Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-05
An Extended Discussion on a Propo-
sition to Improve It.
IT'S STRENGTH and WEAKNESS
Progress Made on the District Ap'
pr pr ton Bill.
A DIRECT VOTE T A K E n

tlOn OF the DlStrlct appropriation DILL began
today at 1925. Mr.. German introduced an
amendment making Immediately available
the money appropriated for the improve
ment of streets and county roads. This
was adopted. Senator Daniels amendment,
providing for the reconstruction of AQue-
duct bridge for it's use by street cars. was
then taken up. and Mr.. Faulkner said that
this proposition had already been rejected
by the District and appropriations commit
tees of the Senate. He therefore raised a
point of order against it that it was general
legislation. Mr.. Daniel resisted this conten-
ton, and the Vice President submitted the
question to the Senate, but before he did
so MI. Daniel went on to explain the amend
ment.
Mr.. Daniel on the AGueduct Bridge.
The Aqueduct bridge. he said. is built
upon stone piers that are solid and sub
stantial. The bridge structure can be re-
built to accommodate street car line to
the Virginia side, and this measure has
been recommended by the Engineer Com
missioner of the District. This. said Mr..
Daniel will be the best solution of the
veXed problem of how to connect the state
of Virginia with the District by street
cars He understood that the plan has re-
ceived the approval of the Secretary of
War. The appropriation is very small for
and heavy travel to Arlington as place Of
resort for tourists and others, and Fort
Myer, too. is only to be reached in this
way. There is also demand on the part
of the residents at the Virginia end of the
bridge for means to get into the city.
The Memorial Bridge Project.
The Senator called attention to the Me-
mortal bridge project, and said that he
should press it now If the condition Of the
treasury were not such as it is. He pro-
duced a recent article from The Star upon
this subject. which, he said, presented the
need for such bridge in "a very intelli-
gent and comprehensive STYLE" He in
marks.
Senator Daniel paid his respects to that
school of craftsmanship that pays no at
tention to the needs of posterity, and said
that he was glad he did not belong to that
class. In conclusion he said that there is
no appropriation asked for by the bill that
can be so economically made as this, or
one that will make so adequate a return.
Mr.. Fnulkner's Reply.
In reply Mr.. Faulkner said that this mat
ter has been given as complete an investi-
CATION as any other subject that has ever
come before the District committee. He
alluded to recent legislation that gives the
Mount Vernon road access to the city, and
thought that this will surely provide ample
river for the present. These people now
want the government to practically build
a bridge for them, for If the Aqueduct
should be used it would have to be almost
rebuilt, as 1T is not very strong. Thou
sands of dollars have been expended in
the effort to strengthen the bridge. and
thousands more are now being spent on
new contracts. AS to the point of order,
Mr.. Faulkner claimed that the amend
ment drawn, is general legislation.
The Railroad Company Arraiened.
Mr.. Hale said that he was entirely willing
for the Senate to vote on the merits of the
question, and he bad no doubt this would
be done in the present instance. If there
is ever to be made resistapce to the eff
forts of the railroads to capture all the
approaches to the city it is to be made
nov, this amendment. Mr.. Hale severe
ly arrasned the Arlington Railway COM
pany for it's failure to build bridge, after
having beef. given ample authority to build
such structure. He said that it had take1i
posses sion of the road to Arlington, and
now wants the government to spend the
public money for its private use.
Senator Hunton spoke in favor of the
amendment and against the point of order.
Senator Mcmillan repeated what MIR.
Faulkner had said about the attitude of the
District committee. ami added that there
could he no question that the use Of the
bridge for this purpose would be danger
GUS to all the other users of the bridge.
Point of Order Withdrawn.
Senators Harris and German appealed to
Mr.. Faulkner to withdraw his point Of or
der to allow a direct vote upon the merits
of the proposition. He consented to do
this and Mr.. Daniel talked further in be-
half of his amendment He questioned the
force Of the argument that the bridge Is
not strong enough to bear the additional
weights.
He said it should he placed on the retired
list. though he hardly thought it deserves
| 10 200 To
year, until it is weak the bridge is
quoted as being. The Senator scorned the
idea that the members of the District COM
m.ttee should pronounce the bridge unsafe
after the expert engineers have declared 1t
to be perfectly strong and secure.
The committee. he said. has been very
free about granting franchises to street
railways for valuable routes about town.
for which the recipients pay nothing at all.
In this case the railroad company is willing
to give a valuable consideration for this
privilege, at the rate of one cent for each
passenger carried in cars across the bridge.
The Union station Criticised.
Mr.. German said the committee on APP
pr OPERATIONS had thought that the PROPOSE
ton should be brought into the Senate as
anxious to give the people across the river
better facilities for transportation. He
thought, too, that there ought to be more
bridges across the Potomac, Congress
has practically taken the Long bridge
away from the people and devoted it to
the use of the railroads.
He thought however that there had been
too much liberality shown to the street
railways in making their connect ions with
the country. He criticised the plan that
has been suggested by Major Powell for
a three-story station at the north end of
the Aoueduct bridge for the joint use of
the roads terminating on the Georgetown
end, the third story to be used to run the
cars off to the bridge. This he called
of the most remarkable structures ever
proposed for erection in the District.
It would seriously interfere with the
view from the bridge, one of the most
beautiful views, he declared, in this part
of the country The plan contemplates the
construction of a gradually rising struc-
ture, beginning from the middle of the
river, so that the cars can enter the sta
ton at the third story.
Mr. Daniel ridculed the notion that a
great and needed public improvement
should not be allowed for fear that the
summer girl and summer boy may not have
the beautiful vision of charming view by
a little bank and passing street car. The
farmers of Virginia were to be sacrificed
in order that the youths of the city might
have summer holiday.
The Amendment Lost.
The amendment was then put to a vote
of the Senate and it was lost Mr.. Hunton
g., 1i1f,io h,,t hor