
Increase for East Coast A book hold
ers. mean that in the Midwest,
Southwest and Southeast supple
/ mentary rations are cut from 3 to 2
gallons
OPA Squeezes Out Water
OPA said civilian consumption in
the Midwest and Southwest has been
running approximately $4,000 bar
rels day over allotments.
Under these circumstances" OPA
said, there was no option but to cut
civilians further. It is imperative
that all water be squeezed out OF
supplemental rations.'
The additional A allotment was
put into immediate effect in the II
Eastern States and the District by
shortening the validity period of
the AS coupons currently in use.
These will expire November 8 in
stead of November 81. The AT
coupons have been removed from
new books now being distributed in
the area. A-8 coupons will become
valid November 9 and will be good
for three gallons each through
February g.
OPA stipulated that in the Mid
west and Southwest one gallon of
the three allowed A book holders
must be used for occupational driv-
ing before the motorist is eligible
for supplementary rations. East
Coast drivers were not bound by this
regulati