Evening star., 1943-12-30
5teuarf Firm Official
Denies CompuIsion in
Selling 10 Government
Applications Treated
As Ordinary Orders,
Manager Declares

Curtis S. Steuart, secretary and
general manager of L. p. Steuart &
Bro, Inc, fuel oil dealers, declared
"unessential" by the District OPA,
today denied reports his firm had
been under compulsion to supply
bunker oil for Government buildings
which faced an emergency this week
when the contract supplier fell down
on deliveries.
He pointed out, however, that had
the OPA order barring his firm from
accepting new customers, which is
now being appealed, been in effect,
the Steuart company would have
been unable to take on the Govern
ment as new customer and send
oil to Gallinger Hospital, the United
States Naval Hospital at Bethesda,
the Naval Torpedo Station and other
Government buildings.
Meanwhile, Lester Scott, director
OF the fuel oil division of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion reported that survey of local
dealers had shown that supplies
OF household oil in this area are
adequate to redeem all valid cou-
pons.
Compulsion Denied.
Some one is trying to imply
that we were directed to supply oil
from our reserves to the Govern
ment and that is not the truth"
Mr.. Steuart said. The petroleum
administrator for wars directive So
compels exchange of oil between
1ef1ners and suppliers during the
emergency. I'm a dealer, not a
supplier.
The PAW didn't even know we
were delivering oil to the Govern
ment until they read about it in the
paper and no Government agency
ever suggested that we might be
forced to give them oil. We will
take care of anybody that needs fuel
oil. The Government just called us
up like any other customer might
and we were glad to be able to sup
ply them. We kept man on until
l a m. both Tuesday and Wednesday
nights to help them out in loading
their trucks"
Mr. Steuart said that his COM
pany's deliveries to the Government
ended this morning, when the
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey,
which has had the Government con-
tract this winter, secured more sup
plies. The Steuart company was the
supplier during the previous year.
Discussing the household fuel oil
supply situation. Mr.. Scott said
stocks were flowing into the District
much more abundantly and regu-
larly than they were at this time last
year. He pointed out, however, that
many consumers were apparently
burning oil at a rate faster than
allowed by their allocations. Even
though such persons may be able to
exchange coupons for later periods so
that they may obtain oil immedi.
ately. they will reach the end of their
seasons allotment before the cold
weather is over.
NO Cause for Concern"
Mr.. Scott said he had conmuni-
Gated yesterday with the Supply and
Distribution Committees in Balti-
more and New York City and that
both reported there was no imme-
dlate cause for concern" Icy road
conditions on Christmas Day. made
transportation difficult and threw
some deliveries off schedule, how
ever, he said.
The clty's supply of heavy indus
trial oil, Mr.. Scott reported, was
considered good earlier in the sea-
son. Heavy drains by the Army and
Navy, however, produced a shortage
IN this supply. He said he did not
believe the condition was serious,
but that some dealers were likely to
be short Of heavy oil from time to
time.
Most acute along the Atlantic
seaboard, he said. was the shortage
OF Kerosene. This was caused
largely by curtailed production of
this type OF fuel, since the oil for
merly uSsd for kerosene is being
directed into the refining of 10O-
octane gasoline, he said.
Mr.. Scott expected the number
OF cold homes in this area to in
crease from now until next Thurs
day, when period coupons become
valid. No coupons expire at mid
night next Wednesday and No. 2
coupons will remain valid through
February 7.
Consumers with illness in the
family and those completely out of
oil may apply to their boards for the
exchange of future coupons for cur,
rently valid ones. Additional allo-
cations of oil, however, are granted
only in extraordinary cases.
Meeting Postponed