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Show J. S. CONTROL OF OIL INDUSTRY LIKELY Supervision From Well to Consumer Foreshadowed by Requa. By Universal Service. WASHINGTON, July 28. Complete governmental supervision and control of the oil industry, from the well to the consumer, con-sumer, is foreshadowed by Mark L. Requa, head of the oil division of the fuel administration, ad-ministration, in a statement to the Universal Uni-versal Service. The American production is estimated at 325,000.000 barrels of crude oil by C. W. Robinson, head of the conservation division. The allies' requirements are between 65,000,000 and 70,000,000 barrels of gasoline, but Increasing each day with increased shipjnents to the front of bat-S bat-S Tlanes, scout boats and motor trucks, xhose motive power is gasoline, and the launching of additional war and carrier ships burning heavy crude oil. The great Mexican output, 42.0OO.00o barrels a year, is now not available as a dependable supply, and the Russian fields are in the possession of the central powers. pow-ers. The allies look to America for their oil and gas. There is plenty of gas now, but the increased demand is so great that any day may see the surplus reduced to a deficit. When that happens a sharp cue in fuel for non-essential industries and pleasure purposes will come on order from the fuel administration. In the meanwhile, here is the new proposition that is suggested as a basis for operation: opera-tion: "The war cannot be won without the products . of petroleum. "The proposal that 1 am making is that stabilized differentials be created as between be-tween crude petroleum and finished products prod-ucts at the refinery and as between refinery re-finery prices and the price to the ultimate ulti-mate consumer; that these differentials be maintained and move in unison with the price of crude; that if necessary the volume of business be frozen and new business equitably distributed; that the old theory of competition give way for the war period to a condition of mutual helpfulness. In behalf of the mutual welfare, wel-fare, and that all these things be brought about by the voluntary action of the industry in-dustry in harmonious co-operation with the fuel administration." It was this proposition which Requa carried to a convention of oilmen at Tulsa, Okla., recently, making it to them as a feeler to prepare them for pie formal proposition to come to them later. Commenting Com-menting on it and the attitude of the industry, in-dustry, he said: "If any there be who are so lacking in the spirit of the times as to build up selfishly their own business at the expense ex-pense of others, regardless of the larger view, I am sure we will find some way to control their activities." The government is prepared to take stern measures to force its new program, if necessary. |