Standby-gas-rationing plan clears a hurdle in House

President Carter's new standby plan to impose gasoline rationing in an emergency cleared its first congressional hurdle Tuesday. By an 11-to-8 vote, a House energy subcommittee defeated a Republican move to reject coupon rationing that would be ordered if a 20 percent gasoline shortage developed. The standby plan is expected to come up again in the parent Commerce Committee and on the House floor. It is due to go into effect on July 30 unless both House and Senate vote against it.