Speech #870033358

Charles W. Colson. Washington counsel for the New England group. said that "the new quota system announced by Secretary Udall last month is totally unsatisfactory. The Secretary of Interior has said that the new system is intended to permit an adequate supply of residual oil and that the quota would compensate between domestic production and domestic demand. This new system makes the existence of the quota program even more fruitless since it can no longer be said that the system is designed to limit imports. "We think it is fair to ask why quotas should be imposed at all if they are no longer intended to restrict Importation. Even more than before. the quota system is an artificial restriction on the normal competitive process and tends only to create monopolies in fuel oil distribution. its only result can be increased prices to the consumer." The councils formal petition seeks removal of the mandatory quota system and asks for "an immediate investigation to determine the effect of the residual oil import program on the price of residual oil and other fuels in the East. and to determine the efficacy of the program with respect to the purpose for which it was establishedto promote national security. "We are convinced that an impartial study by the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization would demonstrate clearly that the residual oil restrictions have not fulfilled in any way the national security objectives of this proclamation. but rather have resulted only in increasing hardships to industry and consumers." Nearly 1.000 in Orleans Learn Now. Pay Later