UF00083537_00027.pdf

UF00083537_00027.txt

UF00083537_00027_pdf.txt

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252. littcrahurg Eimra

The policy ofow potter 5: var; Jim)?

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SLiliC: leis

I: merely to tell tho truth." I

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- Paul [09.3.3.3 pulmisr, 1915-. 1990



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'.i took a lot of gall to: US. Rep.
William C. Cramer to y over
73mm Bay's oil slick last week,
criticize everyone in sight tor an
";.bsoluiely inadequate" system of
oil pollution control. blame Son.
Edmund Muskie of Maine [or block-
ing convective legialutlon, and
suddenly kill himself as the clean
water champion oi the maid.

It was an oily campingn tactic.
worthy only oi a slippery politician
who would stop at nothing to win
higher oilicc.

FOR REPORTS now are that
Cramer himseli has been a key
opponent of strong and badly neod-
ed legislation placing absolute li-
ability" for oil spill damage on the
owner or operator of a ship.

Creme: and Muskie have been
locked tor four months in a Senate-
House conierence committee stale-
mate over two venions of an oil
pollution control bill. .

The House Public Works Com-
mittee. of which Gamer is the
ranking Republican member, Ia-
vors a weak measure limiting lia-
bility to Sic-million. Not one penny
would bepwableuntllttispi.ccd
that the owner or operator will-
fully or negligently discharged oil
into navigable waters.

bl'l'his bill is virtually mentor.
a e.

Muskie's Senate bill." on the
Other hand. want! provide for lia.
Wm! 01 up to tiltmum Proof 0:
WWW or negligence is not
W- only an act or God or
W 03 Remittance by the United
States Government. or an act by a

'f 7 CW

Fobruocy I8. 1970

VVuczc.e1.

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Gel}
third party. would exempt the
ownwoperator.

Had Cramers committee. and
subsequently the House of Rep-
resentatives, passed this bill when
it cleared the Senate last October.
those reSponsible for the Tampa
Bay oil slick clearly would be lia-
ble for damages done to our
beaches. property and wildliie.

CRAMER -llAD -the gall to
blame Muskie for Florida's weak
position. Muzzle, he says. failed to
get a 1968 hill on the Senate oor
after the House had passed it.

True, Muskie was at! cam-
paigning for vice president that
day.

Quarterly, however.
passed its version less than 90 min-
utes before the 90th Congress ad-
journed and the version eon-
'taincd several crippling. industry-
oriented amendments.

Gamer. in light at the oil trage-
dylnhlslmmedlstricundicateshe
might now accept the Muskie bill.

But that is not enough.

It the St. Petemburg Republi
can is at all sincere about stopping
the pollution of our waters and
beaches. he will intmditce national
legislation duplicating that ap-
proved last week by the Oregon
State Legislature;

Oregons new law is described
asholdingtheownerottheoil and
the owner at the vessel liable for
any damages even those caused
byanactoiGodandthlrd parties.
It is their oil, their ship. their prot-
lt andourwater. .whynot?

0504s




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