Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06
MAY LACK SUPPORT
Citizens Bill for Sewerage
Contiguous to District.
REGARDED AS ineffective
Measure for Submission to Maryland
Legislature Substitute for Board
of Health Proposition.

IF the new sewerage bill proposed for
Maryland by a citizens committee rep
resenting Montgomery and Prince Georges
counties of that state is presented to the
legislature in its present form, it may
nave to run the legislative gauntlet with
out aid from the Maryland state board of
health or promise of cooperation on the
part of District of Columbia authorities.
Copies of the bill. which provides leg
slation different from that proposed by
the state health board have been sub
mitted to Asa f. Phillips, District super
intendent of sewers. and the Maryland
health officials, with the request that
they make known their views concern
ing the measure Mr. Phillips today in
a letter to the committee refrained from
giving the legislation proposed his in
dorsement. although he stated that the
plan outlined might prove to be prac-
teal
Mr.. Phillips, il is known. believes that
the bill proposed by the health board rs
the best one that could he adopted. Whlie
members of the committee express con-
iidence that the measure drawn up by
them will he adopted by the Maryland
health officials, doubt is expressed IN
other quarters as to whether such IN
dorsement will be secured.
Intimation by Committee.
1t was intimated by members of the
committee today that the bill as drawn
will be presented to the legislature, re-
Eardless of whether the state board of
health acquiesces in the plan outlined.
The original bill as drawn by the
health board looked toward preventing
the pollution of streams in the District
with sewage from the Maryland COM
munities which drain into the Rock creek
- nd
Little Falls branch by building sewers
from those sections to the District line.
where the sewage could be emptied
into the Districts interceptors.
1t provided for the creation of sanitary
districts, which would include these sec
tions. to be under the control of the state
board of health. and for an appropriation
with which to determine the cost of con-
structing the sewers to the District line.
Differing from this plan, the bill as
drawn by the citizens committee pro-
vides for the appointment OF a commas
sion of ten members to make a study OF
the most feasible means of providing for
the disposal of sewage and drainage
within the Wheaton and Bethesda election
districts of Montgomery county. and
Evansville, Hyattsville. Chillum and Bla-
densburg election districts of Prince
Georges county, and such territory adj
jacent thereto as may form natural
drainage area, with instructions to report
to the legislature at the next session.
I'm this bill are specified the men,
bers who shall compose the commits
sion, among the ten persons named
being the president and secretary of
the state board of health. The bill does
not confer jurisdiction upon the state
board of health. which is one of the
principal respects in which it differs
from the other measure proposed.
Favor Cooperation.
District officials took an active in
terest in the state board of health
measure. for the reason that it con-
templated cooperation by the local
authorities in the matter of handling
the sewerage from the Maryland sec |
tions after it had been delivered to the |
Districts interceptors. No mention of |
the District is contained in the COM |
mfttee's bill and for this reason, it is |
understood. as well as others. Supt. |
Phillips has refrained from giving the |
bill other than a negative Endorsement, |
although that official is said to favor
any plan looking toward an improve
ment of sewerage conditions in Mary
land with the beneficial effect it
eventually must have upon sanitary
conditions in the District