Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-09
DRIVE |SLAUNCHED
T0GETEMERGENCY
FALLSLEG|SLAT|ON
Board of Trade Takes lnltIa-
tive in Kidding District OF
Water Menace.
APPROPRIATION TO BEGIN
TYLER PLAN is SOUGHT
Weller Sees Senators and ASKS
Advice for Steps to Get Action
This Session.

Preliminary efforts looking toward
obtaining an emergency approprla-
ton at this session of Congress 1or
increa sing the District water supply
were started today at the Capitol by
the Washington Board of Trade.
The, boards action previously had
received the informal sanction OF
Sec0etary of War Baker. When IN
formed this morning by reporter
for The Star that the trade body
would endeavor to have an item put
in the sundry civil bill in the Senate
to begin immediate construction OF an
additional conduit from Great Fails
as proposed by Maj. Tyler of the
Corps of Engineers of the Army.
Secretary Baker said any action 10
hasten such a project would reileve
a very serious situation.
The Secretary Indicated 1t might De
safely assumed that the Federal
Power Commission, of which he is
cha irman, would recommend to Con-
gress favorable action on the Tyler
power development and water supply
report, which ii is now considering
The decision of the Board of Trade
to urge immediate action by Congress
was reached yesterday at meeting
OF it's water supply committee. mead
ed by Francis X. Weller. After con-
Ierring with President Bradley of
the board Mr.. Weller conferred at the
Senate today with Senator Jones as
TO the prospects of obtaining action
through an amendment to the sundry
civil biH.
Senator Jones expressed the opin-
ion that the best plan would be to
take the matter up in connection with
the deficiency bill. as he believed the
time too short properly to present the
matter to the Senate for consideration
as a part of the sundry civil bill.
Mr.. Weller also conferred with Sena-
tor RansdelI, who declared the situa-
ito? is of such seriousness that 1t
should be brought 10 the attention of
the District appropriation subcom-
mittee of the Senate with the request
that it be handled as emergency legis-
lation.
TO See Maryland Senator.
After his conferences with Senators
Jones and Itans3eH Mr. Weller ar
RANGED an apo in tnae q t. fcre.tsulorrows
with Senator Smith of Maryland. e.
mem ber Of the Senate District conn
mittee- He will ask the Maryland
member for his advice as to the be5,t
course to follow in calling the Sem
ate's attention to the Importance of
taking action at this session TO pro-
tect Washington against a break
down of its water works system.
The Federal Power Commissions
report. which Secretary Baker is now
writing, is expected TO be adopted by
the commission at its meeting next
Monday, and probably will be trans
mitted to Congress in tirpe for con-
sideration as an emergency measure
Inasmuch as any amendment to the
Bundry civil or deficiency oils author
tzing a start on the TylSr piarS would
be subject to a point of order Mr.
Wc11ay. nd ~ nj Of Do Il
of Trade today inclined strongly to
the belief that the best procedure
would be to seek an emergency bill
from the Senate appropriations SUBJ
committee of the District
Must Get Action Now.
1t is believed that this may not
be difficult TO accomplish after the
reaches Congress. The report is ex-
pected to show that delay in starting
the work would be to invite disa ster
There will be no suniry civil bill or
regular appropriation bills at the
opening session of the new Congress-
authorizes am Inauguration Of work
on the Tyler scheme. a years delay
may result. il is feared.
The principal facts which will be
called to the attention of the Senate
are these:
That the present single conduit sup
plying the city with water is not only
taxed to its safe capacity but is so
constantly in use that it cannot be
emptied for repairs.
That any serious break in the con-
duit. which could not be repaired in
two or three days would leave Wash
ington absolutely without a water
supply.
Maj. Tyler. in his report estimated
that an additional conduit could be
built to Great Folis and an additional
filtration plant constructed on the
Daiccarlia reservation in about two
and half years. Mr.. Weller and
other civil engineers Of the District
believe that much longer time will
be required for the work