Evening star., 1937-07-22
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
FACES TIGHTENING
OF SEWER CODE
Seal Seeks Weak Spots for
Revision as Protective
Measure.
OLD LAW MAY BLOCK
LICENSE TO OPERATE
Anti.Pollution Statute Could B..
Invoked in Violations, Says
Corporation Counsel.

Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Sea,
declared today. there was an apparent
need OF oyerhauling local plumbing
ana sewer regulations with a view to
Tightening them up" as a protec-
tive measure against the threat Of
large scale slaughter house and stock
yards operations in Benning. which
District officials still are trying to
block.
He said he would take steps TO ey-
anime existing regulations in order
10 ascertain any weak holes" that
might require the attention of the
Commissioners.
seal reminded that the neglect OF
the zonlng regulations over a period of
II years had left the District practi-
cally at the mercy of the Adolf Gobel
Co, the New York meat packers to
which the Commissioners finally were
compelled to issue a building permit.
He indicated that the District would
not be caught mapping" again.
The Public Health Service report
on the slaughter house plans forced
pubic attention to possible pollution
OF Plney Run, which flows through
the Gobel site in Benning and emp
ties into the Anacostia stream. Seal
dug up a 39-year-old statute which
ne believes would be effective in with.
holding an operating permit or with
drawing such permit if pollution
from the slaughtering plant is shown,
Seal Says Law Plain.
Seal said today that if the issuance
OF an operating license to the Gobel
Co. comes to a head he will advise
the Commissioners to withhold or re-
fuse 1t if there is any indication that
waste from the slaughter house would
pollute Piney Run or the Anacostia
River. The law is plain in its inten.
tons. ne explained, and could be in.
voked.
1t provides fine of $40 or not moro
than sl00 for every day of violation.
or imprisonment for not more than
SIX months if the fine or fines ara
not paid
There was danger also. Seal re.
minded. that the "overloading" of
the Districts s4,l25, 900 sewage dis
posal plant by excessive slaughter
house waste might make it necessary
TO build secondary treatment sys-
TEN. An extension of this kind, he
said, would cost nearly 100000, a
prohlbitive price under the existing
state OF the Districts finances.
Because OF the early operation OF
the disposal plant, the corporation
counsel said that every precaution
should be taken at this time TO bring
the seWer.regulations up to date. The
coming regulations were not overhauled
to provide safeguards against nuisance
industries Of all kinds, until after the
Gooel building permit was issued. 1t
was a case. officials said then. of
locking the stable door after the horse
was stolen"
To Confer With Senators.
Seal said that he would endeavor
TO consult today with Chairman King
OF the Senate District Committee
and Senator McCarran of Nevada on
the anti-nuisance bill, which is still
actually before subcommittee. SEN
ator McCarran was the chairman that
held hearings for several DAYS last
May.
1t Is the purpose of the corporation
counsel to get the subcommittee
consent to reopen the hearings. which
were not completed. either before thc
session closes or during the Summer
recess.
The action Of Chairman Palmisano
yesterday in suspending further re-
gular meetings of the House District
Committee killed final hope of reviving
the antl-nuisance bill, which had been
strangled effectively in committee. The
only hope Of completing the record of
the public hearings, Seal said. now
rests with the McCarran subcommittee
or the full Senate committee.
Seal said he wanted an opportunity
to cross-examine Frank NJ Firor. presi-
dent OF the Gobel Co., on the undis-
closed financial arrangements involved
in the purchase of the site in Benning
Firor was not president of the Gobel
Co at the time of the Senate hearing.
but the former president of the firm
had intended to testify before it ended.
Firor made a statement to the House
committee which only went partially
into the financial transaction involved
1t is important, in Seals opinion,
to get at the bottom of the matter,
since the Gobel firm first claimed a
81 400, 900 investment in Benning, but
finally told the House committee it
would be satisfied with 100000
compensation if driven out of Wash
ington.