Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-24
FIGHT IS LAUNCHED.
TO ABOLISH DUMPS.
AT D. c. GATEWAYS.
Southern Entrances to Cap
itaI Marred by UnsightIy
Debris.
ARLINGTON CITIZENS
WILL MEET ON MONDAY
Law Now on Statute Books Ruled
Legal-Proposed Ordinance
Opposed.
BY ANGUS GREEN.

BY ANGUS GREEN.
Approaches to the National Capital
from the South for many years have
been married by burning, odorous. un-
slightly refuse dumps, from which.
hour after hour. through day and
night, comes clouds of smoke which
screen the roads leading to the High
way and Memorial Bridges, the en-
frances to the District.
When the winds are in the right
direction the pillows of smoke roll
over the Memorial highway and other
roads, creating a dangerous screen,
hazardous to traffic. At other times.
tourists approaching the city are
faced with unsightly piles of debris, in
sharp contrast to the beautiful seem
cry of Potomac Park on the other
shore.
For years those charged with the
duty of identifying the National Cap
ital have worked in vain to have this
nuisance eliminated. 1t can be
viewed at considerable distance from
the northern terminus of the Mount
Vernon Memorial highway.
Citizens Aroused.
Arlington's citizenry Is preparing to
move against these unsightly projects.
about which they, too, have COM
planned for years. A public hearing
is to be held at the Arlington County
Court House Monday night on pro-
posed ordinance regulating these eye
sores.
Having been girding themselves for
battle for some time, opponents of the
obnoxious and unsightly menaces"
hope to fan public indignation to the
action point by Monday, so that
definite decision can be forced from
the county officials without further
delay.
Spokesman were quick to point out
that adoption of the proposed ordi-
nance will not in itself cure the
dumping evils, for the ordinance
merely prohibits something which is
already prohibited by law.
4LCoC SpOkCSkllcu ildtC CApl CoSco
the sentiment that the enforcing of
the law as 1t stands on the statute
books will abolish dumps quicker
than any new ordinance which the
County Board may adopt.
Law Held Valid.
This opinion was supported by the
fact that the present law prohibiting
dumps has been held valid and con-
stitutional by the Supreme Court of
Appeals, whereas any new ordinance
is susceptible to court attack. which
may delay action on the matter for
several years.
The case of j. H. Houser was cited
in this connection. HouSer operates
the dump on Cemetery road between
RoSSlyn and Memorial Bridge.
The County Board instructed Com
monwealth's Attorney Lawrence w.
Douglas to proceed against him and
take whatever action is necessary to
stop the burning dump" This action
was taken by the board on June 10.
1882. Since that time until June of
last year the case has been tied up
in the courts. However, on June 10,
1884, the Supreme Court of Appeals
upheld Houser's conviction in the
lower court and ruled that the ordi-
nance was constitutional.
Fight New Ordinance.
Asserting that the proposed ordin-
Rnce, if adopted, will give HouSer
and the other operators of dumps the
right to attack its validity, as the ex-
isting law was attacked, opponents of
the dumps state that they are going
to fight vigorously any move by the
board to accept the proposed ordi-
nance. To this end they are endeavor-
ing to bring with them Monday night
as many residents and influential Cit
liens as possible for the purpose of
beating down the move to- delay the
abolition of dumps"
Storms of protest have been raised
from time to time against the prac-
tice Of hauling all manner of rub
Dish and junk into the county from
Speakers have denounced
it at civic association meetings and
the denunciations have always been
popular with the audiences, it Is point
ed out.
In addition to the bringing in of
rubbish from outside the county, which
they particularly object to, citizens
also strenuously object to the loca-
ton of the dumps and the "noxious
smoke and fumes" which emanate
from them.
Persons committing to Washington
daily have periodically joined the fight
because the dumps are located on the
main thoroughfares leading to the
Capital. On the other hand, attack
has been launched in behalf of tour"
lists who enter Virginia from WASH
ington and, according to the COM
plant. "are subjected to the horrible
sight of burning dumps the moment
they arrive IN Virginia"
Fees for Dumping.
The dumps are located at the end
of Highway Bridge just opposite the
airport, on the Alexandria road, and
ou OcHieUcTy TOdu UeCWeeu rOSolyu
and Memorial Bridge.
Operators of the dumps are paid
fees, generally Is cents a load, to
dump the waste and rubbish on the
lots. As many as $50 truck loads
have been deposited on the dumps In
one day by stores and trash men.
The majority of these, it is admitted,
come from Washington.
A special committee appointed by
the County Board will conduct the
public hearing Monday night. It Is
composed of Lawrence w. Douglas,
County Manager Roy S. Braden and
P. M. Chichester, county health officer
Questioned about whether permits
have been issued to the operators of
the dumps, Braden and Dr. Chichester
declared no permits have been issued.
Chichester stated that he had issued
one several years ago, but that it
had been revoked by him. Braden
stated that he had notified the OPP
orators that they were maintaining
dumps contrary to law.