Esch Hopes To Head Off Rumored Water Bill Veto

WASHINGTON- In an effort to he ad off a rumored veto of the Water Quality Act passed by Congress last week, Rep. Marvin L. Esch, R-Ann Arbor, is asking Republicans to urge President Nixon to sign the bilí. Esch Tuesday sent letters to all GOP congressmen who did not vote against the legislation asking that they endorse a letter he will be sending Nixon. "l'd be the first to admit the bill is not perfect and that the high price tag will pose some problems in the future," Esch wrote his colleagues. "However, on anceM think it will make a contribution." The bilí calis for spending up to $18 billion to clean up the nation's waterways. "Water pollution control should be a non-political and non-partisan issue," Esch said to GOP congressmen. "I am concerned, however, that no matter how carefully worded a veto message might be, a veto would inevitably project the environment into a politically charged campaign atmosphere." Esch plans to send his letter to the President Friday. His letter to Nixon states in part "The Nixon administration, in our view, has had an excellent record in the environmental field ... We are seriously concerned that a veto of this bill would endanger the Sense of national purpose which has sürrounded consensus pollution control. "We therefore urge you to sign this legislation into law in order to emphasize once again your own personal commitment, and the commitment of the nation, to the fight to preserve the i ment," the letter concludes.