Evening star., 1938-10-06
POLLUTION LAW
PLANS WEIGHED
Committee Seeks Scheme
for Legislation States
Will Agree To-.

How best to draft legislation fol
purifying the entire Potomac River
basin which will be acceptable to the
legislatures Of the several States in
volved and to Congress, was the
problem today confronting the COM
pact committee for the Potomac
Valley Pollution Conference.
The committee yesterday held the
first meeting since organization, al
the Offices of its chairman, NJ O
Leighton, of the Washington Board
of Trade. The meeting was execu-
tive. Mr.. Leighton said afterwards
that several drafts of compact pro-
posal to be submitted to a meet
ing of the Potomac Valley Pollution
Conference the second week in No.
vember were considered.
The latest published report of the
National Resources Committee on the
cost Of pollution control in the basin
is $11, 100000, part to be paid by
the States and part by the Federal
Government. However, a new cost
estimate is in progress.
Originated in 1887.
The conference was launched as a
result of gathering in March, 1887,
sponsored by the National Resources
Committee and the Washington Board
of Trade, in which representatives of
Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Vir-
glnia, Virginia, the District and the
Federal Government discussed the
establishment of a Potomac Basin
Conservancy District. 1t was decided
at that time that pollution was the
first problem to attack. In August,
1887, President Roosevelt signed a
bill authorizing tire several States to
enter into compacts to further the
cause of the conservancy district.
Yesterdays discussion was the first
step in making these compacts actu-
alities.
Establishment of the conservancy
district will eventually entail flood
control, navigation, hydro-electric de-
velopment, water supply, drainage,
malaria control, beach erosion con-
troll, soil conservation and wildlife
conservation. Steps have already been
taken locally on all these problems
but it is hoped to effect their solu-
ton on an interstate basis so that
duplication and too localized planning
will not result.
P. w. A. Project Is Boon.
BY far the most important step
yet taken in actually controlling pol
luton is the earmarking of $5,477 900
in loans and grants from the Public
Works Administration, to be spent
during next year for pollution abate-
ment in the National Capital.
Serving on the committee with
Mr.. Leighton are H. E. Moses of the
Pennsylvania Department of Health,
DIR. I. c. Riggin of the Virginia Health
Commission, E. S. Tisdale, chief engi-
neer of the West Virginia Health De-
partment, and George l.. Hall, acting
chief engineer of the Maryland De-
partment of Health.
Others attending the meeting were
c. F. Browning, chief engineer of
the District of Columbia Health De-
partment, in an ex officio capacity;
I. M. Glace, consulting engineer of
the National Resources Committee,
loaned to the committee in an advis-
sorry capacity; Ralph E. Tarbett, chief
engineer of the United States Health
Service; DR.. H. E. Reilly, Maryland
State Health Commission; Mayor
Coons Of Cumberland, Nd, and Har-
old Merrill. assistant executive of the
National Resources Committee. Rich
ard Messer OF the Virginia State
Health Commission represented his
State on the committee in the absence
of DR.. Riggin.