Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-18
District in Congress.

Senator Harris today presented petition
from Mrs. Louise Pollock asking an approprta-
ton OF 81, 200 to pay rent of building for free
kindergarten school. The petition was ap-
proved by the superintendent OF public schools
ke1eTred 10 the District committee.
Senator Wlthers this afternoon reported ba tx
to the Senate the District appropriation bill,
saying It was s65, ,457 In excess OF the estimates
and 1888 less than the bill for the fiscal year
1851.
THE FREE BRIDGE BILL IN FULL
The free bridge bill as 1t passed Congress
does not seem to be generally understood. 1t
provides In the first section as follows:
That the Secretary OF War be, and he is
hereby authorized and directed to cause IN he
constructed across the Potomac river, at or
near Georgetown, In the District OF Columbia
at such point as he may select, substantial
iron ana masonry bridge. with approaches: aud
the sum or $4,000 be, and the same is hereby
appropriated out of any money In the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, for the construc-
tlon OF sa1d bridge and approaches, the same to
be maintained as free bridge for travel: Pro.
rded. That the said Secretary OF War shall
construct bridge upon such plan as shall cost
no more than the amount herein appropriated.
ana which cost shall include the construction
Of substantial bridge over the canal and any
and all approaches to the said iron bridge; and
no part or this appropriation Shall be paid out
or the treasury Until contracts shall have been
entered into with responsible parties and with
good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by
the secretary OF War, for the construction and
completion OF said bridge including the ma.
Sonry, tronwork. and approaches. at a cost NOT
10 exceed $40, 900: aud pf'Orided also That a
draw OF sufficient width to permit the free pas.
sage OF vessels navigating that part of the Po-
tomac river Shall be constructed in said bridge
unless said bridge shall oe constructed upon
or oy the side OF, or up the river from the pres
ent aqueduct, and at the same or greater eleva-
!lon ABOVE the water: ana pJ'Orided also That
the sum which may be expended under this
act shall be treated and regarded as part OF
tne general expenses OF the District OF Colum-
b1a. and the United States shall ba credited
with the amount which il may pay under this
act for the erection OF said bridge upon its ifty
per centum OF the expenses OF the District OF
Columbia, as provided in the act OF June nth.
ie.e. entitled IAN act providing permanent
form or government for the DlstlcI of Columbia:r
If0rided Jurther, That the Secretary OF War
snali S as soon as may De, fix and determine the
iocatlon OF said bridge. and cause survey OF
me river TO be made at such place of location
aetefmlhe the length. width and height of said
DIldge. and the length of draw, IL one Is re-
quiTeu, ana 1hereupOn advertise for plans and
price 1or the construction OF such bridge: such
advertisement TO be inserted In one or more
9aliy nily newspapers published In Washington,
Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Philadelphia, penn,
syHanla, and Chicago, Illinois, for the space of
Sec. 2. That for the purpose of establishing
a free bridge, and in lieu OF erecting the
ing sedton tne '0f new IN oridgep 59s pfeot the a
ss secretary ~ OF War may In his discretion, pur-
chase the Aqueduct Bridge now crossing the
ioIOmac river at GeorgetOwn: PTOujdel, Said
eIluge. Win all the appurtenanceS, right and
franchises connected Herewith, including piers
ana real estate for abutments and approaches
can De purchased for a sum not exceeding
e'gntJ -nve thousand dollars; which sum, or so
much tnereof DIS may be necessary may be paid
out OF the money appropriated by this ACT. Pro.
tt0td J"rthff, That good and sufficient title
thereto can be secured to the United States. TO
be approved by the Attorney General of The
IN nniteu states. Is ttrther p1 OUided. THAI
Ihe alexandria Canal Company, or It's presen,
lessees, shall have the right to maintain at their
own cost and expense canal aqueduct OF the
Same W1dlh ana depth as the one now In
SAID bri0ge; and whenever permanent bridpl,
Shall be erected upon said site, the same SHAH
pe OF su1hclent strength to sustain the wei shl
or Such canal aqueduCt; but the cOnStrucJion
attachment. and maintenance OF such anue
Duct shall be such as the Secretary OF War NAV
0elel mine, and shall be without cost or liabtlny
u lne hlted States or the District OF ,lumb,a
ana AZ IS tUthef 1)TOcided, That Ii upon the.
eIecuon OF such permanent bridge the SAID
canal company, or their present leSSees shall
negiecJ or refqse to reconstruct secure, ana
attach the said aqueduct at their own expense
or II at any time, for the space of six months
they snail fall TO use such aQueduct for the pur-
poses OF canal, or fall to keep the same in
soou cOnultlon and repair, or If at any time
they shall use the same for other than canal
purposes. then all rights of said canal company.
nEor ,Is lessees OF, or assigns In said bridge and
said aqueduct shall be detached and removed
by the Secretary OF War"
summarized, the bill appropriates s14n 900 for
q new bridge. which the Secretary of War NAV
build, or II he can purchase the AGueduct bridge
1or $4,000, and he deems that the best aud
cheapest policy, ne may do so. 1t Is entirely dis
cret1onary with the Secretary OF War to bl1ld a
new bridge or buy the Old one.
HOW THE DISTRICT WAS SHUT OUT.
towards the close OF the House session yes
r Dov
chair. A motion was put to adjourn, which he
declared carried. despite the call for division
OF the vote. To-day Mr.. Clymer said he had not
heard the call for division OF the vote and ia.
asmuch as the District OF Columbia Committee
mao peen deprived of the night session which
had been assigned 1t by reason OF his adiourn
Ing the House, he asked unanimous consent for
session to- night to consider District business,
nM:ni Mr: Lowe. 91 Alabama objected He subse
OF Wisconsin, renewed the objactlon. and the
District was thus shut out.
THE UNION DEPOT BILL
The conference managers OF the two houses
with reference to the bill authorizing the Dis
tr1ct commissioners to select site for union
depot, have reached an agreement.
The bill provides that the Commissioners O
the District OF Columbia be, and they are here
oy auIhoIlned ,l 10 recommend q suitable site for
a union railroad depot for all the railroad com
pan1es whose tracks enter or terminate In said
city, having due regard, as well to the interests
OF the residents and property owners of the
District OF Columbia as to the Chartered rIphts
ana pecun1ary investments OF the railro ld COM
panles TO De Affected by the action of Congress
In the premises; but II, in the judgni mt OF the
8 aid commissioners 1t Is better for ie interest
or all parties concerned, that two depots should
De established, the one on the northern and the
ther on II g southern side OF the city of WASH
ng1on, then 10 make selection of the two sites
for the respective depots. and to report their
action In the premises, with proper splats. to
congress during the present seSsion;bu IL that
s not practicable. then to report on the first
MONDAY OF December, 1881, with bill contain
Ing such further provisions as they may deem
pest calculated to secure the use py said rail-
road companies OF said union depot IL so Sc
lec ed; or In case OF the selections of the two
depOtS Aforesaid, to secure the use of the
no tnern depot by the company or companies
WhUse ROAD or roads enter the city of Wash
lngton nearest TO said northern depot and
the use OF the southern depot by the COM
Iany or companies whose road or roads en-
ter tne SAID city nearest to said southern depot,
ana 10 compel the vacation OF all other depOts
and the removal OF all tracks not necessary for
use In reaching the depot or depots intended to
De established under the provisions of this act.
Proptded, That such union depot or the TWO
depOtS herein referred to, whichever NAV ba
selected, shall be provided by said railroad
companies free from expense to the United
States or the District of Columbia
The only change from the old bill made is to
insert 1881 instead Of 1880 as the time when the
commissioners shall report site for the union
depot to Congress