Minors fear for their lives when Federal controls are gone

Abstract

Small- and medium-sized gasoline marketers are afraid they will not be able to get enough reasonably priced gasoline to stay in business after the 1973 Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act expires on September 30, 1981. The industry is divided on the decontrol issue between the integrated majors and the independent minors, the latter afraid they can't compete without government controls. The division is not sharp, however, because some of the large companies may support a system to protect the independents and the Carter Administraton is not committed to total decontrol. The arguments on both sides of the issue indicate a major Congressional debate will be waged over the nature of competition within the next year. (DCK)