Motorists in the twelve Atlantic Seaboard States this week found the petroleum shortage overtaking them on the left. Filling-station pumps were locked up at 7 p.m., kept locked for twelve hours. This system, similar to that inaugurated in Canada a few weeks earlier (see p. 27), gave no promise of saving any more gas south of the border than to the north. But it effectively shut most gas stations at night.
No special law had been passed; the whole thing was a voluntary restriction, recommended by Petroleum Coordinator "Horrible Harold" Ickes. Unable to frighten motorists into more economical habits,...
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