Evening star., 1896-04-09
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
To Provide Survey for Bridge Across
the Eastern Branch.
1t Would Benefit the People Living ON
the Other Sfde-Other Local
Measures.

Chairman Babcock will call up next Mon
day in the House. that being District deg,
the bill authorizing survey for bridge
across the Eastern branch Of the Potomac,
at the foot of Massachusetts avenue ex-
tended The report on this bill says:
ut is not necessary at this time to
rive at a final determination as to the ne
cessity for bridge such as the bill report
ed contemplates. In the committees view,
however, there is sufficient evidence of its
necessity and desrablity to warrant the
survey, plan and estimate provided for in
order that the question of its ultimate erec-
ton may be intelligent'y considered with
relation to cost and public benefit. Your
committee has received petitions subscrib
ed by over one thousand residents and tax
payers of the District of Columbia praying
the enactment of this or some other bill
providing for the construction OF a bridge
across the Eastern branch at the location
designated in the bill under discussion.
Among ether reasons for the passage of
such bill, in the judgment Of said petit
TONERS, the following may be briefly men
toned:
To Benefit People Across the Eastern
Branch.
1.-The large population lying east Of the
Eastern branch and in its immediate Vi
cinity has at present no convenient access
to the city. The bridge would open up a
very large territory to street car facilities,
which are absolutely necessary to the de-
velopment of this section of the District.
It would open UP a direct communication
for all the Marlboro travel, which now has
to make long detours to reach the city.
ut would benefit almost exclusively the
poorer and working classes, who are being
driven into the suburbs to find homes, and
who cannot afford to buy in sections NOW
reached by street cars because Of the hfsh
price Of real estate. 1t Offers less obstrIc-
tions. in the way of the width of tie East
ern branch and Of the crossing of steam
railway tracks, than would be met on the
line Of any other street between the pres
ent Pennsylvania avenue and Benning
bridges Practically all Of the ground lying
east OF the Eastern branch required for the
extension of Massachusetts avenue to the
Bowen road would be dedicated to the gov
ernment free of charge. The increase in
the value of property Der Gifted by such a
bridge would soon return the cost Of the
bridge to the treasury in increased taxes.
Instructions for the Scaling Patrol.
The instructions to United States revenue
vessels for the patrol of the seal waters
during the approaching season have been
completed by the Treasury Department
and will shortly be issued to the captains
OF the vessels. They are substantially the
same as those of last year. 1t is expected
the fleet will arrive in Bering sea May /.
capt. L.. L. hooper, VINO CammanQc0 Lne
fleet last season, will again be in charge.
The feet will be composed of six of the
best revenue cutters in the service-Grant,
Capt. Stamm: Wolcott, Capt. Phillips: Cor
win. Capt. Roath; Bear. Capt. Tuttle:
Rush, Capt. Roberts, and Perry, Capt.
Smith.
For the Police Van Driver.
Senator PETER has renewed his fight on
behalf Of the under-paid drivers of the
vehicles of the police department Of the
District, which he has waged each session
for several years. This morning he pre-
sented an amendment to the District ap-
preparation bill providing that the wages
Of van drivers and all other drivers in the
police department shall not be less than
$50 per month each"
To Investigate the Liquor TraMc.
The Vice President today laid before the
Senate memorials signed by the officers Of
the Central Union Mission and Of the
Washington District Epworth League ask
| ing Congress to establish q national COM
mission Of inquiry to investigate the LIQUOR
traffic.
The Capitol Police.
Mr.. Blue Of Kansas has introduced a res
olution in the House directing a modifica-
ton Of the rule relating to the employment
| Of Capitol police SO as to include Union
soldiers over forty years Of age