Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-25
Mund+ Bill
Curbs Stream
Pollution
Once Passed by House,
Died in Conference
WASHINGTON, D. c..
Feb. 26. 1871.

y hNNCAaf NrNas
My Dear Mr.. Hearst:
I RECALL that you and your
great newspaper organization
have from time to time taken
an active stand against the
pernicious practice Of unneces-
sarily polluting the public
waters of America.
1t is because of this interest
which you have manifested in a
program of clean streams, that
l am writing you this letter 10
inform you that / am introduce
ing in the House Of Representa-
tives a pollution control bill
which l hope will supply a de-
ficiency which has too long ex-
isted in the legislative structure
Of America.
| hope that the legislation
which i am about 10 introduce
will merit and secure the sup
port of your newspapers. and.
especially, the support of your
own editorial pen now that you
are so impresSively conducting a
newspaper column Of your own.
IN THE last session Of Con-
L gress. Senator Barley intro
duced a bill on the subject OF
pollution which provided for
studies and Investigations of ex-
isting pollution but failed 10 pro-
vide any corrective remedies
To that bill, | succeeded In
having added. in the House OF
Representatives. an amendment
which set up barriers against
new sources Of pollution I'm the
navigable waters of America.
The Senate rejected my amend
ment but on a roll call the House
insisted on continuing it,.
After the bill was returned 10
the Senate for a second time
with my regulatory amendment
against new sources Of pollution,
the bill died in conference.
The bill which / am about 10
introduce continues the provi-
Slons Of my former amendment
against the introduction of new
sources Of pollution in the pub
lie waters of America.
1t includes the provisions of
Senator Barkeys bill providing
for necessary studies and inves-
legations, it facilitates the bor-
rowing of federal funds for WPA
and other projects correcting
the pollution evil. and unlike
any other bill on the subject
II sets up standards OF purity
and legislates against the VIOLA
ton OF standards by either mu-
inequalities or private industries.
IN ORDER not 10 approach the
L subject too drastically, / pro-
vide for a division of water poll
luton control before which mu-
inequalities and industries must
show cause as 10 why they
shall be permitted 10 pollute
the waters.
II. because Of financial bur-
denS, a city cannot Immediately
correct It's pollution. il can Sc
cure the necessary extensions Of
tune from this division of water
pollution control provided its
case is sound. Similarly. whore
presently known pollution con-
troll processes are unavoidable
or excessively expensive. an in
dustry can secure extensions of
time on making a justifable
case before this same board.
My bill. however, places the
responsibility of proving the
necessity of continued pollution
upon the polluters themselves.
FINALLY, in order not 10 run
L into conflict with our defense
program. my new bill contains
the following language in Sec
ton 13.
mo provisions OF this act ap-
plying to industrial pollution
shall be applicable during the
present emergency when the
secretary Of war Tor the secre-
tary OF navy shall have cer-
tilted that speedy and uninter-
rupted production by such In
dustry or industries IL vital 10
Americas national defense pro-
gram and that the enforcement
Of such provisions would be in
compatible with expeditions
progress OF the national defense
program"
This gives you a brief sum-
mary of the purposes and provi-
sion OF the bill / have prepared
and Will soon introduce. / hope
that this move 10 clean I'D the
public waters of America will
have the support of both your
personal position and the edi-
torials of your powerful periodi-
Gals.
With all good wishes. / am,
Cordially yours,
KARL MUNDT.
NJ. c. South Dakota.
p. s. As a postscript i would
like TO point OUT that purifica-
ton of our public waters is a
practical form Of national IL