The Washington times., 1916-12-14
Maryland Senator Urges Prof.
cot Of Taking In Adjacent
Communities.
SOLVES PRESSING PROBLEM
Bays Rights and Needs Of Dis
trict and State May Both
Be Respected.

Senator Blair Lee Of Maryland 10
heartily in favor OF the proposed ex.
tension OF District water and sewers
to adjacent Maryland communities.
For some years past the Senator
has been active in his advocacy of
the project, because he believes Il to
be the only rational solution of the
water and sewerage problems In those
portions of Montgomery and Prince
Georges counties Immediately sub
urban to Washington which will be
equally fair and advantageous to
land.
Senator Lee has been a resident Of
Silver Spring all his life, having been
oorn IN the residence which he now
tered politics. he took a lively interes,
IN municipal Improvement, and has
been active In the upbuilding Of silver
Spring, which f. one of the Maryland
communities which viii beneat by the
proposed water and sewer extension.
BEFORE the present project was
thought OF Senator Lee expended con.
siderable OF his private means in max.
Ing surveys and plans looking to an
his native town.
Necessity II Obvious.
"rhc necessity for the extension IN
OBVIOUS" said the Senator last night.
The District gets Its water original.
~ from Maryland, which Il couldn't
nave done without a grant from the
MARYLAND Legislature, and we, too.
must look ultimately to the Potomac
for our source OF supply.
Experts tell us that the Tina In
rspidly approaching when some sup
ply peyond that which driven wells
can furnish will be absolutely neces-
ssoy,d , ,,nn, no reason why. we
our streams such as Rock Creek,
ralnt Branch, Sligo Creek, and the
the Northwest Branch, when there lie
RIenty OF water available from the
o'stricts reservoirs at Great Falls
broad Viewpoint Needed.
TO duplicate or to parallel the Dis
tricts system would likewise be an
Unnecessary expense for Maryland TO
undertake., and the only sensible
thing is to adopt a broad viewpoint
and treat the problem along metro.
politan cooperative lines with the in.
terests and tho rights OF both Juris-
dictions In mind, just as similar SAM.
other cities, There 10 no reason for
comfy,
"similarly. all of the Maryland SAM.
.'s usuict naturally Grams toward
the city OF Washington, and the sen.
sible thing to do IL TO put tho Mary.
land sewage into the District sewers
instcsd OF into the District streams, |
as at present-making equitable. ar:
cost 70 the District for pumping at
tho District sewage pumping station. |
Questions Closely Related.
The two questions are closely re.
lated, and now that the legislation au.
thorizing tho extension OF tho District |
sewers to serve the Maryland com.
munities has been enacted, I have no
doubt that the Maryland delegation |
VIII cooperate 10 the fullest degree |
PC ssible In procuring tho water extern.
sion legislation at this session OF Con. |
Eress. ! personally shall do all In my
pew er 20 further the project as soon |
as the District Commissioners and the |
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com. |
mission agree upon the details as TO |
charges for the service"
Senator Lee referred 20 his efforts |
while q member OF the Maryland Sen. |
ate In behalf OF the project, which |
were continued by the Montgomery |
election TO the United States Senate, |
finally resulting at the last session OF |
tho Legislature in the creation OF the |
Washington suburban Sanitary Com
bill i@trodussa BY e D shs" Paul 81 w y.
Waters, OF Montgomery county. a |
close personal and political friend OF
Senator Lee.
The .st. Louis systen.-
The plan proposed by Senator Lee
while a member OF the Maryland
senate for the building OF sewers in
Maryland was what Is known as the
est Louis system" providing for he
assessment OF AUDITING property
owners by the front foot. Under IL
no bonds are necessary, a certificate
county authorities which Is assigned
10 the contractor and by him de
posted with bank as a certificate OF
deposit due him. The bank accepts
and discounts the certificate. which
bears interest. The debt In lien
upon the abutting property until paid.
Under the present Maryland law
the Washington suburban sanitary
commission Is empowered TO cause the
issuance OF bonds by the county In
which the construction is located, In
10 made, however. the commissions
power 10 issue bonds and make levies
upon the property benefited will have
20 be greatly extended.
Both the water and sewer extern
toriaiiy by The Times. 1.-The pub
licity which Is being given TO the mat,
ter 10 greatly to be desired" said
Senator Lee last night, for II Is es-
sential to the right solution OF a
problem so close to hte health OF both
Jurisdictions that public attention be
directed to II. II IL only by such
has |