Evening star., 1943-05-18
Joins
D. {. in Fight on
Illegal Gasoline
Astounding Rise
In Fuel Use Seen
Hurting War Effort

Maryland OPA authorities today
joined rationing officials in the Dis
trict in the drive against the illegal
use Of gasoline coupons with a warn
ing that most astounding" in
crease in the consumption of motor
fuel during March and April had
seriously" impaired the war effort
If mot halted or reversed it,"
This excessive use of gasoline for
non essential purposes" said Mary
land State OPA Director Leo H. Nc
Cormick. may quite possibly mean
that our fighting tanks and planes
will be hampered."
Coincidentally, Price Admins
traitor Prentiss M. Brown refused
the allotment of additional gasoline
to vacationers. Mr.. Brown explained
that motoring vacations may be
taken only on "a" coupons. This
means that if car owner has saved
all his "A" coupons since March %
he can make a round trip of about
800 miles-approximately the dis
tance to Norfolk, Va, and back.
StOCkS at Lowest Level,
The refusal to grant vacation ra-
tlons, following earlier indica tions
that some extra gasoline might be
allotted, emphasized the seriousness
OF the gasoline situation along the
East Coast. Petroleum stocks now,
according to Petroleum Adminis-
traitor Ickes, are at their lowest level
in history, even though tank car
shipments into the East are increas-
ing steadily and the heavy fuel oil
demands OF the winter season are
past.
Spokesman for gasoline dealers in
the District said that the gasoline
situation here is precariously bal
anced and that some stations are
out OF gas at all times. They ex-
pressed the hope that conditions
would not become so serious as to
impair transportation, but they also
pointed out that most motorists
would find it necessary frequently
to shop around bit before they
could obtain gasoline.
OPA officials have also urged
drivers not to make abnormal de-
mands on filling stations at this
time but to continue using their
coupons as they need them. This,
it was emphasized, will prevent a
sudden run" on stations which are
unable to meet any unusual de-
mands at this time.
OPA to Act.
Meanwhile, the District OPA
made clear its intentions of acting
against motorists who are found to
be using coupons Illegally or who
indulge in pleasure excursions in
consistent with their "A" allotments.
Reports have already come in, it
was said, from race tracks as far
away as the Narragansett track in
PaWtucket, r. l., where automobiles
bearing District license tags have
been observed by o "A inspectors in
that area.
1t was also revealed that ration
boards will begin to scrutinize more
carefully speedometer readings as
recorded on tire inspection records.
From these figures, it was pointed
out, boards will be able to tell
whenever the mileage is out of line
with the rations which have been
issued. In such cases motorists will
be called in to explain how they
were able to obtain the additional
gasoline.
OPA instructors here have been
Instructed to be on the watch espe-
cially for loose coupons and for "T''
stamps which are used illegally by
owners OF passenger cars.
In Baltimore, Mr.. Mccormick
conceded, there is an illegal traffic
in gasoline coupons and said his
inspectors were maintaining con-
slant vigilance with vigorous action
taken where these violations of the
rationing regulations occur"
Mr.. Mccormick added that IA
criminal actions have already been
brought in Maryland since the first
Of the year.