Evening star., 1937-08-03
COLLINS SUPPORTS
MOVE TO PROTECT
D. c. SEWAGEP[ANT
Unexpected Backing Given
City Heads in Slaughter
House Problem.
BILL WOULD REGULATE
DISCHARGE OF WASTE
Measure Is Referred to Commit.
tee Which Killed Anti-Nuisance
Legislation.


new move in Congress TO protect
the Districts sewage disposal plant
at Blue Plains from overloads caused
by manufacturing or industrial wastes
gave the District Commissioners sup
port from an unexpected quarter to-
day as they prepared to deal with
some of the sewage problems forced
on them in connection with the pro-
posed Adolf Gobel slaughter house.
They found strong ally in Chair
man Collins of the House Subcommit-
tee on District Appropriations, who
introduced bill late yesterday au-
thorizing the Commissioners to regu-
late the discharge of industrial waste
into the new sewage system. HIS
support came entirely unsolicited
The Collins bill is in line with pro-
gressive legislation of this kind. it
was said, in at least a hundred cities
and covered by % State laws. COL
Inns own State of Mississippi is one
of those which seeks similar protec-
ton from industrial waste.
Public Health Report Sent.
Secretary Ickes last week proposed
to the Commissioners that the Gobel
firm might be made pay its burden
of any additional costs necessary to
treat its sewage in manner to pre-
vent pollution of the Potomac River.
He sent them Public Health Service
report showing that the Blue Plains
disposal plant is not now equipped
to handle the amount of extra waste
expected from the plans of the pro-
posed slaughter house.
Collins bill is designed to empower
the Commissioners TO deal with ex-
cessive industrial wastes in the man
ner that Chicago. New York, Buffalo
and many other industrial cities han
die it for the protection Of public
interests. It was referred to the Dis
trlct Committee, which recently
blocked the Norton anti-nuisance bill.
The bill would make it unlawful
for any person, firm, association or
corpora ton in possession of or con-
trolling or operating a manufacturing
on industrial plant to discharge into
the sewage system any waste matter
OF any nature resulting from the resi-
due of industrial or manufacturing
operations in excess of 30,00O,0OO GAL
Ions year.
The Commissioners would have
authority under the bill to allow
discharge of more than 30.O00,O0O
gallons upon reasonable terms and
conditions" including payment of
compensation to the District for con-
Veylng, pumping, treating and dis
posal Of the waste materials.
Chicago Regulation Studied.
The Collins bill probably vii, be re-
ferred to the Commissioners in the
| ordinary routine in a short While for
their recommendation. In advance
OF todays board meeting Corporation
Counsel ElWood Seal has been study
ing similar Chicago ordinance.
The Commissioners want to do
| all they can to help out in this sew
age situation Commissioner Hazen
said late yesterday. we are lust as
anxious to protect the citv's interests
as the citizens are themselves in this
| matter"
He said he expected to hear from
the Health and Sewer Departments
regarding the questions raised by the
lcKes letter in order to make formal
reply and determine if the District
government can do more than it has
already done in the present situation.
Engineer Commissioner Dan 1. Sui
tan had referred the Public Health
service report to the engineers in
cnarge OF the Blue Plains plant. He
said he did not know whether thev
would have information available for
today's meeting.
The District obtained s4l25,O 900
from the P. w. A. for the construc-
ton OF a primary plant, a method
Wnlcn gives only partial treatment
OF sewage. Under the terms 30 per
cent OF the contract cost of the sew
age plant will be donated" bv the
r. w. A., the District being required
TO repay the balance from local taxes
10 date it was said, the District gov
ernment has turned back s2,Ooo,ooo,
Early Reply Requested.
1t was chiefly to protect the bene-
fits of this investment that Ickes
called on the Commissioners to take
immediate steps to prevent pollution
from any excessive amount of waste
from the proposed Gobel slaughter
house. He requested an early reply
as to what they proposed to do.
Whether this reply would 20 for
ward today the Commissioners them
selves do not know.
1t was certain, however, that thev
Will give the Collins bill serious con-
slderation. 1t was possible that they
would endeavor to have the House
District Committee hold a hearing.
Inquiry developed that State laws
OF a nature similar to the Collins bill
are being enforced in Alabama.
Arizona, Arkansas. California, Con-
necticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois
Indiana. Iowa, Louisiana, MICHIGAN
Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ne
oraska, New Hampshire, New York
North Carolina, North Dakota, Ore
gon, South Carolina. South Dakota.
Iexas, Tennessee, Utah, Washington
I q