Evening star., 1945-01-07
Gas Situation Eased
BY 0PA Restrictions
On Individual Sales

The badly upset gasoline market
appeared to be returning to normal
here yesterday for the first time in
several weeks with many filling sta
tions obtaining supplies to reopen
and the buying rush apparently
halted. Easing of the situation was
credited mainly to operation of the
District Office of Price Administra-
tion's recent restriction on sales to
individual motorists.
The Petroleum Administration for
War yesterday made public for the
first time the total gallonage of gas
oline delivered last month to the
Washington terminal market, which
includes eight nearby counties. 1t
was estimated at 13,080,732 gallons
or 71l,732 gallons more than the
original allocations, PAW said.
A spokesman said Washington's
fair share" of gasoline for this
month will be 13,562,76 gallons.
Our program provides for meet
ing that share in full." he added.
Thus far this month, deliveries
have been on schedule, and we have
reason to believe the city's share
will be provided in full"
Normal Stock on Hand.
PAW estimated that as of yes
terday morning, there were 100000
gallons in bulk storage among the
principal suppliers in this area.
This was in addition to supplies in
service stations. and a spokesman
described the figure as a normal
working stock In addition, the
single pipeline serving Washington
was delivering $1,000 gallons an
hour yesterday, PAW said.
Both suppliers and OPA officials
were optimistic over the turn in
events and hopeful the supply and
demand would be brought into bal
ance again.
Il am more encouraged than I
have been in weeks" District OPA
Director Robert K. Thompson de-
clared. Many stations, he said, re-
ported only normal Saturday buy
ing and none told Of lines forming.
One supplier told of being at a
Georgia avenue station for nearly
an hour yesterday during which
time the operator, who had a sup
ply of gasoline, failed to make a
single sale.
Physicians Get Gas.
Theodore Wiprud, secretary Of the
District Medical Society, said last
night he had received no appeals
from physicians seeking gasoline
since the OPA designated a station
with unlimited supply of fuel to
serve doctors.
Harry Wainwright, executive di-
rector of the Gasoline Retailers
Association, also reported an easing
off of buying yesterday and said he
knew of several stations with gas
oline that actually went without
consumers late in the day.
Meanwhile, it was learned the
area War Manpower Commission
had granted suppliers an emergency
priority in locating additional truck
drivers. One supplier reported he
had received five new drivers in the
past 10 days. With the industry
given high hiring rating, deliveries
to stations were expected to pick UP.
further relieving the situation here
Mason Seeks Information.
AS the Senate District Commit
tee prepared to set date for an in
quiry into the gasoline situation
here, Commissioner Guy Mason re-
ported yesterday he would recon-
mend to Chairman Bilbo of the
committee that PAW officials be
summoned as witnesses to give an
accurate account of the supply situ-
alton here.
Senator Bilbo yesterday intro
duced the Senate resolution calling
for full probe. The committee has
been authorized to. call witnesses,
subpoena records and determine re-
sponsibility for the shortage.
Taking cueN from the District
OPA, which has limited sales Of
gasoline to motorists with less than
a quarter tank, some Alexandria
(Va) stations were voluntarily par
ticipating in the program. The
restrictions ordered here Thursday
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