Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-09
dc. Grand Jury Hear,
6 Filling Station Men
lin Antitrust Probe

Six Washington filling station
operators said the District grand
jury, now investigating the gaso-
line and oil business in this area,
questioned them today about price
survey data provided by the Retail
Gasoline Dealers, Inc.
Justice Department officials dis
closed, meanwhile, that further
grand jury inquiries into possible
antitrust law violations may be
started here this week. Letters of
authorization by Attorney General
Clark were expected to be filed late
today with the clerk OF the criminal
division of District Court.
The nature of the additional in
vestigations was not disclosed but
they were reported to be connected
with the departments general pro-
gram of investigations in the food,
clothing and housing industries.
Witnesses Named.
Today's witnesses before the gaso-
line investigation grand jury were
Hubert Peterson, an independent
dealer; Robert e. Harding and
Harry C. Putnam, both dealers who
lease filling stations from the
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey;
Glenn v. Ohler, a Shell Oil Co.
dealer, and two other Washington
dealers who declined to give their
names to reporters.
The witness said later they were
nl,eStioned Dartjc1Ilarlv ahollt a
petroleum products price survey
made by the Retail Gasoline Deal
ers, Inc. The association, they ex-
planned, provided it's members with
detailed information on industry
prices in the wholesale and retail
fields, and in connection with filling
station services as well as gas and oil.
| The dealers also said they were
asked about their price relationships
with major oil companies. They de-
clared that they told the grand jury
that retail prices of gasoline, oil and
filling station services were not die
tated by the suppliers or distribu-
tors, nor were they fixed by the Re-
tail Gasoline Dealers, Inc.
Many of the witnesses repeatedly
scheduled to appear before the jury
during the remainder of the week
also are filling station operators.
Since August rs, the jury has heard
area and district managers of major
oil companies and representatives
of the Retail Gasoline Dealers, Inc,
a Washington association.
L. v. Houser, who operates a
station here on lease from the
Standard Oil Co. Of New Jersey,
testified yesterday as the first in
dlviduel dealer to be subpoenaed.
Other witnesses yesterday were
George w. Butler, district manager
of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jer-
sey and Wallace S. Linfoot, presi-
dent of the Retail Gasoline Dealers,
Inc. Mr.. Linfoot also testified two
weeks ago.
New Objective Declared.
Justice Department officials did
not disclose the prospective investi-
cations that would be covered by
new letters of authorization from
the Attorney General. Mr.. Clark
filed a similar letter last month
putting Assistant Attorney General
John F. Sonnet, head Of the anti
trust division, in charge of grand
jury investigation and prosecution
of possible antitrust law violations
in the housing and building con-
|, struction fields.
i A letter of authorization Of this
kind is necessary so special prose-
!. cutors from the Justice Department
. can present evidence to District
J, grand juries.