Evening star., 1943-01-09
Oil Sale Order
Violation Here
Probed by0PA
Company Is Charged
With Failure to
Supply on Demand
Earlier Story on Page AID
Pictures ON Pnne 2-Xl

fPtcthreS on Page 2-X.)
The OPA enforcement division
late today began an investigation
of charges than the Petrol Corp.
of Thirteenth and L streets Sc.
had refused to sell oil to several
dealers" here despite a new OPA
order requiring suppliers to
make fuel available on demand
while their stocks permitted.
Earlier today a formal complaint
against the Petrol Corp. was filed
with Whitney Leary, District OPA
director, by the John P. Agnew Co.,
one of at least three concerns turned
away by Petrol this morning
The Agnew representative seeking
to negotiate the purchase also was
ordered off the Petrol property, ac-
cording to H. A. Good, manager OF
the fuel OF department of the Ag-
new Co.
The three dealers-the others were
Columbia Specially Co. of Chevy
Chase, Md. and Henry Bellman of
IAodiAo uClllCu oll uC-
spite the fact that oil was pouring
from Petrol pipes into the trucks of
other concerns, 1t was said. An ef-
fort to get an explanation of the
situation from the Philadephia
headquarters of Petrol met with the
statement that the firm had to take
care of its own customers first, ac-
cording to Joseph Richards. jr., vice
president of Columbia An official
in Philadelphia repeatedly admitted
that he knew Of the new OPA order.
Mr.. Richards and Mr.. Bellman said
they would file formal complaints
with the OPA today also. The for
mer had made report to OPA of an
earlier refusal by the supplier.
Refuse to Discuss Matter.
A man identified as the local rep
resentative of Petrol refused to dis
cuss the matter, and shut himself
up in his Office when Mr.. Richards
and Mr.. Bellman sought either oil
or an explanation of why it was not
forthcoming
Mr.. Richards said Petrol had O.
100000 gallons of oil on hand, rep
resenting virtually the total supply
here. He said that other large firms
were out.
Among the customers being sup
piled were L. P. Steuart g. Bro, who
had a string of trucks operating
through the loading center; PETROL
cum Heat & Power Corp. which
also had several trucks loading:
Collif1ower's and two other trucks
which could not be identified. Mr..
Steuart is rationing officer for the
District.
In the face of the shortage, one
oil dealer is requiring new custo-
mers to turn over all their coupons.
thereby insuring that their future
purchases will be made from the
concern, according to Information
from two dealers whose supplies
are exhausted, and one home owner
who called to advise The Star of
the situation.
Order Issued Yesterday.
The OPA order was issued yes
terday to avoid discrimination and
to spread supplies out as far as
possible among the dealers.
Mr.. Richards said today that he
flrst sought to arrange for oil with
the Petrol headquarters in Balti-
more yesterday, but received no sat-
isfaction and so reported today
to District Director Leary and
the OPA. He was advised to make
a test of the case and went to the
Petrol plant with a truck at noon.
He attempted unsuccessfully to
talk to the superintendent, but
finally was advised by that official
to take up the matter with the
headquarters in Philadelphia. Tel
ephoning from the Petrol Office he
reached Mr.. Whitney" in Phila-
delphia, but after Commute con-
versation admitted defeat. Accord
ing to Mr.. Richards, Mr.. Whitney"
who is assistant manager of opera
tions, said that he knew of the new
OPA order. but did not believe the
OPA could force Petrol to sell oil
to other than its regular customers.
He suggested that as, Shell and
Standard had been supplying Mr..
Richards concern that the Govern
ment get oil for those agencies so
they could service their own Gus
toners, according to Mr.. Richards.
Shows Checks, Coupons.
The latter also said that the
Philadelphian made no comment
when told that the company had
1000 900 gallons on hand here.
4 AS Mr. Richards prepared to leave
the Petrol Office. he waved bunch of
of coupons and a check before the
(See AGNEW, Page 2-XD