Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-14
Central Agency
For D. {. Oil
Urged by Scott
Supply and Delivery
Pool Needed, He
Tells Senate Group

Centralized control of the petroleum
problem in one agency, pooling OF
SUPPLIES entering this area for pro-
portionate distribution to dealers
and modification of the ration rcgu-
lations governing fuel oil deliveries
were among the suggestions made
to the Senate Oil Committee yester-
day afternoon by Lester Scott of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation.
At the request of Senator Barbour,
Republican, of New Jersey, Mr.. Scott
agreed to submit to the committee
in the near future a list of definite
recommendations he believes would
improve the fuel oil situation in
metropolitan areas like Washington.
Hearings Recessed.
Meanwhile, the committee has re-
cessed its public hearings. but Chair
man Maloney said it would continue
to gather information in executive
session for the next few days.
Senator Maloney asked Mr.. Scott
If he is familiar with the new OPA
anti Discrimination order, under
which primary supplier may not
deny available oil to dealer who
presents the necessary coupons.
Mr.. Scott said he is familiar with
the order, but believes it creates dis
elimination instead of eliminating it,
In response to committee ques-
tons as to how fuel oil distribution
could be improved, Mr.. Scott pro-
posed that a committee be called to-
gether, consisting of one representa-
tive of OPA, of ODT, the Office of
Petroleum Administrator for War,
the local ration Office, representa-
tive of the industry and an expert
on consumer distribution. Such a
group, he said, should be able to
work out constructive suggestions
that would improve the situation.
Multiple Deliveries.
The multiplicity of small deliveries
dealers must make in dividing con-
sumer's total ration for the season
into heating periods has created
much of the difficulty, Mr. Scott said.
Mr.. Scott said oil in consumers
tanks has decreased steadily to a
point where "a very large number
Of home owners are going to run out
of oil at the same time and it Is
going to be physically impossible for
the dealers to catch up on deliveries
because there are not enough trucks;
and then 1t won't make much differ
ence if we have plenty of oil in the
bulk terminals. because we still have
the problem of getting the oil to the
consumer, and the dealer cannot
keep up with deliveries under the
present ration regulations.
The witness predicted that many
small fuel oil dealers here and at
other points in the East, ARE faced
with the necessity of closing shop
unless the present ration program is
revised"
Inventory Limit Fixed.
Meanwhile, a Today inventory
limitation was placed on gasoline
and fuel oil supplies held by indus
trial and commercial consumers and
fuel oil resellers by Petroleum Ad-
ministrator Ickes yesterday. The
order does not apply to home own
ers' fuel tanks, suppliers' bulk ter
minals, refinery storage and filling
stations.
The inventory, restricting resell
ers of fuel oil and commercial users
of both gasoline and fuel oil to a
Today supply, was issued, it was
said, in a further effort to spread
the limited supplies of oil through
out the East.
At the same time the National
Conference of Petroleum Regula-
tory Authorities yesterday recon-
mended an increase in the price of
crude oil to boost the productive
capacity of the Nations oil fields.
1t added that four naval petroleum
reserves-Elk Hills, Buena Vista,
Teapot Dome and Northern Alaska
were mot being adequately devel-
oped."