The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-02
No Shopping, No Gestapo Tactics
In CURLING PleaSure-Ban ViOlatOrS
Director Chester Explains Necessity Drastic Action
Honor System Connecticut Not Complete Failure Gasoline
Situation Desperate Charges of Determination Refuted
Beware of Unjust Criticism.

the use OF automobiles for pleasure
purposes.
If this minority totals only ten
per cent, 1t means that fifty thou
sand Connecticut cars have contin-
ued to waste gasoline during Il per-
iod when every single gallon that
we can spare must be sent TO our
armed forces overseas. To allow
that selfish minority to continue tc
waste gasoline is totally unfair &c
the overwhelming majority who
have so clearly proven their patriot.
ism during the past two weeks.
Definite Course
From now on, our course OF action
Is clear and definite. Starting Tues
day noon, the regulation against all
unnecessary driving will be enforced
by our Federal investigators.
There will be no shopping and
10 Gestapo spying, Every effort
VIII be made to avoid mistakes and
embarrassment. However, those who
are clearly in violation, those who
are beyond question using their cars
for unnecessary pleasure purposes
must be brought IN line.
Within the next three days, Hear
Ing Commissioners chosen from
among our most outstanding citi-
2ens will be set up throughout the
state, Every motorlst who Is &C.
cused Of a violation will be given
n complete, full and impartial hear
ing. But wherever guilt Is clearly
established, the penalty will follow
swiftly and surely, regardless oil
position or influence. Each guilty
motorists ration book will be re-
voked for n definite period
from q few days TO the duration
OF the war.
But let me be frank With our
small staff Of inspectors, the ground
that we can cover Is strictly limited
Only with the help OF you thousands
OF citizens who have proved their
patriotism during the last two weeks
can we hope to be successful.
How long will 1t be necessary Ia
keep this regulation In effect2
do not know.
The gasoline situation throughout
the state Is desperate and likely 10
remain so. Among the two hundred
and eighty-four gasoline stations
which our inspectors visited yester-
day, forty-three were completely
out OF gas. Sixty-eight per cent
reported only a limited supply.
stations Closing
Further reports this morning from
one hundred forty-six out OF our one
hundred sixty nine Local War Price
and Rationing Boards indicate that
ten per cent OF all gasoline stations
are dry throughout the state.
] am afraid we must face the fact
that there can be no permanent
relief. To meet the requirements
OF our armed forces, we must con-
tinue TO pour gasoline and Diesel oil
across the Atlantic from our Eastern
ports In huge and ever growing
stream.
Even with the help OF new pipe
lines from our Western oil fields,
our resources and our energies will
be strained 10 the utmost to meet
our military needs and our barGst
civilian requirements.
During the past few weeks, our
Local Boards have been making q
complete check OF all "B" and &c"
applications. Already, many thou
sands of "B" and &c" books have
been withdrawn. Many hundreds Of
thousands OF fallons OF gasoline
have been saved.
The oDT Is carrying out q similar
checkup on the use OF gasoline for