Evening star., 1948-04-19
Pennsylvania Plans
Pollution Breakdown,
Gov. Duff Warns
by the Asseeiatsd Press

HARRISBURG, Pa, April i9-
Gov. Dun said today his administers
ton win crack down hard on any
group or groups trying to block
Pennsylvania's drive to clean up its
streams.
If It is necessary to get tough.
we are going to get as tough as it
is necessary to get" Gov. Dun told
the Interstate Commission Of the
Potomac River Basin at the opening
Of its two-day sessions here.
The commission Is composed OF
Representative Of Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland,
the District Of Columbia and the
Federal Government. It was set
up to handle pollution problems Of
the Potomac River.
Defiance Comes From Minority.
Most industries, Gov. Duff said,
are collaborating with the State In
| its long-range program to end pollu-
ton of public waters. Hundreds Of
municipalities and industries have
been notified to build waste treat
lment plants.
"Its the organized minority Of
defiance we have got to pay atten-
ton to-" he asserted There Is only
one way to deal with them. In the
case OF a vicious violation Of the law,
We have to prosecute and prosecute
them relentlessy. And I don't care
who they are or how big they are. u
Mr.. Duff termed pollution "the
number one health menace OF the
Nation" He said 80 per cent Of the
people Of Pennsylvania are depend
ent on water taken from streams
for drinking water.
The Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River gathered as the
Commonwealth announced new
Ohio River Valley compact Is sched-
uled to be signed June 80.
| Ratified by Virginia.
The compact was authorized by
Congress in 1896 and has now been
ratified by eight States whose
streams unite to form the Ohio
River.
The Virginia Assembly was the
last to ratify the compact which
provides that each of the States
pledge itself to faithful co-opera-
ton in control of future pollution
and in abatement Of existing pollu-
ton" in the Ohio River watershed.
Besides Virginia and Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, New York, Ohio. In
diana, Illinois and Kentucky are
joining in the compact.
Carl Schwob, director Of sanitary
engineering for the Public Health
Service, also is scheduled to address
today's meeting.
AS sessions opened today, L. M.
Fisher of the Public Health Service,
who was appointed recently by Pres
ident Truman to the commission
representing the Federal Govern
ment, was introduced to members.
Mr.. Fisher succeeds Ralph Torbett
who died last winter.
District Not on Committee.
Attending the commission ses-
SlOIlS lOT GllS All SO OAl1lS WAAA VIC ACP-
resentatives of Agriculture from
the Federal Government and the
four member States-Virginia, West
Virginia and Pennsylvania-who
will compose a new land use com
mittee. The District. the remain
ing commission member, will not
be represented on this committee.
The new committee will discuss
the relation of land use to river
pollution. Among those expected
to attend are DR.. Hugh H. Bennett,
chief of the Soil Conservation serv-
ice; Edward M. Davis, Maryland
soil conservationist; DR.. r. b.
Symons, director Of the Maryland
Extention Service; DR.. r. P. Thomas
of the University Of Maryland; L. b.
Dietrick, director of the Virginia
Extension Service; Edward Munns