Mr. RADCLIFFE, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. J. Res. 222) The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the resolution (S. J. Res. 222) to provide that the compact creating a Potomac Valley Conservancy District may become effective if agreed to by a majority of the parties authorized to enter into it and by Congress, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and, as so amended, recommend that the resolution be agreed to The amendment is in the form of a substitute joint resolution which is indicated in the legislation as reported in italic and line type. The substitute draft was submitted by the government of the District of Columbia in a letter which is self-explanatory, and which follows. The resolution has the approval of the War Department and the Department of the Interior as will appear by the following letters: Hon. JOSIAH W. BAILEY, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 17, 1940. United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BAILEY: The Department is in receipt of your letter of March 6, 1940, referring for report Senate Joint Resolution 222, Seventy-sixth Congress, third session, to provide that the compact creating a Potomac Valley Conservancy District may become effective if agreed to by a majority of the parties authorized to enter into it and by Congress. Insofar as the interests committed to this Department are concerned there is no objection to the favorable consideration by Congress of Senate Joint Resolution 222. This report was submitted to the Bureau of the Budget which advised that it had no objection to the submission of the foregoing report. However, it also advised that there would be no objection to the submission of a substitute draft of resolution which accompanied letter to this Department from the Bureau of the Budget. Accordingly, insofar as the interests committed to this Department are concerned, there are no objections to the favorable consideration by Congress of the accompanying substitute draft of resolution. Sincerely yours, Hon. JOSIAH W. BAILEY, Chairman, Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Further reference is made to the request of your committee for the views of this Department on S. J. Res. 222, entitled "Joint resolution to provide that the compact creating a Potomac Valley Conservancy District may become effective if agreed to by a majority of the parties authorized to enter into it and by Congress." The act of August 31, 1937 (50 Stat. 884), authorizes the States of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia to enter into a compact or agreement providing for the creation of a Potomac Valley Conservancy District for the prevention or abatement of harmful pollution of the waters thereof. The act provides that the compact shall not become effective until the same shall have been approved by the legislatures of each of the said States and by the Congress of the United States. The purposes of the above-mentioned act have not been accomplished due to the fact that certain of the States concerned have failed to approve the proposed compact. It is the purpose of the pending bill to permit the compact to become effective if agreed to by a majority of the parties authorized to enter into it, and by the Congress. Inasmuch as such an interstate agreement would aid materially in the improvement of recreational facilities in the Potomac Basin, I am in favor of the early creation of the conservancy district. Whether or not the effectiveness of the compact or agreement would be materially reduced without the approval of all interested parties is a matter upon which I have no information. I have been advised by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget that there would be no objection by that Bureau to the submission of this report to the Congress. He advises further that the District Commissioners propose to offer a substitute bill for S. J. Res. 222, which, in addition to permitting the compact to become effective, if agreed to by a majority of the parties a thorized to enter into it, would, by its terms, grant the consent of Congress thereto. I am in accord with the Commissioners' proposed substitute bill and recommend its adoption and enactment by the Congress. Sincerely yours, Hon. JOSIAH W. BAILEY, GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Chairman, Commerce Committee, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR BAILEY: The Commissioners have the honor to present herewith their report on S. J. Res. 222, to provide that the compact creating a Potomac Valley Conservancy District may become effective if agreed to by a majority of the parties authorized to enter into it and by Congress. Since the receipt from the Bureau of the Budget of the request for report on S. J. Res. 222, the Commissioners, by resolution authorized by terms of the original enabling act, Public Resolution No. 74 of the Seventy-fifth Congress, chapter 891, first session, approved August 31, 1937, have approved the Potomac Valley conservancy pact, heretofore approved by the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commissioners are entirely in accord with the purpose of S. J. Res. 222 but desire, at this time, to propose that the attached resolution be substituted for S. J. Res. 222. The reason for this position is that the proposed resolution would enable the Congress in one step to accomplish what otherwise would have to be undertaken in two steps. The proposed resolution follows closely the resolution authorizing and approving the tri-State conservancy compact between New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut (49 Stat., pt. 1, p. 932). If favorable action can be secured on the proposed resolution, the attached Potomac Valley Conservancy compact can be made operative without further congressional action. The proposed resolution and report thereon have been submitted to the Bureau of the Budget, and the Director of the Budget advises that there is no objection on the part of that office to the position taken by the Commissioners in connection with this matter. We trust that this substitute will meet with your approval, and we take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in sponsoring this legislation. Respectfully, JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG, Acting President, Board of Commissioners, D. C. S. Repts., 76–3, vol. 3 -14 о |