The sun., 1894-03-11
ryE aUDsoN RrrEs sR1Den
Representative BsrtIet's iHEtrortty WeBsvt
Against the Amended mi.


WASHINGTON. March TO- - Representative
Bartlett fled this afternoon the minority re-
port from the Committee on Interstate Com.
merce on the amended New York and New
Jersey Bridge bill. The report says that the
new bill. although ostensibly drawn to con-
form TO and meet the objections urged By the
President In his veto message against the
original bill, does not in point OF fact do so.
The principal reason given by the President
for his non-approval Of the former bill was
that It disregarded the judgment OF the Leg
isiature OF New York in favor OF nsingle span
over the waterway. and permitted the erec-
tlon of q pier in the river. and this particular
nroyision is found reincorporatedlin the new
measure.
Tho reportl recites the fact that the only
persons who urged the granting OF the charter
are its promoters. while. on the othcr hand.
the new measure was vigorously opposed By
the Chamber OF Commerce. the Produce Ex-
change and the Maritime Association OF New
York. These represent not only the BUSINESS
and comm ercial element OF New York. but all
elem ents which would be most benefited By
proper bridge. The report contends that any
island Of solid rock constructed In the bed Of
any great water highway is permanent
obstruction to navigation. and says, ,,,,
Is the fact that II will cost several millions
OF dollars more to span the entire waterway
than TO construct n bridge with snan OF 2.OOO
feet auHclent 10 outweigh al iuleEeFbo VI
commerce and navigation for centuries 10
comep ..
Tho report shows that m illions Of dollars are
expended every year TO improve rtvere and
harhors. and yet 1t IL now proposed TO build an
island OF stone in New York harbor because
the promoters OF this bill prefer not to raise
the additional money required for the CON
etructlon OF n proper and satisfactory bridge.
extended and within a few years docks. piers,
and stone bulkheads will cover the entire
North River water front up to tho northern:
m ost limit Of the island. and for miles beyond
the location OF this bridge. With each success
sive year after the con struction OF the pro-
posed stone pier. it's injury would become
more appa rent and the people would be pow:
erless to remedy the evil No bridge should
be built over North River until II can be built
without obstructlng the waterway. -
The report critlcisea that feature VI the bill
which takes away from the Secretary Of war
the power to determine the length OF span.
and coniers 1t upon board OF nve engineers;
1t SAYS that this provision is virtual repeal
OF the provision OF law WHICH makes all such
work subject to the approval OF the Secretary.
Tho report suggests that the only motive
which can be suggested for taking away his
Jurisdiction In this case ie the apprehension OF
tha bridge prom oters that their plans will not
meet his approval II It wero not expected
that such u Board would be moro indulgent
than the Secretary Of War might be- the pro-
moters Of the bill would not be here asking
that such q Board be substituted for him.
Their attitude is a confession in advance that
their plans are not such rs to be permitted BY
the general policy OF the Government