Evening star., 1943-07-03
Nelson Denies |ckes
Oil Rationing Control ,
Sets Up Committees
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.


War Production Board Chairman
Nelson has denied the request of
Petroleum Administrator Ickes for
full authority over gasoline and oil
rationing and announced establish
ment of two committees through
which the OPA and PAW will CO.
operate in working out petroleum
distribution and supply problems
Mr.. Nelson said yesterday that
agreement on the overall policy for
handling supply and rationing prob
lens had been arrived at by the
WPB, OPA, PAW and the Office
of Defense Transportation. He
added mutual understanding has
been reached as to the function of
each agency in the supply and
rationing fields and as to inter-
agency relationships"
Mr.. Ickes, charging that actual
rationing of oil products was mis-
handled. asked MI. Nelson two weeks
ago to transfer to PAW control over
rationing policy and operation now
handled by the OPA and the ODT.
Constant Clash on Politics.
There have been constant dis
agreements between PAW and OPA
as to distribution policies and meth
oos since the beginning of gasoline
rationing in the East over a year
ago. Of1cials of each agency have
accused the other of contributing to
public confusion over fuel oil and
gas rationing
Mr.. Nelson's idea in creating the
two committees, one for rationing
and the other for supply. is to bring
together officials of all the agencies
concerned with the oil program for
frank discussions of all problems.
He believes this will lead to more
understanding and cooperation, it
was said.
The two committees will be the Pc
troleum Rationing Policy Committee.
headed by OPA Administrator
Brown, and the Petroleum Require
ments Committee, under chairman
ship of Mi Ickes. Representatives
of WPB, OPA, PAW. ODT and the
War Food Administration will sit on
each committee. The groups will be
purely advisory. with authority over
supply and rationing remaining
neatly as in the past. Appeals from
OPAs ratlonlng decision may be
made to MI. Nelson, however. and he
has power to reverse Dissents from
PAWS allocations decision likewise
may be appealed.
Coupons to Decide Quotas.
One important change announced
by Mr.. Nelson, however, was that
hencefcrth quotas for various ra-
toned areas ARE to follow the pat
tern of rationed demand as shown
py returned used coupons Quotas
now are established by PAW. which
takes into consideration total sup
plies and the needs of war before
apportioning an amount to civilians
Amounts consumed previously under
rationing had not played an i'm
portant part in determining allot-
ments. 1t was said that under the
new plan OPA will have to tighten
controls over the number of coupons
outstanding. perhaps by shortening
their validity periods.
The ODT was given the power to
determine the distribution OF petro-
leum products among the various
classes of transport. including pas
senger cars. within the total amount
allotted for this purpose by PAW
This authority was granted the
agency in addition to its transporta-
ton responsibilities and It's function
of presenting to PAW estimates of
petroleum requirements for all
classes Of transportation.
Mr.. Nelson said WPB will deter
mine the relative essentially and
priority of the various competing in
dustrial and civilian uses for all
petroleum products, including gaso-
line. OPA will notify WPB if it
believes any such determinations to
be impractical from an operational
or administrative standpoint.
The new petroleum setup, Mr.. Nell
son said. should result in efficient
utilization of avilable supplies and |
provide constant freedom of oper-
alton to meet changing conditions.