Communities needing new or additional sewage works for abatement of stream pollution-Existing and recommended works-Continued Communities needing new or additional sewage works for abatement of stream pollution-Existing and recommended works-Continued The CHAIRMAN. We have some brief statements here in the form of letters from persons interested but who are not here, and I suggest that they be incorporated in the hearings. Mr. CULKIN. I move that they be incorporated. The CHAIRMAN. These communications are as follows: Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Columbus, Ohio, by George B. Chandler, secretary. General Health Council of Allegheny County, Pa., by Dr. William W. McFarland, executive director, Pittsburgh. State Board of Health, Austin, Tex., by V. M. Ehlers, director, bureau of sanitary engineering. Ludlow Businessmen's Association, Ludlow, Ky., by Hayden Lowe, president, Ludlow Businessmen's Association. Kentucky State Medical Association, by Dr. J. D. Northcutt, Covington, Ky. Health Conservation Association, Kansas City, by Albert H. Jewell, executive director. Ohio Valley Improvement Association, by O. Slack Barrett, president, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Great Miami Valley Taxpayers Association, by John J. Hirt, chairman, stream pollution committee, Cleves, Ohio. Here is one favoring the Pfeifer bill, from Jordan A. Pugh, Norfolk, Va. Here is one opposed to the Pfeifer bill from the Stevens & Thompson Paper Co., Greenwich, N. Y.; a telegram from the Evans, Ohio, Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America endorsing control of pollution in the Ohio River; A letter from the Public Health Federation, by Bleecker Marquette, executive secretary. I suggest that these be incorporated in the record, and without objection it is so ordered. (The papers referred to appear hereafter.) Mr. BATES. Might I ask, Representative Vinson, is this bill sort of a cooperative bill that permits the Federal Government to pay up to one-third of the cost of these sewage-disposal plants? Is that what your bill amounts in that respect? Mr. VINSON. In respect of grants. Mr. BATES. Up to one-third of the amount in the case of grants? Mr. VINSON. I had better get that exactly, Mr. Bates. There is nothing better than the language. Mr. BATES. That is on page 4? Mr. VINSON. The bill provides: Such loans and grants in aid shall be made upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approval of the President, may prescribe, subject to the following limitations. With reference to the per centum: No grant in aid shall be made in respect of any project of an amount in excess of 33% percent of the cost of the labor and materials employed upon such project, including the cost of preparation of plans and the carrying of same into execution. I call attention of the committee that this refers to the grants in aid to any State, municipality, or other public body, and it is, of course, distinctive as referring to section 6, which provides loans only to the industrial applicant. Mr. BATES. The other two-thirds must be met by the State or some subdivision thereof? Mr. VINSON. Correct. Mr. BATES. Now, in case they do not want to enter into such a proposition, this bill does not force them to do so? Mr. VINSON. No. Mr. BATES. I have in mind large cities on a boundary river which is an interstate stream, as to whether or not you will compel them by your bill to erect sewage-disposal plants? Mr. VINSON. No, sir; there is no compulsory feature in the bill. Mr. BATES. In this other bill, the Pfeifer bill, is it mandatory? Can you force those cities to do that? Mr. VINSON. As I understand it, Mr. Bates, the alternative bills use as the enforcement agency, fine and or imprisonment; and injunctive relief. Mr. BATES. In other words, the Pfeifer bill is a mandatory bill"shall erect" those plants? Mr. VINSON. Yes, sir; and it must be done now, as I understand it. Mr. BATES. And your's is cooperative and permissive? Mr. VINSON. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Now, without objection, we will take a recess until 10:30 tomorrow morning. (The papers submitted by the chairman follow:) Hon. JOSEPH J. MANSFIELD, OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Rivers and Harbors Committee of the House, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. MANSFIELD: We wish to advise you that the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has given official endorsement to the Barkley-Vinson stream-pollutioncontrol bill (S. 13 and H. R. 2711). The provisions of this bill were carefully studied by the Federal affairs committee of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, which recommended favorable action by our board of directors. The board made a separate study of this bill, and ratified the recommendation of our able committee. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is the largest State-wide business organization in Ohio, having in its membership representatives of all types and classes of business. We sincerely hope that your committee will recommend favorable action in enactment of this bill. Yours very truly, GEORGE B. CHANDLER, Secretary. Hon. JOSEPH J. MANSFIELD, OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Chairman, Rivers and Harbors Committee, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN MANSFIELD: I understand that hearings will be held before the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the House of Representatives, of which you are a member on Wednesday, March 17, 1937, on H. R. 2300, H. R. 2711, and H. R. 3419. I wish to again state that the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has made a very careful study of these measures. The matter has been gone into