Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-23
WATER POWER BILL
REPORTED IN HOUSE
Mothers Aid Measure Also
Is Approved by Assem-
bly, Committee.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
star Correspondent Of the star.

RICHMOND, Va, January 49,
Northern Virginia legislators were sue
cessful yesterday in having two meas
ures reported from the committee on
general laws of the House of Delegates
and are now ready to seek their passage
on the floor. The FIRST of these Is the
bill to create 3 commission to protect
VtrgDlia's interests in proposed Potomac
River water power development and the
second a resolution having as its aim
the putting int effect OF the mothers
aid act.
The proposed water power commits
sion. as explained by Hugh Reid of Ar
hngton, one Of the sponsors, would be
formed for the purpose of negotiating
with the Federal Government and the
States Of Maryland and West Virginia.
Study for 80 Years.
For 30 years. Reid said. the Federal
Government has been making q study
of the possibilities of various kinds Of
development along the Potomac River
and these plans, because of the
geographical situation that exists with
respect to State lines, threatens the
exclusion Of Virginia in the ultimate
result
Virginia, he explained, has no share
the lines Of the District of Columbia
and Maryland run to the high-water
mark on Virginia'S side. The State,
however, should be and Is intensely In
tereSted in her shores, Reid declared,
for 1t would be necessary to carry the
erection of any dams or other similar
construction to Virginia,s shores. It
would also be possible for thousands of
acres of Virginia soil, hundreds Of
homes and many miles of highways and
railroads in the State to be completely
submerged by the erection of certain
dams that have been suggested, he exc
planned.
The commission, which has the
approval Of Gov. John Garland Pollard,
would consist of highly trained State
of11cials or employees who could make q
careful study of the Federal Govern
ment's plans and be in a position to
protect Virginia's interests when the
occasion for such action becomes neces-
sary. The governor would be an ex-
ofncio member of the commission and
the attorney general ex-of1icio legal
adviser. The governor would be en-
powered to take advantage of any legal
or engineering facilities made avail.
able by State institutions.
Mothers Aid.
The mothers aid resolution, which
was offered by j. p. Jones, Richmond.
with Reid as co-SponsOr, calls upon the
board of public welfare of the State
to furnish information as to the ma
chinery needed to put into effect State
aid to the counties and cities that have
taken advantage Of the mothers aid
bill. which was passed several years
ego.
The purpose OF the measure il ulti-
mately to procure State appropriation
refunding to the counties and cities
one-third of their expenditures under
the bill now on the statute books.
While the present law was enacted
in 1922, it has been wholly imperative
insofar as the State government is
concerned because of q lack of appro-
priation. The system Of mothers aid
through local taxation has been applied
in only two counties, Arlington and
Wise, and one city, Richmond. It has
been operative in Arlington since
shortly after the passage of the act.
but as yet the entire expense has been
shouldeEed by the county.
Civic Bodies Active.
The organized women voters, various
parent-teacher associations and other
civic organizations In Arlington County
have been long seeking an appropriation
that would assist local authorities in the
care of the women and children whose
maintenance is dependent wholly or in
part upon the county government and
are backing Reid in his attempt to have
the necessary funds included in the
budget.
The state act is for the purpose OF
preventing the breaking up Of homes
where the father is dead or ineapaci-
tated by making cash allowances t.
enable mothers to bring up their chill.
dren In their homes instead OF confininl
them in institutions. The city or eoun.
ty welfare board makes the allowances