The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-08-23
National Body Having That Aim
Backs SiIzer Plan, Note to
Resort Mayor Says.
LEGISLATION IS REVIEWED
Crop Conditions Better in State After
Relief in Drought - Sweet Corn
and Potatoes Poor, Peaches
Good in Farm Report.

/ nc 4NdLlOud1 AOd5L ALI
h-Pollution League has rendered its
service toward ending the pollution
Of the New Jersey coast by the dump
| ing of garbage along nearby shores
and oil refuse discharged from steam
ers.
In behalf of the league Secretary
H. Phinney has written to Mayor
Clarence Hetrick of Asbury Park, Of
fering to cooperate in making effec-
tive the suggestions recently made
| by Governor Silzer, but suggesting
that the oil waste nuisance presents
30 serious problem as to require in
ternational agreements Mr.. Phinney
wrote in part as follows:
Governor Silzer's six suggestions
of definite steps to take to secure re-
lief are very much to the point, and
we offer fullest cooperation liz bring
ing them 10 pass. We will help you
arrange New Jersey regional meet
| ing. We ourselves are arranging a
Long Island meeting, the time and
place to be settled within a few days.
You will note that five of the COVER
nor's six points cover pollution from
garbage and one deals with pollution
by oil from steamships. The garbage
trouble is relatively a transient con-
dition and by taking the steps out
lined by the governor can no doubt be
cleared up.
Oil Problem Complex
"The pollution by oil, however, is a
more fundamental, permanent and
universal difficulty, involving techni-
cal legislative and international ques-
tions that are by no means simple of
solution. The problem is growing
rapidly in extent with the rapid in
crease in the use of oil burners by
steamships. Only a permanent and
universal solution will give real salts
faction.
THE oil pollution problem is one
important phase of the great ques-
sources for the use and enjoyment of
the public. From all over the country
this Office is receiving complaints of
tar and oil on bathing beaches, with
consequent financial losses, the de-
NAL to the public of pleasurable
recreation and even serious damage
to health from bathing in polluted
waters, as was pointed out by DR..
Royal S. Copeland, health commits
| sioner of New York, at the January,
1922, convention of the New Jersey
State League of Municipalities. We
also receive reports of the destruc-
ton over wide areas of the oyster
and fish industries and of game birds,
not to mention disastrous harbor
fires resulting from tar coated piers
and wharves.
There has been general agree
ment, both at the congressional hear
ings in 1921 and at our 1922 confer
ence, that any satisfactory remedy
for oil pollution conditions necessi-
tates federal legislation directed
against oil dumping within the three
mile limit. international agreements
prohibiting the same beyond the
three mile limit, uniform municipal
and state legislation to the same end,
and to secure those ends without I'M
due burden on steamship companies
we need the fullest technical infor-
nation as to suitable devices for TAX
ing care of refuse oil.
Legislative Situation
"Our conference year ago indors-
ed the Frelinghuysen-Appleby bill,
which, you know, passed the senate,
| but narrowly failed of passage in the
house in spite of our vigorous help.
That bill would have gone long way
toward bringing relief. We have Sc
cured the promise of Senator Wads-
worth of New York to reintroduce the
bill this year and support it strongly.
The Appleby joint resolution, which
passed both houses, requested the
secretary of state to call an interna-
tional conference to discuss and
frame international agreements
against oil dumping.
"In preparation for the conference
the United States Bureau of Mines
mas been making an extended investi-
CATION OF conditions along the entire
coast of the country and will shortly
submit its report There can be no
doubt that the steamship companies
realize the gravity of the situation
that they have created and will take
steps to abate the same, for both the
American Petroleum Institute and the
American Steamship Owners Associ-
alton co-operated with the Bureau OF
Mines in making this study.
.sThe present situation, then, Is
chat we need remedial federal and in
ternational legislation. and we need
Joint action to secure the passage OF
such legislation. We need public ed
ueation in the matter and exchange
of knowledge and experience both IN
this country and in foreign countries.
To meet this need a second confer
ence of the National Coast Anti-Pol-
tuition League is now being organ
lied, which will be held in Haddon
Hall, Atlantic City, October 1, and
8. we are already assured the at
tendance of many prominent dele