SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                      1577

No. 5
(House Joint Resolution 20)

House Joint Resolution urging the 90th Congress to authorize the
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove and destroy the aban-
doned ships now located in the Potomac River.

Whereas, Over 100 abandoned World War I vessels have been
lying in the Potomac River in the waters of Charles County and
near Quantico, Virginia, since they were abandoned there in 1924
by a company, since dissolved, which brought the vessels to the
Potomac for salvage, and

Whereas, There is a continual dislodgement of portions of the hulls
of these vessels from storms and natural deterioration, causing float-
ing wood to drift aimlessly in the river, and further the presence
of the old hulls of the vessels presents an eyesore in an attractive,
scenic part of the Potomac, and the hulls further constitute a navi-
gational hazard to recreational craft using the River, and

Whereas, A bill is now pending before the Public Works Com-
mittee of the House of Representatives to authorize the removal of
these vessels, that being H. R. 2402 by Congressman Machen, and

Whereas, The General Assembly of Maryland recognizes that a
program for removal of these abandoned vessels in the Potomac
is in fulfillment of the President's pledge of a clean Potomac, and in
our judgment, these abandoned hulls represent a source of dangerous
pollution and driftwood in the Potomac and constitute a navigational
hazard to the recreational use of these waters, causing damage to the
property of boaters, and that action is needed promptly to provide
for removal of these abandoned vessels; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That we urge
the 90th Congress of the United States to authorize the Secretary
of the Army acting through the Chief of Engineers to provide for
the removal and destruction of the abandoned ships, hulls and pilings
now located in the Potomac River by enacting H. R. 2402, and we
further urge the Congress to appropriate the funds necessary to
accomplish this purpose, and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this Resolution are sent to Senators
Brewster and Tydings and Congressmen Fallon, Friedel, Garmatz,
Long, Machen, Mathias, Morton and Gude.

Approved March 22, 1968.

No. 6
(House Joint Resolution 40)

House Joint Resolution urging the Board of County Commissioners
of Harford County to give consideration to broader citizen repre-
sentation on county boards and agencies.