Evening star., 1937-08-15
COLLINS TO PRESS
FOR LEV|ES IN USE
OF SEWAGE PLANT
Bill Would Allow District to
, Exact Payments From
Industries.
OTHER CITIES SUCCESS
WITH IDEA POINTED OUT
More Equitable Distribution of
Expenses Is Motive Be-
hind Measure.

Failure OF efforts to stop erection
OF slaughter house In Washington
drew from Representative Collins of
Mississippi Yesterday plea for pas
sage of legislation empowering the
District to exact payment from ir-
dustries for any excessive use made OF
its new $4,l25 900 sewage treatment
plant.
Collins. who introduced such a
measure recently, indicated he would
lead a determined fight for its en-
actment at the next session of Con-
gress. New York, Chicago and many
other cities have adopted this theory
successfully. he pointed out "and it
Is equally applicable to Washington.
AS chairman of the House APP
preparations Subcommittee for the
District. Collins approved a s2l6,oo0
appropriation for the maintenance Of
the Blue Plains sewage plant during
the 1888 fiscal year Estimated sewage
from the proposed Adolf Gobel
slaughter house. officials have con-
tended. would add an overload Of
approximately 80 per cent of the
capacity of the treatment works,
necessitating. perhaps, the construc-
ton of additional units.
Support in Both Houses.
The Collins bill. which would au-
thorize the Commissioners to levy a
charge on industrial sewage in excess
of 30,000000 gallons year for any
no iy hnt
BY the time the Gobel plant is sup
posed to be placed in operation, Con-
gress will then be in session. Sewage
problems of this nature were made a
subject Of thorough study by District
sanitary engineers m preparing a re-
port for the Commissioners.
His motive in sponsoring the pend
ing bill. Collins said, was to set up
more equitable distribution of the
expense of providing the District of
Columbia with sewage facilities.
He called it to the attention OF the
House in the appendix of the Record
yesterday with the following explana-
ton:
THE theory underlying this bill is
ttldJ lIlCIc SIUdlu LU no ulSCI If1illd klOll
because Of the effect Of regulations
either in favor OF or against users of
the District sewage facilities. The
broad theory upon which this bill
rests is that payment should be made
for the use of such facilities in pro-
portion to use The legislation au-
thorizes the District Commissioners
to take such steps as they may find
necessary within their discretion to
accomplish this end
without Special Privilege.
THE theory that municipality
should be empowered to secure equita-
BILE distribution of the costs Of such
utility as sewage service, without
special privilege to any favored party
or parties at the expense of others,
through being authorized to charge for
the privilege of discharging sewage
into the municipal sewage system is
not original with H. R. 8lO3. That
bill only represents a belated reogni-
ton of that theory here-a recognition
due in large measure at this partic-
ular time to the impending compile
ton Of the Districts new sewage dis
posal plant. which was made possible
by Public Works Administration
allotment.
AS this fine new plant goes into
operation it is time for the District
to protect itself The District tax
payers are going to pay for the plant,
and 1t seems to me that this large
group of persons would not wish to be
assessed for any special privilege or
special use for the commercial benefit
OF favored parties. This theory has.
already been successfully adopted in
Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, New York,
and many other municipalities and it
Is equally applicable to Washington.
Adopted in 30 States.
L am informed that mere hasty
review Of the enabling legislation
which embraces the theories of H. r.
S1o3 reveals that 30 States have adopt
ed legislation authorizing public bod
les therein to charge for the privi-
lege of discharging sewage into public
sewage disposal systems.
These States are Alabama, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mime
sofa. Mississippi, Montana, Nebras-
ka, New Hampshire, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon,
South Carolina. South Dakota, Ten
nessee. Texas, Utah, Virginia. WASH
ington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Furthermore. it should be noted
that in most of these States the en-
abling legislation goes ever further
than H. R, 8l03. for in many of
these States the rates to be charged
must be sufficient to retire the obliga-
tions issued to finance he cost of the
sewage-disposal system or plant"
Meanwhile. construction of the Go
bel plant was proceeding at the site
on Benning road under District in
spection. A full crew was expected
to be put to work beginning tomor-