National Republican., 1885-02-16

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,: The patient,
long suffering people Of this District have great
reason to complain that the lessees OF the
Alexandria aqueduot have received such en-
couragement IN their efforts to delay the set
tlomcnt of tho free bridge question.
For years this matter has been before con-
gress,a notwithstanding all therapproaches
10 TINS city have been released from toll
charges and the necessities of the case have
been urgent and most palpably brought to the
attention of Congress, still no remedy has been
Afforded and the lessecs still collect tolls from
passers over their rickety bridge.
The puerllo effort made during vacation to
rush the government into acceptance of deed
from the lessees has miserably failed, and the
department. OF justice has at last given n
quietus to further efforts in this direction by
showing that the grantors In that deed do not
own and consequently cannot convey the
property proposed to be sold, and that in point
OF fact their bridge has really no legal up
prOacn to tho north side OF the river.
The attempt to bolster up this fatal defect by
q wholesale appropriation OF the property and
franchises of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
dlu not pass the scrutiny of the law officers of
tho government, and we know not what plan
the ingenuity OF the lessees will next suggest
for eNtrication from their dilemma.
We fear that this session has thus been
wasted and that another long period of
burden Is to be submitted TO by those whose
location requires the use Of this approach to
this capital city.
The senate at the first session OF the present
congress passed bill known as the "Riddle-
berger BILL" which provides for a bridge at
THE Three Sisters" the provisions of which
are acceptable to all parties In interest. That
bill now sleeps, we fear, the sleep that knows
no waking IN the house District committee of
which Hon. j. j.. Barbour is chairman and
whose conduct in the matter has been much
discussed, both in public and in private, since
he understands all tho wants Of his own peo-
plo in tho promises.
lie should, we think, know by this time that
any further dallying with the lossees involves
delay in the relief which his constituents
need and II his objection to the Three Sisters
bill Is In the name of its author, we would
suggest TINT as chairman OF nm important
committee he cannot afford to sacrifice public
Interests In order that q political adversary
may not receive duo credit for good work well
done in behalf Of the public.
1t is futile to urge that deed from the Chesa-
peake and ONO Canal Company will cure all
defects.
A cursory examination of its charter will
show that II cannot sell or convey any land or
other property used by IL, and even If such
sale or conveyance could be made, all It's prop
erty In this District is heavily encumbered by
mortgages to the state of Maryland, securing
that creditor the repayment OF millions of dol
Ia long since due,
These mortgages are of record in this Dis
triUt.
1t can further be shown that the board of
public works Of Maryland, voting majority
of stock, controls the operations Of tho Chesa-
peake ~ Ohio canal and that, although it Is
private work, any measure looking to the dis
position of that states interest In the same,
which as stockholder or otherwise must be
passed by one legislature OF that state and Sc
'ct,Ie the approval of the next succeeding leg
islatiirt' beioreSich measure can be carried
out. N...
We all know that the suss Ions OF tho Mary
land legislature are biennial,uld can therefore
see nothing but further delay ma continu-
ance OF tolls In such au arrangements,
We therefore, beg that the Riddle.erger
bill will be rcportedt 10 the house and put tGgQn
It's passage, NJ.
WASHINGTON CITY, D. O.. Feb. "a. 1856.