Page 2 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21. 1974 'WE JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE TAXPAYERS — FROM NOW ON YOU CAN CARRY YOUR OWN ******* GOLF CLUBS!' Energy office explains gasoline distributions WASHINGTON > _ The lat est Federal Energy Office effort to smooth out February’s gasoline distribution has given 20 states more gasoline, but its effect on service station lines is unclear. Here, in question and answer form, is the latest — if not neces sarily final-word as explained by FEO officials: Q. You’ve lost me already. What was supposed to happen in February in the first place? A. February was supposed to be the first month in which gaso line, and some other petroleum products, were distributed from refineries to suppliers, to dealers and sometimes to customers ac cording to a new set of federal regulations. The purpose was to provide a fair distribution during the pres ent shortage. Farming, on which the nation depends for food, was to get all of the gasoline it required, before anyone else was served. Certain essential services which purchase gasoline in bulk quanti ties were also to get all they need, while others including service sta tions were to get as much gaso line as in February 1972; but those allocations w o u 1 d be re duced, if necessary, in proportion to the shortage. Q. Yes, I remember now, but I sort of forgot all that while I was waiting in line an hour at the service station yesterday. A. Well, you see, there was one little hitch in the program. The regulation was not designed for getting equal amounts of gas oline to all of the dealers or areas or anything like that. The allocations were to be car ried out by each individual oil company, based on its own supply of gasoline. Some companies were in better shape than others: some served certain areas more heavily than others. The Federal Energy Of fice says the February allocation would have reflected historical distribution patterns, with some imbalances resulting from area to area. Q. But I thought that energy office told all the states exactly how much they would get in Feb ruary. I read it someplace. A. That’s right. Last Feb. 6, the energy office gave newsmen a 55-page computer print-out list ing the gasoline going to each state. They represented it, at first, as the official allocation. It turns out, however, that it was not an official allocation, but only the oil companies’ estimates of what was heading for each state; and the FEO now says those estimates were largely in accurate. Q. Well, what are they going to do about it? A. They sent special study teams into 20 states that seemed to have particularly tough prob lems of gasoline supply, to check those estimates, and energy chief William E. Simon said Tuesday study teams would be sent to all 50 states. Q. Which states, under the Feb. 9 order, may or may not get any where from nothing to two per cent more in February? A. Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, North Caro lina, Texas and Tennessee. Q. That’s only nine; you said 12 plus D.C. A. Right, I left out Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Vir ginia because they no longer fit in that group. I’ll explain about them in a minute. Q. O.K., now which states may or may not lose anywhere from nothing to two per cent in Feb ruary? A. Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wis consin and Wyoming. Q. Now what about those four you left out? A. They also turned up on the list of 20 states announced Tues day by the FEO; none of the oth ers were listed twice. Q. What does that mean? A. On Tuesday, the FEO list ed 10 states whose February gas oline supply would be increased five per cent: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, New Hamp shire, Oregon, Vermont, West Virginia, and New Jersey and Virginia. Those last two were on the old list; their previous “may be” two per cent is now included in their definite five per cent. The oil companies must provide those five per cent increases. The February supplies of gaso line were also increased two per cent, Tuesday for Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsyl vania, Rhode Island, and Illinois and Maryland. Cbe Battalion Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the University administration or the Board of Directors. The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by students as a University and Community newspaper. LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and are subject to being cut to that length or less if longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit such letters and does not guarantee to publish any letter. Each letter must be signed, shozv the address of the ivriter and list a telephone number for verification. Address correspondence to Listen Up, The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77813. Members of the Student Publications Board are: Jim Lindsey, chairman ; Dr. Tom Adair, Dr. R. A. Albanese, Dr. H. E. Hierth, W. C. Harrison, Randy Ross, T. Chet Edwards, and Jan Faber. Represented nationally by National Educational Advertising Services. Inc, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. MEMBER The Associated Press, Texas Press Association The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A&M, ia published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and holiday periods, September through May, and once a week during summer school. Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester; $6 per school year; $6.50 per full year. All subscriptions subject to 5% sales tax. Advertising rate furnished on request. Address: The Battalion, Room 217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Right of reproduction of all other matter herein are also reserved. Second-Class postage paid at College Station, Texas. Editor Rod Speer Assistant to the Editor Greg Moses Managing Editor Stephen Goble News Editor Will Anderson Photo Editor Gary Baldasari Sports Editor Kevin Coffey Ass't. Sports Editor Ted Boriskie Staff writers Vickie Ashwill, LaTonya Perrin, Mary Russo, Tony Gallucci, Cliff Lewis, Mark Weaver, Brad Ellis, Hank Wahrmund, Kathy Young, T. C. Gallucci, Norine Harris, Sally Hamilton. Photographers Rodger Mallison, Kathy Curtis, Alan Killingsworth. TONIGHT ONLY! MID-NITE SALE All Jeans & Tops Priced To Move- 6 p. m. til? Thursday, Feb. 21 loupot's books & britches Across from the Post Office Listen Up Problems riddle OP A flower sale The Clothes Horse jr. shotlL-sw Marches < liinot be contain a Ml 4-Vv 3801 E. 29th — 846-2940 Editor I would like to thank all the customers of the Omega Phi Al pha carnation sale Valentine’s Day. This was the first year we have done this project, and, as can be expected, we had some prob lems. The bookkeeping got messed up, the supplier sent some in the wrong colors, and we ran out of flowers. If anyone was dissatisfied, we will gladly refund their money. Please contact me at 845-1515 or 846-9081. Again, thanks to everyone for making the sale a success, and we hope to give better service next Valentine’s Day. Linda Austin OPA President Editor: The Texas Tech basketball players at last Saturday night’s game impressed me with some of the best acting I have seen since the last “professional” wrestling match I watched on tel evision in my home town. The referees offered one of the worst performances I have ever witness ed at a basketball game. Who are these characters? Where do they come from, a high school, a jun ior high ? If some improvement is not forthcoming your newspa per may be allowed the opportu nity to photograph and report a riot at our upcoming game with T. U. The infamy and negative value of such an incident would far outweight the cost of employ ing some evenhanded and percep tive supervision of the game. John F. Hubbell {ion than s houl(ler-lt ■ . i SALE SALE SALE (Jourt of * VVednesda; t rhe cov arijuana [ c SALE Warran lissible o lie caus where it a warrant CADET SLOUCH COUNSELORS NEEDED Te/as Vaqueros The ere iknown (Con' piments ndowmei a their ,tes of llper cer Summer camp for Boys, ages 8 thru 16 Interviews: Thursday, February 28 12 to 5 Rudder Tower For further information Call 845-1203 Jit tai 1‘Fig; !MSC “I gave up on the weather and wore my new suit anyway!” Are You Ready For A New Taste? Let Us Hook You With our large variety of delicious, inexpensive german sausage plates. EUROPEAN STYLE SANDWICHES AMERICAN FOOD ORDERS TO GO Homemade/german potato salad & sauerkraut Bring this ad and get 1 free sausage of your choice with every sausage plate limit one per customer Expires March 2 WURST, BEER & ATMOSPHERE H en reslaJirant 319 University Dr. (North Gate) C.S. Telephone 693-2911 ftupect I. Weatnntnss; FEBRUARY 19 — 20 — 21 Mass Meetings TUESDAY: Hear FRANK POLLARD Discuss “In The Beginning .... God" (Starts At 7:00 P M.) WEDNESDAY: Hear CHARLIE BAKER Discuss 'The Beginning of God as Flesh" (Starts At 7:00 P M.) THURSDAY: Hear FRANK POLLARD Discuss "The Beginning God Seeks In Man's Life' (Starts At 7:00 P M.) Look for the "Big Top” at the Circle Drive-In (NO ADMISSION CHARGE)