Carter hits at Mobil

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 8

Carter hits at Mobil

NZPA-Reuter Washington] President Jimmy Carter has attacked the giant Mobil Oil Corporation for alleged) overcharging as he called] for price restraint and sharp, anti-inflation cuts in Gov- ] ernment spending. Mr Carter, who will announce SUSI6,OOOM in Budget cuts today, also lashed out at election-year “demagoguery” — ah appar-i ent reference to. Senator Ed-1 ward Kennedy, his main, challenger for . the 1980 Democratic Presidential’ nomination. ■ .... ’ The President, who has] ’.crossed swords frequently, with Mobil, said the corporation had overcharged its I ! customers by more than. ISUS4SM last year and had 1

11 refused a Government request for corrective action. ’ “I am disappointed.” he I, said in an address to the conference of state '•legislatures ’I Mr Carter praised other I companies for their willing-] ness to correct over-charg- ■ ing or cut, their prices vol-] . untarily.■ j The President said that - Mobil, which has undertaken •la big advertising campaign ■ Ito oppose his windfall pronfits tax - on oil companies, 1 approved by Congress on I’Friday, had -been asfted to .cut prices, but had refused. He disclosed that the Govdernment was looking into ■the record of price com-': ilpliance by a number of; nother oil companies, which ['he did not name.