Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-03
KEITH BILL URGES
RIVER COMMISSION
Proposal of Fairfax Body to
Go Before Next Legis-
Iature.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX, Va. January 3.-Creation
Of a Potomac River Commission" by
the State Legislature at the session
which opens Wednesday will be urged
by the Fairfax County Chamber Of
Commerce, according to Thomas r.
Keith Of Fairfax. Keith, who was APP
pointed chairman Of a special commit
tee of the chamber to study the de-
velopment of the water power rights OF
the Potomac, particularly as they affect
Fairfax County and the State OF Viz
ginia. has drawn up bill which will
be introduced by Senator Ball and
Delegate Freeman after it has received
the endorsement of the full board of
directors at the meeting in Vienna
January IA.
The special committee appointed to
deal with this situation, Messers Thomas
Keith, M. E. Church, A. Smith Bowman,
Douglas Mackall. John Rooney and
Thurlow White, will meet Monday after
noon in the Chamber of Commerce office
to discuss the specific provisions Of the
bill and methods to be used in pushing
it before the legislature.
The proposed bill as outlined by Keith
is modelled after the Arizona act dealing
with the Boulder Dam situation. Keith
points out that the situation here Is
very similar to that at Boulder Dam,
the States Of Virginia, Maryland, West
Virginia and the Federal Government
all possessing certain claims and rights
to the development of this river.
The bill calls for commission of
three appointed by the governor, with
the governor as an ex oficio member,
the terms Of ONCE of members to run
concurrently with the governorship, but
members to hold ONCE until their sue
cesSors are appointed. It would be the
duty Of this commission to negotiate
with accredited representatives of the
other States affected with q view to
effecting an equitable agreement re-
specting the ALLEGATION of the waters of
the Potomac and its tributaries and
other benefits to be derived from the
development of the river and respecting
all matters relating To the rights of the
State of Virginia or any Of its citizens.
Any agreements entered into by this
commission will be subject to approval
by the General Assembly and approved
oy the governor and by the Federal Con-
gress.
Chairman Would Be Chosen.
The bill directs that the commission
shall meet Immediately upon its crea-
chairman, and one as secretary, both to
serve without compensation. The gov
ernor is requested to notify the Cover
nors Of Maryland and West Virginia
and the President of the United States
Of the creation Of such q commission
and endeavor to secure as soon as pos
sible meetings with similar accredited
representatives of the other units. The
Attorney General of Virginia is named
q o 80 Nfte AAvs
with the right to hire special assistants
or experts as may be necessary. En-
ployment OF engineers to investigate and
report on any engineering problems rel
alive to the Potomac River, available
and logical dam sites for flood control
or the creation Of hydro-electric power
over the waters Of the Potomac and its
tributaries is also authorized.
The commission is authorized in the
proposed bill to open an ONCE, employ
clerical help and issue and distribute
form the public Of such facts with re-
spect to Virginia's rights and interests
in the Potomac River, as in its judg-
ment will advance the development of
that river.
In view Of the fact that an emer-
gency exists in order that the impor-
tant duties with which this commission
will be intrusted should be executed
without delay the bill asks that It be
enforced from its passage.
The Fairfax County Chamber of
Commerce has for the past three or
four years gone on record consistently
as in favor Of water-power develop
ment at Great Falls and on the Pc.
tomac. Opinion repeatedly expressed
by directors and members points out
that such development is quite con-
sistent with the maintenance Of the
beauties and the park site develop
ment of the Potomac River gorge and
environs of Washington.