The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1876-04-25
The Tort LARAMIE BRIDGE fifF
Col, SrEELEs EFFORTS SUCCESSFUL.
A Bridge by The People for Ihs Peo-
Ple's free Use.

A Bridge by The People for the Peo-
Pie;s Free Use.
The LEADER has freely commented
upon the Inauguration of a system of
tolls for crossing the iron bridge built
by the peoples money over the North
Platte at Fort Laramie. The tolls
charged were excessive and oppressive,
especially when men with small means
generally, who are on their way to the
Black Hills country to better their
fortunes, were made the victims. To
this course, adopted by the military
authorities, Col. Steele, our Delegate
in Congress, entered a vigorous protest
before the War Department, and as
the sequel proves, with success. The
Secretary of War referred the matter
to the Judge Advocate General, who
returned it with the following opinion:
BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE,
I April llth, 1876.
J Respectfully returned TO the Secre-
tary of War. The statute by which
the building of this bridge was author
lied is a clause in the appropriation
act of June %, 1874, chapter ASS, as
follows TO enable the Secretary of
War To provide for constructing n
military bridge across the North Platte
River, at or nea Fort Laramie. Wyo-
ming Territory, fifteen thousand dol
lars.n
No authority TO charge tolls is here
given To the Secretary of War or other
executive officer, and 1 am already. of
the opinion that none could be charged
without the consent or action of Con-
gress. That body alone can raise
revenue and make rules and regula-
tlons respecting the property of the
United States and Il whichever
constitutional grant the power to levy
tolls, or to authorize them to he levied
for crossing u government bridge, be
referred, it is in my judgment, evident
that the same can be exercised only
by the Legislative Department. 1
would, therefore, recommend that the
matter. not only of the disposition of
the proposed tolls, but of their imposi-
ton, be submitted to Congress.
w. NJ. DUNN,
Judge Advocate General.
directed to Col. Steele by the Secretary
of War:
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Washington City,
April Is, 1876.
Z SIR acknowledging the receipt
of your letter of the 18th of March
last, protesting against the proposition
of the military authorities to charge
and collect tolls upon the bridge at
Fort Laramie, and requesting that the
same he made free, L have the honor
TO invite your attention to the accom-
panying report of the Judge Advocate
General upon the subject. 1t appear
ing from that report that by the
statute which authorized tie building
of the bridge, no authority to collect
or charge tolls was given to the Secre-
tary of War, or other executive officer,
orders will be issued %revoking any
order which may have heretofore been
given, directing the collection of such
tolls and, if desired by you. the mat
ter will be submitted to Congress as
suggested by General Dunn.
Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
ALPHoNso TAFT,
Secretary of War.
Hon. w. r. STEELE,
House of Representatives"
7 There is now a free bridge across the
North Platte, on the Cheyenne route
to the Black Hills, something no other
route can boast of. 1t is not necessary
for Congress to bother its head further
about this toll question. The citizens
Iof the United States have been taxed
to build this bridge, and to tax them
further for crossing it, would be an
imposition and an outrage. 1t may
be necessary for Congress to furnish
means to keep the bridge in repair I;
but we trust that Col. Steele will labor
to keep the bridge free, for the benefit
alike of the military and civilians who
desire to cross it.