Evening star., 1937-07-21
CITIZENS DEMAND
NEW FIGHT OVER
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
Foes Agree to Use Every
Legal Means to Prevent
Its Operation.
SEAL SEEKS SOLID BASIS
FOR LEGISLATIVE DRIVE
Others on Committee to Assist in
Solidifying Sentiment to Bar
Public Nuisances.

port the committee organizing a new
fight against the encroachment of
nuisance industries upon the National
Capital expressed a determination to-
day to use every legal means available
to prevent operation of the proposed
Adolf Gobel slaughter house in Ben
ming.
The decision was in effect the serv.
ice of public warning on the firm of
New York meat packers that it must
assume the responsibility of building
a slaughter house in Washington en-
tlrely at its own risk.
corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal,
who represented the Commissioners at
recent hearings on the anti-nuis-
ance bills, agreed to take charge OF
the legal phases of the campaign. He
Will begin series of conferences with
District and Federal officials to deter
mine what measures might be taken
TO protect the interests of the District,
Other members of the committee, it
was said, will assist in measures to
solidify public sentiment on behalf of
legislation barring undesirable indus
tries from the Capital City. Tbs
Whole situation was thoroughly dis.
cussed at tWo-hour conference yes.
terday in Seals Office.
Health Department Represented.
The District Health Department.
which would have the authority of
issuing or Withholding an operating
license for slaughter house. was rep
resented at the conference by DR.. Dam
lei Z. Slcklnger, assistant health officer.
Among others attending were
CHARLES F. Consaul, vice chairman of
the Committee of One Hundred on the
Federal City; Horace w. Peaslee, an
other member of the Committee of
One Hundred; Miss Harlean James.
executive secretary of the American
framing and Civic Association; How.
ard A. Gray director of the P. w. A.
Housing Division. which has properly
interests in Bennlng, and Charles Nil.
Ter, a legal officer of the P. w. A.
Meanwhile, an obscure 39-year-oId
law designed for protection Of fish in
the District of Columbia" was being
studied by Seal as a possible weapon
10 prevent operation Of the proposed
Gobel slaughter house.
Seal dug up the forgotten statuts
last night while looking into pollution
laws IN connection with a report
| prepared by Surgeon General Thomas
Parran Of the Public Health Service
lhS report, used as a basis for con-
| unulng the fight against nuisance in
| ousules in the District. warned that
olscharge from slaughter house in
the Benning area would pollute Plnev
Branch Run, small stream passing
through the Gobel site and emptvinr
into the Anacostia River.
Could Prevent Operation.
II this measure is found effective, 3"
seal said today, 1T might serve IN
prevent operation of the Gobel nIant
but could not be used to block con-
struction."
.lhe anti-pollution statute. which
was enacted by Congress in 1898, pro-
vides:
NO person shall allow any tar. oil,
ammonlacal liquor or other waste
pIooucts or any waste product
whatsoever Of any mechanical. manu-
lacturlng establishment or refining
establishment to flow into or be de-
posted In Rock Creek or the Potomac
river or any Of its tributaries within
the District of Columbia, or into anv
pipe or conduit leading to the same !"
Ihe advantage of such a law. Seal
pointed out today, is that it obviates
any action on the part of Congress.
| He pointed out that the Court of
Appeals IN upholding the act of 1929
oecloed that 1t was the intent of
congress not only to protect fish in
the Potomac and tributaries, but also
10 keep the water free from pollution.
The surgeon generals report points
70 possible pollution of Piney Branch
hun from slaughter house waste if
the Gooel plant is put into OPERA
tlon, Seal said today In that event
IL would seem that the old law could
be used to afford protection"
Back Companion Bills.
II there Is any possible way to In.
troduce new legislation or to secure
Senate action on the companion King
Dill, opponents of the slaughter house
gave assurances that this would be
done. The committee is making
further inquiries into the legislative
situation.
Members of the committee OF citi-
zens and officials were preparing today
to line up all the organizations that
assisted in former efforts in behalf
OF the anti-nuisance bills. Chief
among these organizations were the
Washington Board of Trade, the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations. ths
Southeast Council of Citizens Asso-
Citations, the Southeast Business Mems
Association, the District of Columbia
branch of the Federation OF Women 3
Clubs and numerous individual citi.
zens' associations.
Officials at the District Building
pointed out today that If the Gobel
Co. complies with all the require
ments for an operating license 1t cam
not be denied the right to operate in
Benning Since the building permit
was issued last April more knowledge
has come to light concerning the ef-
fects of sewage discharge. The Health
Department will require the firm to
show 1t can operate in conformity
with all health and sanitation rules
before final license is issued to 1t.