very carefully by our Federal affairs committee composed of 35 members and then by the board of directors of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, which is the largest State-wide organization in Ohio, officially endorses H. R. 2711. We hope that bill may be given the favorable consideration and recommendation of your committee. Yours very truly, GEORGE B. CHANDLER, Secretary. GENERAL HEALTH COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Hon. J. J. MANSFIELD, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The General Health Council of Allegheny County, composed of 200 representatives of all official and nonofficial health agencies of this district, urges favorable action on the Barkley-Vinson bill, S. 702, H. R. 2711, promoting stream-pollution control. We consider this a most deserving project, which will pay definite dividends in improved health and sanitation not only in Allegheny County but throughout the Nation. Very truly yours, Hon. J. J. MANSFIELD, W. W. MCFARLAND, STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We certainly appreciate your kindness in transmitting with your letter of February 19 a copy of S. 702, relating to stream pollution. Our water and sewage operators in Texas are vitally interested in the enactment of S. 702. At our meeting held at College Station this past week they passed a resolution to that effect, copy of which is herewith enclosed for your information. We regretted to learn this morning of the passing of Congressman J. P. Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan was a most able Representative and was instrumental in helping this State in furthering quite a number of meritorious projects. His loss here is severely felt. By direction of the State health officer. Very truly yours, V. M. EHLERS, C. E., Director, Bureau of Sanitary Engineering. Whereas the Federal Government, through its Committee on National Resources, has made an extensive study on the subject of stream pollution; and Whereas there were four different bills covering this subject introduced in the Congress during the last session; and Whereas some of the stream-pollution problems in Texas are international in character and since with Federal aid they would be more quickly solved; and Whereas the bill sponsored by the State and Provincial Health Officers of North America, reintroduced as S. 702, has for its objective an aid-in-grant feature to assist municipalities in financing difficulties and also provides for investigation of industrial wastes treatment; but leaving supervision to the States: Therefore be it Resolved, That we go on record as favoring the passage of this bill and that our Representatives in Congress be urged to support the measure in securing its passage; and be it further Resolved, That the secretary is instructed to send copies of this bill to all interested parties. LUDLOW BUSINESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION, Mr. J. J. MANSFIELD, Committee on Rivers and Harbors, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. MANSFIELD: The Ludlow Business Men's Association is heartily in favor of the Vinson bill to create a Division of Water Pollution Control in the United States Public Health Service. This subject is vitally important to the health and welfare of every man, woman, and child in this whole Ohio Valley. We believe as an association that this matter should be placed in the hands of the United States Army Engineers and the Secretary of War. Very sincerely yours, HAYDEN LOWE, President. Mr. J. J. MANSFIELD, KENTUCKY STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Rivers and Harbors Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: After a study of the House of Representatives bill 2711, introduced by Mr. Vinson of Kentucky, I would like to give you my hearty endorsement of this bill, and urge its passage as soon as possible. At a later date I expect to forward to you the endorsement of the CampbellKenton County Medical Society, the second largest society in our State. Most respectfully, J. D. NORTHCUTT, M. D., F. A. C. S. HEALTH CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITY, Hon. J. J. MANSFIELD, Chairman, Rivers and Harbors Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. March 13, 1937. DEAR SIR: I have just received a copy of H. R. 2711. Due to the fact that there is not sufficient time before the hearing to have a meeting of this association to take action with reference to recommendations regarding the bill, the following remarks express only my personal reaction: Having served in the engineering divisions of the Michigan Department of Health and the Kansas State Board of Health as assistant engineer and chief engineer, I have had considerable experience with stream-pollution and sewagetreatment problems. I have personally conducted a number of stream-pollution surveys and have made a large number of investigations as the result of stream pollution. I consider that the provisions provided for in H. R. 2711 are very necessary and logical and a considerable step forward in the solution of these problems. I therefore hope that the Rivers and Harbors Committee will report favorably on this bill. DEAR SIR: Our organization has, by resolution, favored the passage of H. R: 2711 introduced by Mr. Vinson of Kentucky. The elimination of pollution from our streams hereabout has been one our major objectives. We are, therefore, very strong for this bill. We believe it will achieve that which we have been fighting for, for these many years. We therefore respectfully ask that you do all in your power to favor this bill before your committee. Very truly yours, THE GREAT MIAMI VALLEY TAX PAYERS ASSOCIATION, Chairman, Stream Pollution Committee, Cleves, Ohio. |