Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-22
APPEAL To PRESIDENT
LEGISLATION to Prevent Pollution
of interstate Waters.
PHASES OF THE SITUATION
Argument Presented by Committee
Having Matter in Charge.
LOCAL SOCIETIES INTERESTED
Reasons for Enactment - Mr.. Roose-
welt Requested to Bring Matter to
Attention of Congress.
PHASES OF THE SITUATION
LOCAL SOCIETIES INTERESTED

Active steps toward securing legislation
10y Congress TO prevent tie pollution OF
Interstate waters were taken by the Com
mLssoucrs today WREN they presented to
President Roosevelt request in writing
that BE bring the matter TO tho attent on OF
Congress In taking this step the Commits
sloners represented the committee which
includes officials Of the District govern
rhent the national government depart
mcnts the Washington Board of Tr1de,
the Business Mems Association. the Medl-
cal Society, the Fish and Game Protective
Association and other organizations, and
they presented to the chief executive
comprehensive argument prepared By TINS
committee, In supper. of The projected
enactment ty Congress.
The argument. which touches upon all
important phases Of the question at hStlu
reads as follows:
There are many reasons why the pro-
uns,d legislation il necessary to social and
economic integrity; there are many more
reasons why il is justified by dire necessity
both current and future. Such measure
as Is here proposed is one OF the ineYltaoie
rnusfouencPs OF civic and industrial
growth: fl has been the resort to which
The populous and enlightened countries OF
Europe have been driven
THE most serious feature or stream pol
luton In the United States Is that 1t Is IN
creasing and unless remedial measures are
enforced such increase must continue AT
rate which will keep pace with civic ana
industrial growth.
'sTbe pccuniary damage which has been
wrought during the past decade by TINS
wasteful and unwarranted practice Is
most forceful warning concerning the fu-
ture. The crucial period is not remote;
an the contrary. there are many parts Of
our country in which the conditions are
equivalent 10 those which prevailed in Eu-
rope half A century ago. European countries
were obliged to adopt remedial measures
and similar action upon the part OF the
United States is inevitable; there Is no
alternative from this conclusion.
THE pertinent question is. therefore. the
economic one; namely, shall stream pOlln-
zion be regulated now. while there yet re-
mains some measure of purity in many OF
oar streams and while corrective legis-
lation may be applied gradually and with
OUT hardship or shall action be postponed
until our rivers are reduced to an unspeak
able condition. and summary action will be
required? In the one case, correction will
be easy and comparatively inexpensive,
while in the other il viii be difficult and
the cost will be enormous.
Prohibition or Regulation.
The draft presented herewith provides
for the prohibition or regulation of pollu-
ton in interstate waters. A glance over
the country will show that such waters
are the ones which require the most i'm
mediate attention. The correction Of such
abuses within a single state Is we'll nigh
futile IL that state remains practically help
less IN the matter OF Interstate pollution.
A common authority over such waters APP
pears TO De the only logical solution
The proposed act provided ample safe
guards for the person found to be in yio-
latlou OF its provisions. No person can be
convicted of violation under the proposed
act who IS using the best known methods
10 prevent pollution Provision is made for
appeal to courts of higher resort, even to
the United States Supreme Court. 1t Is
clearly recognized in the proposed act that
streams must receive certain and reason
only the unreasonable and impEoyident
practices are subject TO correction.
Water a Necessity
There is no necessity of mankind. save
one. more acute than that for water It
must be provided in sufficient amount and
OK pure quality. BY reason of an improvi-
dent public policy, the task of securing a
wa ter of suitable quality Is fast becoming
serious tax upon human ingenuity. be-
cause the resources are continuously sub
tect to greater and greater damage and
because the controlling conditions are APP
preaching the Impossible. The great
sources Of municipal water supply are run
ming streams. While 1t is true that certain
cities are situated sufficiently close To up
land drainage areas 10 make It economical
to establish protected conseryancy sys-
tens, By far the greater number OF NUM-
ClUaHties in the United States cannot with
out entirely disprOportiOnate expense, be
saryed in this way. Neither Is Il possible
20 serve large cities with ground water.
The supposedly ineXhaustlble supplies or
ground water may he impoverished as GER
tairly as may the rain barrel at the back
door OF a primitive farm house. In either
case Il is merely matter of excessive de-
nsTA
For Purity of Rivers.
"Tr, demand that the water Of river
shall be preserved in 4 comparatively pure
state IL. NOT merely estaetical, on the con-
trerr. il is extremely practical and VITAL,
ana il enters into the economy of a ma
ton as acutely as does any natural re-
sources, II demands consideration from a
pacurisry. as well as from humanitarian
Standpoint The wanton pollution of our
streams is Is improVident from purely
commercial standpoint as is the wanton de-
struction OF forests
Finally there IS provision for a commits
sion which shall have Ia charge the enforce
ment of the act and upon which have been
conferred certain administrative and quasi
judicial powers, designed TO insure eXpedient
and equitable procedure.
Suggested Commission.
A commission Is suggested because there
IS no federal bureau now constituted that.
under the controlling conditions. can expe-
dlsntly take up the work proposed in tho
act. The requirements are peculiar. and
mainly Involve problems for the sanitary
engineer. reinforced by the expert qusIifca-
tolus OF the hygeust and the practical man
Of affairs.
AS stated In this review of the situation
and argument for betteTment OF conditions,
the communication to the President was ac-
,f.H hx-.a "A e. ns
vides that the commission which shall have
charge OF the prevention Of pollution of in
tsrstate streams shall have offices in the
District OF Columbia, and that Ii shall be
under the jurisdiction OF the Department of
Commerce and Labor.