New-York tribune., 1908-03-23
TO FIGHT POLLUTION.
Sewerage Commission Tells mayor
If Needs S75 900.

Tho Ne+ronoIftan Sewerage Commission mas 00
<out with a report to the Mayor urging tha' p'
meas sures be taken TO safeguard the haI ooi as
pollution. Furthermore the commission VIM"
reorganized on January 10. complains OIL the ~ coti
plete absence Of funds the $500 remaining u .ne
s15 60 annroDriated bv the Legislature belns leu
I'd in the Board of Estimate and Apporloiliieil'
by the Mayer It asks for $1,000 as necessary Io
do the work in the right way
The commission as constituted consists oi
George A Soper president; James h fuPr'es'
secretary and Charles Sooysmi'h. Fl. Dc X
Parsons aud Dr. LdrsIv r. Williams The last
three succeeded Dr. Daniel Lewis, Andre" D
Provost, jr. and Professor Olin II LandrcIh Inc
latter we're removed by the Mayor IN January ana
they are now suing for per diem recompeilse-
--;av contend that they have never received cent
for their services. In their suit. 1t is sand theE
have the bac king Of the pollution committee OF the
Merchants Association, which was lnstruheh'al Ill
having the act creating the commission passed
The old commission came in conflict with me
Mayor when it asked for the remainder of the ap-
propriation. Fuerres and Soper did not meet with
the deposed members at the time, as there vas
friction between the minority and majority 10
get rid of the financial strain the Mayor removed
those requesting money md appointed the new
members Soovsrnirn Parsons and Williams, retain
ing Soper and Fuerres Now they come back at
the Mayor asking not alone for the S5ooo but also
requesting 80 600 additional In its report the com
mission says:
The harb0rs rivers about New York now
eceiye all the sewage and manufactur drain
age OF the great population located upon theig ,g
contrary these waters are also oelhg mace =,. IN
dumping place tor increasing quantities or nun
siderable distances from the shores. Analyses and
inspections made by the commission and T. DIS oy is7
sion. have shown that the waters are polluted anu
that local nuisances occur along about ninety mics
Of the harbOr coast line. Additional sewers now
building or projected viii double the quanJiTy o.
he T1OllI ri0D Is
rate, that offensive conditions will eventually eX-
tend over the most beautiful and most fre4uente1
portions Of the bay and that public health and vel
fare already threatened through The contamination
OF oysters. public bathing places and fishing VIII
be jeopardized.
The commission appointed to devise plan
70 dispose OF the sewage Of the city without in
Jury TO the public health The report cites Lon
don Paris. Hamburg. Glasgow, Belfast. Dublin
Boston. Providence. Baltimore and other cities
as having taken steps 10 protect rivers and har-
hors from pollution. The commission admits that
only a small beginning mas been made, and then
it dips into finances and says:
Owing &c expenditures over which the present ss1!
commissioners have had no control. We find thaT
the commission without funds bt the St3'NH'
allowed ~ the Legislature $3.50 remains 70 ho re
This sum * barely sufficient 70 meet the oustand
ing 2ollsaClonS a46 ~ yorl Of The comm esior
We estimate the sum necessary TO finish the work
s of ms GqSPn fo bo Z so We also estimate The
additional time needed 70 he about one - ne
- a-.a-e+io i, some Of he work can secured
from the various departments Of the city govern
rneut. but are not sanguine -th1t the reduction
would great.
The first commission was appointed IN June
1906 The act authorizing il was approved May
o 1896 and gave the commission life until May
1903 and New York city empowered to ap-
propria+e s15OoC for It's use. including rernunera-
ton of the couuIissi oucrs to BE- fixed on a per
diem basis by the Mayor But the Mayor didn
fix the rate and when the removed commissioners
demanded pay the Mayor offered s. d DAY, but
this was refused and suit brought The COM
mission cannot get more than the $3.50 due. eX
ceptfu- by act Of the Legislature