Evening star., 1950-09-24
Kemp Elected Head
OF Potomac Group
AT Annual Session
BY q Sior Stoff Correspondent

OAKLAND, Md. Sept. 23.-
Harold A. Kemp, sanitary engi-
neer for the District of Columbia,
was reelected chairman of the
Interstate Commission on the Po-
tomac River Basin at the closing
session of the commissions annual
meeting here today.
Other officers. all reelected, in
clude H. G. Knox, Pennsylvania,
vice chairman: DR.. Daniel L.
Seckinger, District health direc-
tor. treasurer, and Oliver Gasch,
assistant District corporation
counsel, commission general coun-
sell
Various committees recon-
mended an expanded commission
program. A study has been made
under the direction of Mr.. Knox
and recommendations for a more
inclusive program have been made
to the Executive Committee.
To Broaden Activities.
1t is expected that the COM
mission will seek means to
broaden its field of activity, since
it has been held by many of its
members that it's future efforts
toward pollution abatement may
force the commission into the
field of cooperative planning.
Reporting on West Virginia's
failure to provide funds to the
commission, Mr.. Cash said steps
are being taken by members from
that State to bring about an early
settlement.
The West Virginia auditor re-
fused to turn over to the COM
mission funds that already had
been appropriated by the Legis-
lature after the State Court of
Appeals held that an Ohio River
compact, of which the State was
a member, was invalid.
The auditor held that the Po-
tomac compact differs from the
Ohio compact in that it takes no
police powers from the State.
Asks High Court Hearing.
He said the commission has
joined in petition for hearing
by the United States Supreme
Court, which, he said, has juris-
diction in matters involving inter-
state compacts.
Other actions include a request
to the Agriculture Department to
speed a flood control survey of
the entire basin authorized by
a recent House resolution.
The resolution was introduced
by Representative Beall, Republi-
can. of Maryland.
Before returning to Washington
this afternoon, commission men,
berS visited the Savage River dam,
now nearing completion.
1t has been estimated that the
dam, by regulating summer water
flow in the Upper Potomac. will
aid in reducing pollution in the
Luke Cumberland area. The dam
is being constructed primarily as
as flood control project.
Yesterday, so representatives
from four surrounding States and
the District of Columbia ,part;ci-
pated in a round-table discuss.on
of their common problems and
steps being taken to meet them.
New Plant Being Built.
Julian G. Patrick, chief chemist
at the West Virginia Pulp & Paper
Co.'S Luke plant, said the COM
pany is building a SIS million
plant to reduce waste discharge.
R. r. Sitbler. sanitary engineer
at the Ancelle plant of the Cela-
nese Corp. of America, said SINH
lar work is under way at Celanese.
Waste surveys are being con-
Quoted, he added, and pilot"
plants were being constructed on
an experimental basis to try out
various methods of recovering
wastes. This, he said, is part of a
Sc million improvement program
to help reduce waste.
John R. Connolly, chief engineer
of the Kelly-Springdeld Tire Co.
at Cumberland, said river pollu-
ton from his plant is very slight.