Evening star., 1943-01-09
Fuel Oil Dealers
Puzzled by 0PA
Order on Sales
Soy Discrimination
Will Be Forced by
Edict Against 1t

Widespread confusion existed
today among fuel oil dealers and
their primary suppliers in the
District as the result of the or
der issued by OPA Director Leon
Henderson last night compelling
both classes of oil men to sell
oil to any one who can present
coupons.
A representative of the dealers
charged that the new order, intend
ed by the OPA to eliminate favor
ltlSm, actually would make discrim-
lnation mandatory if carried out
Those dealers who have been trying
to spread out their supplies as far
as possible by restricting the size of
the sales would now be compelled
to sell any one who asked for it as
much oil as he wanted and had cou-
pons for, even though it meant that
others would have to 60 without any
oil, 1t was said
At the same time, an official of
one of the largest oil distribution
companies supplying local dealers
said the new order was almost GER
tain to conflict with previous
order of the Petroleum Admins
traitor for War. That order sets up
monthly quotas for each of the six
large primary firms in the Metro
politan Area. Under the PAW re-
striction, suppliers may not distrib-
ute to their dealers more than the
amount of oil allocated for each
particular month. If more oil is
brought into this territory, it may
be sold to other primary suppliers,
however.
Orders Conflict.
The Henderson order, however
makes it illegal for any supplier to
refuse to supply oil to any dealer,
whether or not that supplier has
exceeded his quota already. The
oil official said that his firm was
restricted this month to so per cent
of the oil it brought into this area in
January, 1912 Some dealers, it was
reported. have already reached this
so per cent limit or one dangerously
close to it. If the PAW order is ad-
hered to, these dealers are pro-
hibited from receiving any more
oil. This, however, would violate
the Henderson order it was said, II
the dealers demanded the Oil and
DreSanted the commons
Lester Scott, director of the oil
heating division of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association
characterized the new order as q
dog -eat- dog proposition that viii
do more harm than good and further
complicate an already difficult situ-
alton"
This new order" Mr. Scott said
cant be carried out without dis
elimination. Suppose there is only
one supplier left in town with oil
Whatever dealer gets there first may
buy all of it, under the order, If he
can furnish the coupons. And this
dealer may already have enough oil
in storage to take care of his Gus
toners. Even if he hasn't, he get.
as much Oil as he can on his cou-
pons and then he must fill up hi,
customers tanks with as much a,
they want, even If it means many
more people will go cold than if he
spread it out in small quantities"
Could Halt Trucks in Street.
Nv. Leo RI
it possible for consumers virtually to
run out into the street and stop oil
trucks and demand that they be
given supplies.
1T looks as if the 0PA is begin
ming to realize it has hot potato,
Mr.. Scott said, land is trying to pass
it off to the PAW and the industry
Mr.. Scott was informed today in a
telegram from Joel Rean, head OF
the OPA's fuel oil division, that the
OPA order, designed to eliminate
discrimination among consumers
actually has been in effect since No
vemher l.
IF it has. the dealers in Wash
lngton didn't know it," Mr.. Scott
said. This is the first we have
heard of it."
Hope to Ease Problem.
Mr.. Scott said he has been invited
to testify next week before the spe-
cial Senate committee investigating
oil and gasoline problems The
committee, headed by Senator Ma
loney, last Monday heard testimony
from high-ranking Government off,
cials. They painted bleak picture
of the prospects for getting more
oil and gasoline into the District
during the next few months.
In announcing the new order Mr..
Henderson last night indicated he
hoped it would alleviate serious dis
tribution problems in the District.
THE concentration of available
fuel oil supplies in the hands of q
few dealers and secondary suppliers
who have been selling only to certain
selected purchasers has greatly
aggravated the fuel oil problem in
Washington, New York, Boston and
other large Cities" Mr.. Henderson
said.
This has given rise to such in
tolerahle situations as home owners.
with tanks dangerously low, being
unable to purchase oil despite the
fact there may be thousands of GAL
Ions Of oil in the particular locality"
See Loosening of Stocks.
Dealers were also directed in the
order not to change their normal
business practices to discourage TAX
ing on new customers.
The effect of the order compelling
primary suppliers to furnish any
dealer with oil within the limits OF
the coupons presented, 1t was hoped,
would be to loosen up stocks of Oil
which are sometimes in storage for
several days while dealers are with
out supplies to serve their customers.
IF dealer has on hand ration
coupons equal to the total stock of
a supplier, the supplier must sell
this amount Of oil to the dealer,