Evening star., 1945-01-05
BiIbo Pressing
For Gas Probe;
Rush Subsidies
D. G. Committee Chiei
WiIISubmitRe Resolution
To Senote Tomorrow

District Committee today prepared
his resolution for a full and COM
plete" investigation of the District
gasoline shortage.
A report of shorter lines of cars
at filling stations as stringent Dis
trict OPA regulations took effect
led an OPA official to comment:
IF we can maintain this for the
next three days, we will be over
the hump
A check indicated that the OPA
action barring sale of gasoline to
motorists who have more than a
quarter of a tank of fuel and sale
of more than one ration unit of
gas to a customer, was being re-
ceived favorably by the gasoline
industry.
The OPA disclosed, meanwhile,
that 1t had sent a number of in
vestigators to various stations this
morning to check on enforcement.
Senator Bilbo,s resolution for the
gasoline inquiry will be submitted
to the Senate tomorrow, he said.
Would Find Persons Responsible.
It calls for a maximum District
Committee expenditure of $500 and
the right to subpoena witnesses and
records and to make final deter
mination "of the person or persons
responsible" for the shortage here.
THE committee shall report to
the Senate at the earliest practical
date the results OF its study of the
investigation. together with such
recommendations as to necessary
legislation it may deem desirable"
the resolution stated.
The drastic curbs on gasoline sales
here had been under considera-
ton by local OPA officials since
early in the week and were an
nounced late yesterday as reports
indicated the situation was show
ing no improvement. All deal
ers have been notified both through
their suppliers and through direct
mail from the OPA.
Robert K. Thompson, District
OPA director, said the order should
be "self-enforcing" in as much as
the dealers have been requesting the
action for some time.
Dealers Inventories Boosted.
He further pointed out that by
the action great part of the stor-
age capacity of vehicles operating
in the District-a figure well over
2,0000 900 gallons-thus would not be
used, and the gas, instead of re-
naming in car tanks, would be used
to build up inventory in dealers
tanks.
The restrictions remain in effect |
for an indefinite period, presumably
until the supply situation is brought
back into balance.
1t will have no effect on the pro-
gram providing physicians and other
highly essential users with gasoline
at specially designated service sta
ton, officials said.
Can't Find Second Station.
The OPA is experiencing difficulty
In locating a second service station
to serve physicians exclusively, an
official said. Operators claim they
did not want to exclude their regu-
lar customers One station is now
servicing doctors exclusively, and the
OPA said it was hopeful the station
will be able to accommodate all
physicians unable to get gasoline at
their regular stations
The OPA is prepared to take
action against both station operators
and motorists found violating the
order, Charles K. Davies, rationing
executive for the District, warned
Yesterdays action stems from broad
authority granted the agency during
the present emergency by the ma
tional office, he said.
Use Gasoline Gauges.
Station attendants will use gaso-
line gauges on customers cars to de-
termine whether tanks are quarter
filled. A motorist with tank nearly
empty could manage more than one
purchase, providing he could find a
second station open, it was admitted.
In other words, single unit pur-
chase Of either four or five gallons
might not bring a cars gauge up to
the quarter mark. The motorists
could. then try another station and
buy second unit of gasoline.
The restrictions, however, would
prevent motorists from travelling
with full tank. Some stations
have told of selling four gallons to
motorists only to find that tanks |
already were so nearly full that a
portion of the four gallons over
flowed.
Diamond Cab Co. officials, mean
while, reported their single station
which supplies the bulk of the COM
pany's 500 cabs was on a "hand-to-
mouth" basis. Cabs no longer able
to find gasoline at other stations
must line up at the company station
at 101 M street NE.
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