Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-12
SEWER PLANS WAIT
Delay of Two Years in ReIiev-
ing Counties Expected.
LEGISLATURE GETS BLAME
Maryland Commission Not Chosen
and Congress May Not Act.
GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT FELT
Citizens of Prince Georges and
Montgomery Counties and Dis
trict Chagrined.

S-
That the effort to provide sewers for
Montgomery and Prince Georges coun-
ties, Nd, looking toward an Improvement
in the sanitary condition Of that section
and preventing the pollution with sewage
Of streams in Rock creek valley and the
Anacostia basin in the District OF Colum-
bia, will be delayed. at least two years.
or until the Maryland legislature again
meets, as a result Of the failure of the
legislature to enact legislation appointing
commission to devise a plan of action
opinion of. oficials of the District govern
ment.
The legislature, before adjournment,
passed bill calling upon Congress to ap-
point a commission for the District to
confer with a similar body representing
Maryland, in regard to undertaking the
proposed Improvements. but, through
oversight, 1t is charged. failed to put
through legislation appointing the Mary
land committees The opinion of District
officials is that Congress will not favor
ably act on the memorial to be presented
to 1t In regard to the appointment of a
commission for the District, since there is
20 commission representing Maryland
with which such body could confer y Z
=. Proves Disappointing.
| With the fight to officially launch the
movement for improved sanitary candi-
tionss in Montgomery and Prince Georges
counties practically won, the failure of
the. Maryland. legislature, ip the closing
hours OF the session just ended, to put
through the principal piece of legisia-
ton desired. is proving a bitter disap-
pointment to advocates of the undertake
Ing, among whom are included a large
number of residents OF the District of
Columbia.
The bill which failed to pass, author
lied the appointment of a commission of
five members each from Montgomery and
Prince Georges counties and two from the
Maryland state board Of health, which
commission was to be charged with the
task OF mapping out a plan for the con-
struction Of the sewers and to confer in
regard to the matter with a committee
representing the District of Columbia The
bill passed the house of the Maryland
legislature, but in the senate it under
went slight alteration before it was
adopted The amendment, 1t is said, was
of such minor nature that it would not
have endangered the repassage of the
measure by the house. but. when the bill
had been returned to the house, that body
had adjourned sine die.
Resolution Is Signed.
The resolution memorializing Congress
to appoint a commission for the District
Of Columbia to confer with the commits
sion which would have been appointed
had the bill above referred to been finally
enacted into law passed both houses of
the legislature. and. according to informa-
ton that has reached local officials, this
measure has been signed by the governor.
However, for the reason already men,
toned. it Is not believed that the me-
mortal will be favorably acted upon by
Congress.
District officials are largely responsible
for the Inauguration of the movement to
have Montgomery and Prince Georges
counties equipped with sewer facilities
and it had been suggested by them that
if the Maryland authorities would build
sewers to the District line the local gov
eminent would receive the sewerage into
it's own interceptors and arrange for its
disposition. For this reason the appoint
ment of a committee FOR the District to
confer with the proposed Maryland COM
IL
eral Improvement plan was to be carried
out.
Source Of Concern.
In several annual reports Asa P.
Phillips, superintendent of sewers OF
the District. has recommended the plan.
Sewage draining into the Anacostia
and Rock Creek valleys and toward
the Little Falls branch from the Mary
land communities has been a source of
no little concern to District officials,
especially the sewerage and health de-
partments, and for this reason 1T was
proposed that the District would build
interceptors to the District line to re-
ceive the sewage If the Maryland au-
thorities would construct sewers to
connect with the interceptors.
The Maryland state board of health
became interested in the matter. call
ing a meeting of the Montgomery
County Medical Society, to consider 1t
In its TO tn tba
proposition also was held in Prince
Georges county. Finally. meeting Of
citizens representatives of both coun-
ties was arranged. this session being
At the District building meeting a
joint committee Of citizens, representing
the two counties, was appointed to pre-
pare legislation for Introduction in the
legislature. This committee drew up
the two bills previously referred to.
Original Proposition.
Originally the state board Of health pro-
posed that 1t should be given authority
to lay out sanitary districts. and that
an appropriation of $1,000 should be avail
able for conducting the preliminary work,
but the citizens committee decided that
the preliminary work should be done by