Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-29

responsibilities" to the suburbs.
This sentiment was express
plete unanimity. by elected p
Fairfax. Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties.
II was voiced at q steering
committee meeting OF the
Washington Metropolitan Re-
gional Conference. during .
discussion with Frederick
Gutheim. stan director Of the
special House-Senate study
COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Guthelm had been in
vited to address the group and
told IL of committee plans 10
concentrate on the various
regional problems Of the Po-
tomac River, transportation
and economic development.
Money Subject BFoached
Mrs. Anne wilkins. q member
Of the Fairfax Board Of Super
visors. said she was in sympathy
with these studies. She said
there was little Congress actu-
ally could do about bringing
about regional cooperation to
solve them. however. and that
such steps can only be taken
effectively by q group like the
Regional Conferences.
Shouldn't the congressional
Job be mainly to decide what
the Federal responsibility in the
picture is?" she asked.
Ralph Kaul. new chairman
Of the Arlington County Board.
quickly picked UP the point.
There Is very little wrong with
Us that money wouldn't cure"
he said.
Mr.. Kaul pointed out that
the Federal Government occu-
pies large tracts Of land
throughout the Capital region.
and that although II Is "our
major industry" II Is . nom
taxable industry which requires
constant expansion Of trans
portation. water supply and
other expensive public services. |
These facts point Up . fall
ure Of the Federal Government |
to face It's responsibilities and
give N either payments In lieu
Of taxes or appropriations 70
help provide these needs." he
told Mr.. 0utheim. That's
where your attention should BEL
aimed"
Lastner Cites Acreage
Frank J. LAstner, . Prince
Georges County Commissioner.
said q recent study showed that
$4,000 acres Of land in his
county Is occupied by the Fed
eral Government.
Mrs. Stella Werner, Mont |
gomery County Council mem |
Der. agreed that there Is mo
more pressing problem than the /
question Of lack Of money TO
compensate jurisdictions for
services 1t has TO provide the |
Federal Government"
Mr.. Gutheim made no direct |
response to the points about |
Federal financial help.
He has told the group ear
Tier. however. that q definite
part of the committees pro- |
gram would be to TRY to define !
the Federal interest and the
Federal responsibility" in the
metro area. The other part.
he said. would be to examine
specific machinery for regional
solutions to problems.
The conference members
made It plain that their COM
ments on the money problem
did not mean that they were
antagonistic to any part Of the
committees approach. And. In
fact. machinery was agreed
upon last night for a close work.
ing arrangement between the
two groups.
Purity Standards Cited
On a major conference prof.
ect. Col. A. c. yelling. District
Engineer Commissioner. dis
closed that a committee of the
Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River Basin has
recommended specific stand
ards Of purity for each Of five
sections Of the Potomac River
between the mouth OF the
Monocacy River and Hallowing
Point, below Fort Washington.
The Regional Conference al
ready has decided 1t would try
to get every political jurisdic-
ton in the Washington area
to strictly observe such stand
ards. as a major means OF
holding down pollution and
preserving the areas water
supply.
II this effort Is successful.
It will mean that each juris-
dicsion must agree 10 restrict
any major development along
the Potomac that would pour
any stable quantities OF either
sewage or treated sewage eff
fluent into the river.
Would Permit Swimming
The rigid standards Of purity
recommended not only would
hold the line on pollution. but
they would improve the present