Evening star., 1947-12-05
Gasoline
Continued From First Page)

through an educational campaign.
Mr.. Friedman said some States
have begun voluntary effort to
save both oil and coal supplies but
the Federal agency hopes to CO.
ordinate all these under one tent"
He said that the voluntary cam
paign is planned ito avoid the i'm
position of any drastic means such
as authority to ration and fix prices.
Senate Group to Report.
Meanwhile, the Subcommittee on
Oil Supply and Distribution OF the
Senate Small Business Committee
expects to have an interim report
on the national fuel situation ready
next week, with recommendations.
It plans to continue hearings into
the shortage problem.
The Retail Gasoline Dealers AS
sociation of Washington yesterday
asked the Government to lead a
voluntary movement to limit the
business hours of filling stations i'm
mediately. Federal officials said
today. however, they are not in
position to act now. The Petroleum
Administration for War. which
might have handled the job, went
out of existence March 81, with the
death of the Second War Powers
Act, officials pointed out.
Interior Lacks Funds.
r. A. Herrick, executive director
of the association, had written As
sistant Secretary OF the Interior
William E. Warne to suggest that
gasoline stations open only from
am. to 7 pm. and close on Sun
DAYS in the whole shortage area.
The Interior Department lacks
funds with which to launch a VOL
untary effort, such as was under
taken recently by the Citizens Food
Committee, headed by Charles Luck
man. That committee, oficials
pointed out, obtained money from
the Presidents emergency funds
with which to operate. 1t is under
stood there are no funds now avail
able from this source to deal with
fuel shortage. The Interior Depart
ment has asked for authority in the
Presidents 10-point program, re-
Gently laid before Congress, to deal
with fuel shortage, officials said.
Presumably, the program men
toned by Mr.. Chapman today would
be handled entirely by the petroleum
industry on a voluntary basis.
Pinched by the looming gasoline
famine. the District government
asked all its departments to halt the
use of high-test gasoline to aid in
conserving supplies. Roland M.
Brennan, District purchasing officer,
said recommendations he sent the
Commissioners to this effect are
being carried out. The Federal
Government also is conserving its
supplies.
Standard Oils Aid Asked.
Mr. Brennan has asked the Stand
ard Oil Co. to aid the District and 1t
has agreed to help in the emergency
Yesterday four police precinct sta
tions were entirely out OF gasoline,
and Standard had agreed to fill
these tanks Immediately and to
furnish 1000 gallons to the police
within the next "a hours. The
Water Department, also out of gas
oline yesterday, will receive 1850
gallons as soon as possible from the
company.
On November 26, Mr.. Brennan
transmitted to the Commissioners a
circular letter he had received from
J. D. Thompkins, acting director,
Bureau of Federal Supply, which
said:
Tn view of the critical situation,
it is urgently recommended that all
executive departments and indie
pendent establishments OF the
United States Government and the
government of the District Of Co
lumbia refrain from using pre-
MUM gasoline. Such action will
result in increasing the overall
production of gasoline"
Motorists Urged to Help.
The only exceptions will be the
Police and Fire Departments, the
Division of Sanitation and ambu-
lances. which cannot operate EN-
GENTLY with ordinary gasoline.
The Fire Department said yester'
day 1t had no problem because i
has suflcient supplies. The Division
of Sanitation said 1t has enough
fuel to last the remainder Of th'
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