Evening star., 1948-04-02
|krug Protests
Oil Testimony
|At Bus Hearing
Regrets Doubt Cast
On Shortage by Aide
To Senote Committee

Secretary Of Interior Krug TODAY
told Senate Small Business oil
subcommittee that he regretted"
the assertion of a committee aide
yesterday that there was sufficient
oil production In the country to meet
needs.
MIR. Krug had reference to the
testimony of Paul Z. Hadhck, special
committee counsel, who appeared at
a Public Utilities Commission hear.
ing on whether buses could be sub
stituted for streetcars on half of the
Rosslyn-Benning line in the light of
a petroleum shortage.
The Secretary said Mr.. Hadlick
had given the impression that
conservation was not needed. Mr..
Krug produced newspaper clippings
and commented:
Attacks like this get three times
as much space in the papers as ap.
peals for conservation"
krug Cites Tagging Supplies.
Far from having enough oil, Mr..
Krug declared, supplies are tagging
about is per cent behind require-
ments.
Mr.. Hadlick had said there Is no
need for an oil shortage-barring
war. or national emergency Of war
preparation here.
Meanwhile, the petroleum indus.
try has handed over to the National
Petroleum Council the job Of draw
ing up a set Of recommendation
for long-term voluntary ALLEGATION
program for petroleum, under the
anti-inf1ation act. The council
will meet April IA and shortly there
after Is expected to pass along its
ideas to the industry and the Gov
ernment.
Wants Program for Gasoline.
The Government seeks to include
gasoline in the program, in the light
of anticipated heavy drains on stocks
by warm weather driving.
The PUG had invited Mr.. Had
lick to help it decide whether there
will be enough gasoline this year
to warrant the commissions allow
ing the Capital Transit Co. to sub
stitute buses for streetcars on tbs
eastern half of the Rosslyn-Ben-
ming line. The commission seemed
no closer to the answer to its prob
lem at the end of Yesterdays hear.
ing. Instead, it found itself in.
volved in the debate on a national
issue.
At a hearing last month on the
Benning line question, the transit
company's Dissatisfaction proposal
was opposed by Max w. Bali, di-
rector of the Interior Departments
Oil and Gas Division. who foresav
widespread and acute" shortage
OF gas this summer. Mr.. Hadlick
was outspoken in his criticism of
the Interior Department official.
No Need for Shortage. 3.
But to say there need be an oil
shortage is perfectly silly" Mr..
Hadlick added Texas alone could
produce 100000 barrels a day more
than 1t is producing now. Oil short
ages are caused by those who want
to reap profits and those in Gov
ernment who want more power.
II these people want to hold back
Oil, shortage can be created"
"Mr. Ball has done nothing but
give excuses to the public for the
TACT there has been an oil shortage"
Mr.. Hadlick told the commission,
He said very small percentage
OF shortage could have a radical ef-
feet on Oil prices.
PUG first ordered the conversion
TO buses on the Benning line last
October, effective March % of this
year. It postponed the effective
date of the conversion order two
weeks before the change was to
have taken place. Public hearings
were ordered.
The commission now has the mat
ter under advisement.