Chap. 20.—An ACT providin r a commission to be known as “The Potomac
River Commission,” and fo prescribe its powers and duties. [H B 9]

Approved February 18, 1930

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That there
is hereby created a commission to be known as “The Potomac River
Commission,” to consist of three members and the governor of this
State who shall be an ex-officio member thereof. The three members
shall be appointed by the governor of this State and their term shall
expire with that of the governor making the appointment, but the
term of office of the members appointed shall continue until the suc-
ceeding governor shall appoint other members in their place and stead.
Vacancies in the commission from any cause shall likewise be filled
by the governor.

2. It shall be the duty of the commission to enter into negotiations
with the accredited representatives of the states of Maryland and
West Virginia and the Federal government either severally or jointly,
with a view to effecting an amicable and equitable agreement or
agreements respecting the allocation of the waters of the Potomac
river and other benefits to be derived from the development of the
said river, and respecting any and all matters that relate to the rights
of the State of Virginia, or of the citizens and property owners of
the State of Virginia, in and to the waters of the Potomac river. Any
and all agreements that may be entered into by this commission in
behalf of the State of Virginia and the accredited representatives of
the said several states and the Federal government shall be submitted
to the general assembly of the State of Virginia and before any such
agreement is binding upon the State of Virginia must be ratified by the
general assembly thereof and approved by the governor of this State
and by the congress of the United States.

3° The commission shall meet immediately upon its creation and
elect from its membership one member to act as chairman and one
member to act as secretary. Immediately upon the organization of
said commission, the governor shall notify the governors of the states
of Maryland and West Virginia and the president of the United
States of the creation of said commission and shall endeavor to secure
at as early a date as possible meetings with similar commissions or the
properly accredited representatives of said several states and the United
States, to arrive at understandings and agreements in order to carry
out the purposes for which this commission is created. The attorney
general of the State of Virginia shall be the legal advisor of the com-
mission and when called upon shall advise in all matters or render
opinions in writing, except as herein otherwise provided.

4. This commission is hereby authorized and empowered as fol-
lows:

(a) To hold meetings and conferences within or without the
State of Virginia with accredited representatives of the said several
states or the government of the United States, in order to carry out
any or all of the purposes for which this commission is created.

(b) The governor shall be empowered to designate engineers.
or other persons employed by the State, or any institutions controlled
by the State, to investigate and report on any engineering or other
question involved relative to available dam sites for flood control, o1
the creation and distribution of hydro-electric power on the waters
of the Potomac river, or for any other purpose connected with the
objects of this bill.

(c) To cooperate with the Federal government, or any depart-
ment or bureau thereof, on matters germane to the problems involved.

(d) .Said commission shall report from time to time to the general
assembly of Virginia to the end that further appropriate action may
be taken to carry out the objects of this bill.

(e) All members of said commission shall serve without com-
pensation.

5. An emergency existing, in order that the important duties
with which the above commission is clothed may be executed without
delay, this act shall be in force from its passage.