Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17

The object of the bill, Representative
Halves explained, is to preserve from
destruction as fish and game con-
sentative measure a tract of land and
water which is the chief source of
national supply for black bass and
other game fish replacement: The
property is to be acquired by the
United States and placed under the
culture and the Secretary of Commerce.
The purchase Is to be made by the
Secretary of Agriculture. subject to
the approval Of the legislatures of
Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Mime
sofa.
This bill is sponsored by national
organization known as the 1zaak Wal
ton League Of America. Its total
it is moving toward its goal of 2.O00,-
900 members. The original draft of
this bill was prepared by Judge ]. NJ.
Dickinson, ex-Secretary of War and a
constitutional lawyer of ability. His
work was. reviewed. commended and
has devoted SO much of his time to the
great Natural Geographic Society, both
as director and as counsel.
Hearings on this proposed bill were
held last week before the House
committee on agriculture. at which
many prominent men from all Sec
tons of the country were present.
The importance of this measure upon
the future bird and fish life of the
country Is SO great that the commit
tee gave three days to consideration
of the bill, last Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday being devoted to hearing
the arguments of men, who have de-
voted many years to the study OF just
such things. 1t is understood that the
committee were so favorab.y ipress-
ed with the testimony given that they
personally thanked the principal
speakers for coming before the COM
mittee.
Must Stop Pollution.
There are two things the federal
government must do to preserve fish
and game. II the next generation is
to enjoy these privileges, and that is
bill for this great "big outdoors" and
to stop pollution Of our inland waters.
And it is only by federal control that
these two big things can be accom-
plished. The pollution of water from
oil and gas burning boats has now
become an international question, and
the people of two hemispheres are
considering means of dealing with
ships which use liquid fuel.
The danger from oil, lies not only
human life and property through the
risk of fire in docks and harbOrs
The danger from fire started by oil
was first brought home to under
writer's by series Of disastrous
CONGREGATIONS, the first of which took
place in America. England was visit
ed by a demonstration of the danger
however. not long after America
The wooden piles of the docks be-
come soaked by the gradual infiltra-
lions of OIL. Then red-hot rivet or
perhaps a cigar or a cigarette acct
dentally or carelessly dropped in the
water suffices to set a whole harbor
in flames.
Cure Is Suggested.
The United States Fire Underwrit-
erS' Association suggests that the
danger could be handled by the crea-
ton of sludge dumps, where the oil
from ships could be deposited on land
England also is planning to consider
legislation to handle the difficulty
created by this new development in
modern commerce, and series OF
new penalties are planned as deter
rents to fndiscriminate loosing of oil
in British waters.
If the fishermen in Congress, OF
whom there are quite large number
on both sides, would band together
and commence a concerted effort to
get this legislation enacted into law
1t would not be very long before
tangible results would be seen, and
sigh of relief would go up from
thousands OF people including hun.
tiers. anglers and bathers, for it is
reported that at some places along
our coast and even in the Chesapeake
bay the beaches have been so filled
with oil that the bathing had to be
stopped.