Evening star., 1945-08-16
Expected Rush
To Obtain Gas
10 Develop
Distributors Trucks
Speed Fuel to D. c.
Service Stations

IHOTc SaSOllne To-Day as trucks O1
the suppliers famed out over Wash.
ington, and renewed assurance.
came from petroleum industry
sources that everybody will be
taken care Of" A rush on gas failec
to develop today.
A spokesman for the two industry
committees for the Petroleum Ad.
ministrator for Wars Zone 3
located in Baltimore, said Wash.
ington distributors have at least
a Today supply of gasoline ano
that momentarily higher quota i.
expected which will step up the flow
to distributors.
washington motorists have moth.
Ing to be concerned about" the
spokesman said fatty. Here and
there a station may run out OF gas
until the supplier's truck gets
around, but the overall picture is
very good"
50 Trucks Busy.
Approximately so tank trucks were
busily supplying the city's 500 filling
stations, practically all of which
were open, but motorists seemed to
be taking their time about getting
gas.
AS one car owner expressed 1t:
1--WE been standing in line for every
thing buy these last couple oi
years and now that the wars over
I'm not going to stand in line for
gas"
This attitude seemed general
enough to prevent formation of lines
of cars. Dealers reported business
was fairly brisk in some areas, but
there was no big rush"
The phrase Pill 'er up" had
caught on again, however, and most
dealers reported individual sales
were heavy in contrast to the time
when rationing meant coupons had
to be budgeted and buying spaced
out.
"Just for the Ride"
The order ending gas rationing
probably caused more comment
than relaxation of any other Gov
ernment control. People heaved
signs of relief and looked forward
once again to using cars for casual
trips to the country, for weekend
jaunts to the beach or mountains
and for longer trips. More cars
were reported driven to the Ma
tional Airport lust for the ride
yesterday than for several years.
Harry r. Wainwright. executive
secretary of the District Retail Cas-
oline Dealers Association, reiter-
ated an assurance today that there
is little chance for a gas shortage
to develop.
Several service stations this morn
ing were reported to be requesting
customers to surrender ration cou-
pons. The attendants were reported
to have told drivers they had nc
official notice gasoline rationing had
been discontinued and had to ask
for coupons Ito protect ourselves.
The manager of a Fairfax, Va.
filling station had heard gasoline
rationing had been abandoned but
still insisted on coupons.
1--WE been fooled too many times
by Washington" he explained.
The customer was inclined tc
argue the point, but his hitch-hiking
passenger made it unnecessary.
Here" he said, presenting his
coupons, "have a handful
Must Retain Coupons.
National OPA said filling station.
must retain coupons on hand until
notified what is to be done with
them. They may dispose of their
rationing records.
The agency said no definite policy
had been determined concerning
criminal cases growing out of ra-
tioning violations. The present in
clination. it was said. appeared to
be to carry through on major cases.
Dealers suspended from operating
as a result Of gas ration violations
soon may have their suspensions
Cancelled, OPA indicated.