Evening star., 1943-06-03
Begun
In Congress 10
Ease Gas Ban
Eastern Members
Seek Relief for
Hurd-Hit Autoists

SSSsN tVB
Hurd-Hit Autoists
A fight between an alliance Of
Eastern and New England congress
sional members and the Office of
Price Administration was shaping up
today as the gasoline shortage in
this area continued to be critical.
Following call by Representative
Hartley, Republican, of New Jersey
Tor conference Saturday morning
to discuss the situation. Senator
Tobey, Republican, OF New Hamp-
shire made public the essence of an
exchange Of letters between himself
and John r. Richards, chief of the
gasoline rationing branch, OPA, in
which he took the latter to task for
limiting gasoline supplies in the
East.
Meanwhile District OPA official,
suspended the book of one motorist
Tor Illegally using 1T" ration coupons
Tor gasoline, denying him any more
gas for go days and suspended a.
service station from selling gasoline
Tor five days for discriminating
among its customers.
Got T Stamps From Friend.
The coupons of Walter Haipht,
621 Oneida place NV, were sls-
pended after admitting he used
three IT. coupons to obtain nine
gallons of gasoline. Mr.. Haight said
the coupons had been given him by
friend.
A Minute Service Station at
Twenty first street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV. was forbidden
to sell gasoline for five days for
giving preference to customers who
also contracted for grease jobs or
other similar services.
Three additional cases Of alleged
illegal trafflcking in "T' coupons and
ore OF shoe store accused of SELL
ing shoes without requiring Gus
toners to present a No. II coupon
were continued until June IS by
Hearing Commissioner Clifford sni-
der.
Senator Tobev had asked for
some assurance that there would be
equality of sacrifice" in the use of
gasoline but was told by Mr.. Rich
ards that:
Step Not Justified.
We can think of no more un-
Justiflable step than the imposition
OF such restrictions in areas where
they are not necessary, for outside
the Eastern shortage area further
restrictions on the consumption of
gasoline are not necessary at this
time.
1T must be remembered" Mr.. Rich
ards said, that the curtailment of
consumption elsewhere would in no
way alleviate a shortage in the East
SO long as that shortage is due to
inadequate transportation facilities.
No area has been or will be de-
Ilberately cut and no transportation
capacity will be deliberately wasted.
This office will continue to distrib-
ute the available supply as equitably
and generously as possible. We wish
1t were possible to assure you that a
more generous program would soon
be put into effect. Unfortunately,
the difficulties of overland trans
portatlon and the rising demands Of
war preclude such an assurance"
Tobey Unimpressed.
Senator Tobey replied that Mr..
Richards response docs not i'm
press me at all" and added that
either you are unfamiliar with the
overall setup or you are deliberately
mlsrepresenting the full facts"
Senator Tobey asked why tank
cars from other areas in the United
States, if they were restricted the
same as in the East, could not be
diverted to New England where the
critical situation exists to meet the
emergency which has such far
reaching effects on our war effort"
10 me the greatest source of JUS
tilted Indignation in the Eastern
Atlantic States is this inequality
winch has been thrust upon the
people OF the East and under which
they are suffering hardships and
prlvatlon that are not shared bv
other parts OF the country Senator
Tobey said.
Representative Satterfeld, Demo-
crat of Virginia yesterday disclosed
what may be one important reason
for continued shortage of gasoline
In Washington despite efforts to
relieve the situation.
Pipeline Carries Plane Gas.
shipments of regular automo-
bile gasoline will have to be de-
layed,' he said. "A recently laid
pipeline to my home city. Richmond.
Va, has. 1 am informed, been car
ry1ng only aviation gasoline"
OPA officials had said this pipe
line, an auxiliary to the Plantation
Pipeline terminal at Greensboro.
N. c., was pumping 10000 barrels
OF gasoline daily but had given the
impression that all of this was for
commercial use in trucks and auto
mobiles.
Petroleum administration officials
revealed that stocks of petroleum
products in the midwestern area
had reached low level on a rather
general basis but declined to name
locations u,hero }loa