The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-10
RANGE OIL MEN :.
 VISIT GOVERNOR
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 phases of their problems.
 Responsibility for the acute short- age of oil in the arguments ad- vanced at last nights meeting was put to the major distributors who were accused by the retail group of refusing to sell their stocks in wholesale lots to any but regular customers. Officials of the OPA were criticized and charged with adding confusion to the general situation" Standard Oil Company was raked over the coals by several of the peeldlers, who claimed that thi sconcern ignored requests Of local dealers before the stocks on hand were exhausted.
 Other suppliers, who were said to be refusing to sell to the retailers were both accused and defended as members spent two hours discussing the demand that the association as a unit have its members take their trucks off the road until the erner- gency Is adjusted.
 One dealer expressed angrily, "1f we refuse to deliver, the major corTl- panies will be unable to handle the demand and they'll be forced to effect an equal distribution 50 that we can get oil and ration 1t to our customers"
 At the end of the meeting the members agreed to refrain from making further range oil deliveries under the emergency setup. Those who hold emergency orders from the special OPA office emphasized that they vii ltake care of these today but will accept no more commit. ments.
 The meeting gave unanimous sup port to arguments offered by several that the present scheme of alloting 10 per cent of al loil received for emergency purposes wil hot over. some the emergency.
 One oil peddler declared, "As things stand now, it's 10 per cent emergency and 90 per cent 11orl- emergency for those companies get- ting the oil"
 Another demanded that an ef- fort be made promptly to persuade public officials to order general pooling of all oil coming into the city and distributing of the supply from three points on the basis of equal amounts for every retailer according to the number of trucks operated.
 At this point, the group waived aside a suggestion that the plan be recommended to Mayor Monagan and a vote was passed instructing a committee of four to take the appeal direct to the governor.
 Named to the committee are MT. Bedell, Philip J. Duhairne, Frank RosSi and Peter R. Spratto. The members said they expected to call at Baldwin's office at g o'clock this morning. Meanwhile, others pres- ent agreed to leave their trucks in garages until another meeting of the association is called.
 It was further agreed that nen- bers will not draw oil from the pool being operated under the auspices of the mayors committee on the basis of the 10 per cent allotment. Members contended that they are operating at losses in making 25- gallon deliveries under the existing ceiling prices. oil coming to them from the emergency pool, the com- mittee said, is costing 70 cents more hundred gallons. Nothing has been provided for the absorption of this increased cost.
 we're losing money every day. We can't get tires or gas. We're running all over town for oil and OPA is giving orders to others to deliver to our customers. So what's the use? Take our trucks of the road and when the public sees the fix the politicians have put Us in, maybe they'll act" These were the words expressed by one dealer as he rose to demand a joint action at once to end a situation which he charged could be cleared up quickly, providing 1t is properly handled"
 "All oil in this city should be de- clared emergency" declared an- other spokesman. If they can take care of 90 per cent of the supply why can't they handle the other lO?"
 The dealers asserted that they know best the needs Of their custo- mers and argued that if equal dis- tFibution were made of all oil avail. able the consumers would be treated fairly and kept with . supply of fuel at all times.
 Another dealer revealed that he has Q supply on hand of 800 gallons which he has placed in storage. Ne has done this. he said, because hts customer requirements are 2.000 gallons and he can't deliver the 800 gallons without causing "hard feel. ings."
 Governor Baldwin announced from Hartford last night that there vas no immediate relief in sight Tor Connecllcus's "Eerl0us" oil c0ndl. ton. However, enc governor added that Q number of moves @ keep flowing what supplies are available afR under WaF,