Evening star., 1943-06-04
Seeks
Direct Action
On Gas Rations
OPA Sanction Asked
For Issuing Books
At Several Centers

The Fairfax County volunteer
rationing organization last night
voted to petition the Once of Price
Administration for a change in reg
ulations which would permit issu-
ance Of gasoline and other ration
books by volunteer workers at CEN
ters to be. established throughout
the county.
The move to go directly to Ma
tional OPA headquarters was taken
at meeting Of volunteer workers,
ration board members and board
personnel at ~the Odd Fellows Hall
in Falls Church after Brig. Gen. j.
Fulmer Bright, district OPA director
for Virginia, pointed out that under
existing regulations ration coupons
could only be issued by the board
at the boards official headquarters.
Gen. Bright said that while he
was not in sympathy with such a
petition, as State OPA head he
would forward the request to Wash
ington through the Atlanta regional
OPA Office.
Seek to Avoid Delays.
In voting to go over the head Of
the State and regional OPA offices
and take a petition directly to
Washington, the volunteer organiza-
ton said a request through regular
OPA channels probably would en-
counter countless delays. Members
said a request to establish county
rationing centers had been in the
hands of State officials since Oc-
tober.
Mrs. C. B. Newman of Mclean,
personnel director of the volunteer
organization, said that some work.
ers might have difficulty in COM
putting gasoline rations at rationing
centers, but believed War Ration
Books l, 2 and 3 could be issued
without the need of passing through
the boards hands.
She said it might be better for the
volunteer group to request this au-
thority and take on the issuance Of
gasoline rations in the future If it
proved practicable.
Fewer Boards Seen.
Gen. Bright said he was inclined
to favor" this, and believed that
permission could be obtained to put
it to work.
Gen. Bright pointed out that the
trend was toward fewer rationing
boards. He said he believed ra-
tioning should be concentrated
more and more in the hands of
fnUnr - =
confusion and mistakes.
Under the organizations plan,
which has been approved by the
County Ration Board, centers
would be established in various
communities throughout the county
where volunteer workers would act
on rationing applications and issue
coupons.
Under this setup, it was pointed
out, motorists would not be forced
to make long drives to board head
quarters in order to conduct ration.
Ing business. Volunteers also, it was
said, would have a better idea Of
the needs of persons in their own
communities.
Mail Plan Discussed.
Harry Caravati, district OPA or
ganization director for Virginia,
pointed out that boards in many
sections of the country are mailing
gasoline rations to applicants. He
said the problem was one of or
ganization and suggested that the
Fairfax County board follow the
same procedure.
Volunteers, however, said appli-
cations and ration books would be
held up in the mails and they did
not believe the plan would work in
the county.
Andrew w. Clarke, chairman Of
the volunteer group, appointed Mrs.
Newman to succeed Mrs. Maurice
May as co-ordinator of the organiza-
ton. Mrs Ross Worthington was
appointed to head volunteer per-
sonnel and Mrs. Lester Powell was
named to head Office personnel.