Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-12

80 = w - SRAASSSs
Buffalo, and the cars turned back
Immediately for other service, they
could deliver an additional 5000 to
5000 barrels per day In the critical
area"
THE fuel oil situation is serious
the outlook gloomy" Joel Dean, head
OF the fuel oil division of OPA, told
the committee late yesterday. "The
householder must live within his
ration, and take soundings regu-
larly."
Formula Defended.
Mr.. Dean defended the formula
adopted by OPA for issuing fuel oil
coupons and said plans already are
being made for next year, taking
advantage Of the experience gained
this winter
Chairman Maloney broke in to
explain the committee did not en-
bark on the hearings with any hope
Of eliminating rationing. but to see
If 1t has been worked out fairly, or
could be simplified. He said the
committee felt the public would
accept rationing more readily If 1t
understand that simplicity and fair
ness are being sought.
Mr.. Dean replied that in the last
month there has been a dramatic
change in public acceptance of fuel
rationing"
The OPA official. q former indus
trial engineer and teacher at the
University Of Chicago, explained
that the rationing plan adopted had
the effect of grading houses ac-
cording to their heating efficiency
as determined by applying last year,
oil consumption to the size of the
house and adjusting last years
weather conditions to fit a normal
winter for each locality.
Heating Efficiency Determined.
He testified that Is per cent Of thu
homes in the rationed States wer,
found to be either normal or abov,
normal in heating efficiency.
A normal house was cut 1914 PEI
cent from last year, while thos,
above normal from the standpoint
Of heating efficiency were cut by a!
little as Is per cent.
The inefIicient ones were cut tn,
most as a means of inducing then
to make their houses more air.
tight or to convert to coal, he ex.
planned.
In defending this method, in pref
erence to uniform percentage cut
based on the total supply available
this year, Mr.. Dean told of a resi-.
dence in Washington that usec
$4,000 gallons of oil last year. Under
the rationing system. he said, thi!
was cut to 5000 gallons and thu
heating system was converted. The
result, he said, was the saving Of
enough oil to supply SO families
throughout the winter.
R. HALEY, committee counsel
wanted to know what effort was
made to separate into classes the
houses that were found to be heated
ineficiently. Mr.. HALEY said 'it is
fairly obvious that nobody wants to
live in house that is a sieve if he
has the means to install inculation
storm windows and similar improve
ments. He inquired whether the
OPA heating efficiency formula
penalties the man who is not
financially able to convert.
Mr.. Dean said the householder
whose ration was cut because OF
heating ineniciency had the right to
appeal to his Ration Board.
Explains Mandatory Supplies.
Mr.. Dean also explained and de-
Tended the OPA "anti-discrimina-
ton amendment" which, he said
provides that no dealer may deny
oil to a person with coupons be
cause he does not like the color of
his hair, or because he has never
dealt there before" He said the
rule also provides that no secondary
supplier may deny oil to a dealer If
a supply is available.
In some cities, like Washington.
Mr.. Dean said, there have been days
when seven or eight large dealers
were out of oil. while others had a
future supply on hand. He gave as
another reason for the anti-dis-
elimination rule the fact that many
persons who came to Washington to
do war work were not customers of
any local oil dealer last year.