Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-03
Fuel Oil Ration
Cut as Supplies
Sent East Drop
Persons Who FIout
Conversion Order
Won't Get Any
SENATE COMMITTEE to seek
sensible basis for all rationing
procedure" Page ALL.
BY ALFRED TOOMBS.

A 10 per cent cut in the value
OF fuel oil ration coupons in the
East, effective at midnight, was
announced by Price Admins
traitor Henderson late yesterday.
This reduced the value of class 1
coupons-given to private home
owners-from 10 gallons to nine. The
value of class 2 coupons, used by
apartments and commercial build
ings, was cut from 100 to 80 gallons.
The reduction applies only to cou-
pons valid in heating period 3.
Period 2 coupons which have not
been turned in yet-and which are
good here through Tuesday-will
continue to be good for their full
value.
At the same time. Mr.. Henderson
ordered breakdown on CONNER
cial NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Offices,
theaters, etc.-which have not COM
piled with the OPA order to con-
vert furnaces from oil to coal. II
the owners of such buildings do not
convert, they must show proof that
conversion is impossible or they will
get no more oil.
Mr.. Henderson said the number
of conversions had been "disap-
pointingly small in spite of the
fact that survey had showed that
there were plenty of CRATES and
other equipment available.
I'VE have given commercial prop
erty owners months to do their war;
time duty in this matter. But there
can be no further delays. The pol
icy now definitely is no conversion
no OIL" he said
Deadline at Midnight.
| An OPA spokesman said oil deal
ers would be permitted to make de-
liveries today-until midnight-on
period 3 coupons to their full value
of 10 and 100 gallons. Period cou-
/ pons were made valid on December
28-before the end of heating pc
riod 2.
Those who have already received
! deliveries of the full value of Pc
Rod 3 coupons will not be penal
lied and were described as lucky"
All Period 3 coupons which have
| already been honored by dealers at
their full value must be turned in
by dealers to their local War Price
anG Rationing Boards within u
hours after 1901 a m tomorrow.
1t was explained that dealers turn
ing in Period coupons after this
date will be given credit for only
nine gallons in the "flowback"
system.
Supply Problem Worse.
The OPA said the ration cut was
made upon advice of the Petroleum
Administration for War as to the
increasing gravity of the petroleum
situation because of transportation
problems and military requirements"
Affected are II States in the East
and the District. The other Is
States in the oil ration area are
not affected-in fact, Mr.. Henderson
had announced earlier that these
States would receive a 10 per cent
increase in their ration These
States are in the Midwest, where the
transportation problem is not as
great.
1t was estimated that between 30
900 and 10000 barrels of oil day
would be saved by the reduction.
The delivery of petroleum by rail
to the East has dropped to around
100000 barrels day in recent weeks.
This week, a sharp drop of $4,000
barrels day was reported as a
result of bad weather.
Difficulties Are Recited.
The latest report of the Petrole-
UNI Administrator shows an ex-
tremely serious situation" Mr.. Hem
derson said. Tank car shipments
to the East have fallen: floods have
damaged the new pipe line and
hampered transportation. and the
coolest months of winter are at
hand"
There was no official statement
as to how long the reduction might
hold. 1t was indicated that it would
tSee FUEL OIL, Page A-6D