Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-14
Who Are the Friends Of the Free Bridge

L
With no disposition to find fault simply because
people disagree with me, 1t seems to me that the
advocates OF the bill for bridge at the Three Sis
ters are not friends but enemies OF a free bridge.
BY the existing law act OF 1881, the secretary OF
war Is authorized and directed" to build bridge
across the Potomac lat or near GEORGETOWN and
Win OF without a draw. This language covers the
Three Sisters. while the pending bill excludes all
locations except the Three Sisters II it should
turn out, as the best engineers believe it WILL that
suitable bridge cannot be built at the Three Sis
ters with anything like $:s25,OOO, then II that bill
passes we can have no bridge.
II seems TO me that the pending bill. whether so
intended or not IS an ingenious method TO prevent
the building OF any bridge If its friends really
want free bridge why not take the best means OF
securing II by amending the existing law and in
serung a sum therein large enough TO construct
good bridge al the Three Sisters. Better still. II
you want to give the Secretary War free choice
Of all the locations and permit him to construct the
orldge On the piers OF the canal company If that Is
in all respects the best and cheapest location why
not add section TO the law OF 1881, providing that
II the parties having interest in the piers do not
within thirty days accept the provisions OF the law
thus amended. the Secretary OF War shall file pc
ttion returnaDe In ten days for the appointment
OF commissioners TO 'appraise the night TO use The
piers for the purposes OF free bridge" but not TO
condemn the whole property for which there is
neither justice or necessity. With the usual pro-
vision, THAT on the deposit OF the amount at which
the right to use is appraised, the title shall at
De rested. and The United States mag Immediately
for that purpose take possession"
III makes no difference as TO this right to con-
demn that the United states and the state OF Viz
GINA are stockholders in the canal company for
they have no right. except stockholders in that
respect they are not 'SOvereigDS,' but only
stockholders and members OF the corporation. as
has been decided repeatedly by the Supreme Court.
The forfeiture clause In the act of 1881 ought also
TO be stricken out There would be no reason for
retaining 1t and its repeal would undoubtedly at
once secure an acceptance OF the provisions OF the
bill.
Why should there be any division among the
friends OF free bridge upon the plan above pro-
posed? For while II makes the free bridge GER
tanty 1t secures 1t In the shortest time at the best
point and the lowest sum, besides 1t dimnisheS
greatly the amount which is finally to be charged
to the. District Of Columbia, itself very important
consideration. CITIZEN.
The ENTERTAINMENT AT Mt. ZION CHURCH.-The
entertainment which took place at Wesley Zion
church last Wednesday evening was one OF the best
ever witnessed in that section OF the city. The
church was packed with ladies and gentlemen from
every portion OF the city. Among the notable were
Mr.. George Mark and Thomas j. Putnam. assistant
Prof. John Layton. Mir. William Taliafero, Mr.. j.
+. n. Wilkinson and Prof r. T. Greener.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION-There was large
gathering last evening at the country seat OF Mr..
Geo Eminent, north OF the city, the occasion being
The 2lSt birthday OF Mr. Bernard Emmert. Among
those present We're the Misses Whalen, Fulmor and
Pan. Of Virginia; Mrs. and Miss Kulman and Miss
Pabst, OF Maryland Miss Emma Ballbach, Miss
Emmert, Mrs Elliott. Mrs just, Misses Gieseking,
lleitmuller, and MessrS. De Wilton AtchsOn, Rol
Billings, Willard Dunn, Geo. Emmert, Jr., Elmer
Dunn, Gus Gade, Henry Myers, Virgin1uS Elliott,
Chas. Naylor. Julius Albers and Henry Bauer.