Evening star., 1943-01-20
D. {. Rationing Posi-
Vacant Following
Steuart Discharge
Deposed Head, Center
Of Fuel Oil Row, Hits
Henderson for Custer

Whitney Leary, District OPA di-
| rector, said today several persons"
are under consideration for the
vacant post of District rationing
officer, after he discharged L. P.
| Steuart last night in accordance
with one of Leon Hendersons last
.orders as national price administra-
tor.
He refused however, to reveal
names of those under consideration
or to say when the new rationing
officer will be appointed.
The District inspector revealed
last night he had relieved" Mr..
Steuart of his duties "at the re-
quest of Mr.. Henderson," after the
local rationing officer previously had
indicated he would refuse to resign
the post. Mr.. Leary would make no
further comment on the dismissal.
Mr.. Steuart Immediately coun-
tered with a statement, however,
commenting on what he believed to
be the reasons for his dismissal and
declaring that If he had been re-
moved because of his position as
stockholder of company that de-
livered it's product under the ration
ing program, "Mr. Henderson ought
to have relieved himself of more en-
barrassment by removing many per-
sons connected with the rationing
program who are similarly situated"
Sees Row Removal Cause.
The dismissed rationing officer in
dicated he believed the action re-
moving him was the result of con-
troverSy between OPA and the fuel
oil concern of L. P. Steuart g. Bro,
in which he is a stockholder.
The company, he said, refused to
comply with an OPA order about
two weeks ago to sell any fuel oil it
had on hand to any other dealer in
the District who might wish to pur-
chase. Instead, the company, in a
| public advertisement, offered to sell
"a reasonable amount" of fuel Oil to
any person in the District who was
| out of oil and had coupons author
izing its purchase, he said.
THE company" Mr.. Steuart as
serted, has continued to do this to
the utmost of its ability and to the
extent of its capacity, to the great
comfort of hundreds of consumers
in the District, and in addition il
has extended its resources to the
utmost to supply fuel oil to hospi-
tails and charitable organizations. ''
This company expanded its IA
cilities to render a needed service
to consumers and it intended to, and
did, deal with them directly and not
through dealers and wholesalers, as
Mr.. Henderson wished it to do
Contention Called Unsound.
Mr.. Steuart pointed to a recent
| modification of the original OPA
ruling as proof Of the unsoundness
of Mr.. Henderson's contention
toward this company"
Because L. P. Steuart & Bro.
/ Inc, seem successfully to have dis
agreed with the unsound and un-
fair ruling of Mr.. Henderson, I have
no doubt that this action of his is
one Of retaliation against me-" he
Il
to be SO, and further because the
administration of my Office as chief
| rationing officer of the District has
met with such universal approval
from every one, I have refused tc
resign and have SO stated in the
public prints"
IF Mr.. Henderson's action anC
his so-called embarrassment are
predicated upon the fact that, while
acting as the rationing officer, I an
a Stockholder in the corporation
that delivers its product under the
rationing program, would suggest
that Mr. Henderson could and ought
to have relieved himself of more
embarrassment by removing many
persons connected with the ration.
ing program who are similarly sit.
uated."
Mr.. Steuart said that on July 25
1912, before his appointment a!
chief District rationing officer, he
wrote letter pointing out hi'
business connection and telling Mr.
Henderson: IF there could be the
slightest criticism of these corpo-
rations or of me because of this
relationship, my appointment a,
chief rationing officer could not be
seriously considered"
These connections then were
deemed unimportanU," Mr.. Steuart
continued. Il was appointed and
have served to the best of my abil-
ity and, apparently until very re-
Gently, to the entire satisfaction
of Mr.. Henderson"
Mr.. Steuart revealed in his state
ment that about a week ago he
! was asked to resign by District OPA