Evening star., 1943-06-07
End Of 0PA Proposed
By Hartley; Group
Weighs Gas Shortage
Price Control Called
'Frunkenstein' in Plea
To Tunsfer Duties
By JAMES E. CHINN.

Representative Hartley, Re
publican, of New Jersey today
introduced a bill designed to
abolish the Office of Price Ad-
ministration while an informal
joint committee of House and
Senate members, which he heads,
struggled with the problem of
getting increased gasoline sup
plies for the II gas-starved East
Coast States.
The measure would direct Presi-
dent Roosevelt to shift all control
the OPA now has over Oil and
gasoline to the Office Of the
Petroleum AdminiGtra tor for War
headed by Secretary of Interior
Ickes: its rent control activities to
the National Housing Agency, and
those relating to food and food
products to the War Food Admins
tration.
Mr.. Hartley accompanied introduce
ton of the bill with a blistering
statement denodncing the OPA.
Calls OPA Frankenstein.
I'm OPA." he declared. we nave
created Frankorstein. This FUN
bling, gloWering monster is stum-
bling through our economy, charged
with protecting it against imitation.
but in actualitv creating conditions
that will destroy it.
In place of competent admins
tration We have bungling In place
of decisive action we have boom
doggllng. Where we need careful
analysis, we find snap judgment.
Where we need personnel trained in
the field which they administer. we
ind theorists. In the place of intel
llgent planning, we find lofty discus
sion. In place Jf cooperation, We
flno lneptitude. In place of per-
formance, We get an administrative
muscle dance"
Demands were made at the meet
ing Of the II House and Senate
members who constitute the newly
| created joint committee studying
| the fuel situation that the existing
discrimination" in gasoline ration
Ing between the Eastern and Middle
| western States be abolished. Criti-
clsm was directed chiefly at the
| pleasure driving freedom enjoyed by
motorists in the Middle Western
area and the extra coupon value
of their A and B tickets.
/ Two Officials Heard.
Two Government officials directly
concerned with the petroleum sup
| ply and distribution problems were
questioned-Jubal r. Parten, direc-
! tor of transportation for PAW and
DR.. Charles F. Phillips, director of
automotive supply rationing of OPA.
| The committee will resume it's ef-
forts to get additional supplies of
! gas into the II East Coast States
Thursday. Secretary Ickes will be
invited to be the principal witness.
Though not formally represented
at the meeting. the District of Co.
lumbia. where the recent gas Short
age was more severe than any point
along the Atlantic Seaboard, Chair
man Hartley said, would benefit by
any results growing out of the joint
committees action. He said, how
ever, he would have no objection to
appointing one of the Commission
ers or some other municipal govern
ment official to represent the District
On the committee.
Extension of the East Coast ra-
tioning program to the Midwest
might bring some relief, Mr.. Parten
said, but it would not permit the
shipment from that area of the
100000 additional barrels day as
suggested by Mr.. Hartley Saturday.
AssaiIs Discrimination.
He explained he was opposed to
pleasure driving anywhere in the
country. but pointed out extension
of the Eastern Seaboard rationing
program would not produce the
needed supply in the East because
of transportation difficulties.
1--WE are moving in on that area
now for all that we can supply the
East" he declared
THE committee has no desire to
interfere with the needs Of the mill
tary," said Mr.. Hartley, but we
want to stop the discrimination in
civilian gas supplies"
Senator Brewster, Republican, of
(see OPA, Page A-3)