Evening star., 1919-12-08
ACTSFAVORAB[YON
D. c. WATER SUPPLY
COMMISSION BILL
Senate Committee Supports
House Measure for fnves-
tigation and Report.

The House bill authorizing the ap-
poIntment of a commission to inves,i-
gate and report upon the availa BILE
sources of water supply for the Dis
trlct of Columbia was ordered favor
the Senate District committee. The
action of the committee followed a
brief hearing in which it was set
forth that the limit of the present
water supply for the District has
nearly been reached and that a serious
situation may soon arise unless some
additional water supply is provided.
The Engineer Commissioner. Col.
Kutz: William T. Curtis, chairman of
the Washington suburban sanitary
commission. and Emory H. Bogley, a
member of the commission. appeared
to urge the committee to act favor
ably and without delay on the bill.
The bill provides for a commission
of five. three of whom shall be select
ed from the Engineer Corps of the
Army. one from the Washington sub
Urban sanitary commission. and one
from the engineering department of
the District of Columbia.
Its duty is to make full investiga-
ton of sources of water supply from
rivers and streams near Washington
and to report its findings at the
measure has passed both the Senate
and House in the past, but has never
become law. Notwithstanding the
need for developing further water
supplies for the District.
Former investigation Plan Failed.
The last time it passed the Senate
it was incorporated in the District ap-
preparation bill and at that time an
amendmenr was adopted extending the
n
of the proposal for a water power
project at Great Falls. The District
bill failed and in the end when it was
enacted into law in the special session
of Congress last summer. the item for
this investigation was left out
Senator Jones of Washington asked if
tnere was any reason why the investi-
cation of the power project should not
be included in this bill.
Col. kutz replied that he feared il
might cause delay at a time when it
is most necessary to provide for fur
ply for the District. He pointed out
that very full report in 1912 had
been made~by the Engineer Corps of
the Army on the power project. and
that it was still available
This caused Senator Jones to sug-
gest that If all the facts had been OBJ
tanned with regard to the power prof.
ect. it would not take long. if the new
commission was willing to accept
these facts, to frame report on the
power project. But Col. Kutz replied
that engineers as rule like to make
Investigations of their own before
recommending work to be done. He
said, too. that the great change in the
cost of materials and labor since 1912
might have strong bearing on any
project for water power at Great
Falls.
Gives Notice of Amendment.
Senator Jones said that while he did
not intend to offer such an amend
ment, an amendment extending the
investigation to cover the power pro-
ject might be offered on the floor. He
said that if the power project was
eventually to be adopted he thought it
should be considered in connection
with any increase in the water supply
for the District.
Col. Kutz said he thought the water
power project should be undertaken
by the government. but he laid stress
upon the need of immediate investi-
cation of increases in the water sup
be done to cause delay.
Urges Early Action by Congress-.
Mr.. Curtis pointed out that the
Maryland legislature is to meet this
winter, and that. as legislation re-
garding the development of the water
supply for the District may be neces-
sary, il was advisable for Congress
to act as soon as possible on the
pending bill. The Maryland legis-
lature meets only once in two years.
He and Col. Kutz told the committee
that the so-called Patuxent project
for increasing the water supply of
the District had been regarded IA
vorably by the engineers of the Army
and by the District Commissioners.
who preferred it to the two Potomac
river projects which have been sug-
SeSted.