Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-14
SATURDAY, APRIL IA, 1889.
CONG X E 5 S.

Nr Doddridge moved the House resolve itself
into Committee of the Whole upon the bill to
incorporate the Trustees of the Methodist Pro-
tes,ant Church Of Georgetown, which motion was
lost. :.
The House then resolved itself into Commit
toe of the Whole. ON motion Of MIR. Doddridge,
on the following bills:
1 A bill for improving Pennsylvania Avenue,
supplying the public buildings with water and
for having the walk from the western gate OF the
Capitol with tagging
) A bill supplementary to an act to incorpo-
rate the trustees of the Female Orphan Asylums
Of Georgetown and Washington, and for other
purposes
3. A bill to secure to mechanics and others,
payment for labor done and materials furnished
In the erection of buildings IN Washington City.
4. A bill to amend the charter Of Alexandria
5. Al act from the Senate to alter the bridge
and draw over the Potomac.
NJ. Doddridse said this act was a copy Of the
bill which had passed this House the last session
aud sent to the Senate, but was lost for want OF
sufficient time 20 act upon it there. Since that
bill va, passed, the bridge had been chiefly swept
away. The proprietors had made an expenditure
of about SS 600 in the repairs; this bill proposed
to grant them $4,000 10 aid them. But the
whole bridge having now gone, the Committee
al recommended that this act be not passed ;and
he offered an amendment providing for an ap.
praisement Of the property Of the corporation and
an appropriation not exceeding $4,000 for its
purchase, and further appropriation not exceed
ing $50, 900 for building the bridge, at the ex-
pense of the United States, making it free from
tolls.
Mr.. Ellsworth thought the amendment worthy
of consideration. If theproprletors would re.
build the bridge for $4,000. as proposed by the
act, he thought it preferable to granting 900
90 the purchase of their rights and building
bridge.
Mr.. Wickliffe said the principle Of the amend
ment met his concurrence. He entirely assent
ed to the propriety and necessity Of the building
of this bridge by the United States. 1t was an
,mportant link in the line OF communication be-
tween this city and the South. In consequence
of the cxorbitant tolls exacted under the charter,
he thought it was sound economy to rebuild it at
public expense. He was not sure that the gift
of $4,000 would procure the rebuilding of the
bridge BY its proprietors; but If IT would. he
should prefer paying Sls0,00O, and having Tree
bridge. That was due to the po, ton OF the Dis
trict on the other side OF the river. The U. ).
bad received Sl20, 900 from Virginia toward the
erectien of the Public Buildings here. We had
done nothing foe her portion Of the District. but
" he had had IN relation to the amendment was,
that the proposed SUN, he feared, would not &C.
cOmpli>h the work.
Mr. Duddrdgecalled for the reading Of let
ter from the Postmaster General respecting the
difficulty aud expense Of transporting the mail
across the river.
Mr. ID went into an explanation Of the situa-
ton of the bridge company and Its property. and
the probable expense of building the bridge by
the u States, in reply to the suggestion oil Mr.
Ellsworth.
Mr. Ellsworth would prefer granting to the
co.npauv the capital sum of which the tolls for
,raa>por,ing the mails would pay the interest, to
rebuilding the bridge ON public account.
NJ. Archer said the views expressed by the
gentleman from Connecticut MIR. Elsworth) in
the outset were just. 1t would be better TO give
$4,000 Ia the company than to reconstruct the
bridge. But that sum, If granted, would be lost.
There was no prospect of ITS restoration by the
company. even by the grant Of a much greater
sum. He thought the communication very es-
sential. There was no question in this case as
to constitutional power. He was DESTROYS that
eHactua Il steps should be taken to restore this
bridge. but objected TO that part OF the amend.
ment that proposes the appraisement and pur-
chase of the franchise Of the company. That
was nominal right, not worth dollar. From
repeated observation. on such subjects he should
moi vote for the amendment till that feature was
expunged He was willing to paw for the materl-
ais ON the ground-but nothing for the right to
rebuild the bridge.
Mr. Doddridge called tor the further reading OF
his amendment, and directed that all the passa-
grs which referred to the franchise OF the Bridge
Company. be struck out Of it.
= Mi. Reed, of Massachusetts,, thought the pro-
hla IN fho
building the bridge at the public expense. it the
company would adopt that course. But since
the bridge was originally erected. great change
had taken place from the introduction Of Steam
boats In them person could SO to Alexandria |
for isa cts. Still, at certain seasons, bridge |
was essential, though. from the little use that
would BE- generally made Of IT. the tolls must
be made enormously high to support it. He
though, Congress was bound to do something for
Alexandria, and could see no mode Of restoring
this permanent communication. but by rebuild
a L.. L