Evening star., 1899-02-10
Hearing on the Subject Before a
House Committee.
THOSE INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT
Representative Rixey Reviews the
Efforts Already Made.
MR.. HEPBURN'S SUGGESTION

The House committee on Interstate and
foreign commerce today gave a hearing on
the bill to construct the Grant memorial
bridge across the Potomac river at Wash
ington. Those present We're: Mr.. Daniel
X. Trimmer of York. Pa. Mr.. James Nc
Conville and Mr.. Daniel McConville of Ohio
Representative Rixey and Senator Martin
of Virginia, Mr. "A. B. Graham. Mr.. George
n. Saegmuller. Mr.. Leo Kengia. Mr.. VIM.
c. Wibert, Mr.. James E Clements, Judge
A. B. Grunnell. Mr. George w Gray. Rev
Geo. P. Robinson. Mr.. George A Armes Mr.
Chas. l. Simms- Mr.. Francis C. Schutt. Mr.
]. F. L. Drain. Mr. w. C. Shelby Mr.. NJ. B.
Harlow
The Washington board of trade was rep
resented at the hearing by Mr. B. H. War
ner, MIR. Frank Hume and Mr.. c. H. How
ard.
The Business Mems Association was rep
resented by MI W. S. Mexican and Mr.. c.
h. Syme.
When the committee called TO order
Chairman Hepburn announced that the
time allotted for the hearing was limited
Representative Rixey's Address.
Representative Rixey of Virginia in be-
half Of the citizens present, then addressed
the comTnI.,er He briefly reviewed the
efforts which have been made by the citi-
partment TO secure the construction of a
with the Arlington military reservation.
1hf. RNey quUttu Ii Ori 1eItcrl mace on
the bill in the last Congress, which said:
In the Fifty-second Congress a private
corporation sought to buiId q bridge at this
point, and a bill granting the franchise for
that purpose was Introduced in the second
session thereof. This bill was referred for
report to the War Department by this
committee, and the War Department
suenuous.y Y and urgently opposed the
granting of this site 10 private corpora
ton, upon the ground that the site was
needed by the government, that this COM
mittee declined to report the bill. We are
not aware that at any other tune private
parties sought to build the bridge.
We are satisfied, however, that, consid-
ering the necessity of rendering speedily
anu safely accessible to the capital its chief
military post at Fort Myer, the propriety
of fitting approach to the great national
cemetery at Arlington, where are gathered
so many of the nations honored dead, and
the desira blity for these reasons of sub
Jecting the use of this bridge to the control
of The War Department, none other than
the government should be allowed to build
it. For the same reason, and because tram
ways of every KIND are exc uded by this
bill from the use of this bridge, it is proper
that the cost of building 1t should be borne
exclusively by the government, and that
the committees amendment, striking out
the clause imposing one-half of the cost Of
the bridge upon the District of Columbia,
shall be Adopted
Repeatedly Recommended.
"Snce 1886 up TO the present time" said
Mr.. RiXey, the building of this bridge has
been urged repeatedly upon the attention
of Congress by successive Secretaries of
War, chiefs of engineers and quarteImas-
ters general of the army. Within brief
period the present quartermaster general of
the army, representing not only his own
views, but stating that he came by direc-
ton of the Secretary of War, has been be-
fore your committee and surenuousiy set
forth. the entire hauequacy OF the present
means OF communication with the large
rnIItary post of tort Myer, the insecure
character of the Aqueduct bridge, and the
fact tnat il would take twice the time to
reach the capIlai thel cover in an emergency
than would be required for tnat purpose
under the conditions presented by TINS bill.
u he Secretary OF W his annual
port tor 1885 sad
Improv ed means of communication be-
tween Washington and the Virginia shore
must very soon he provided. Another
bridge is not only conceded necessity to
the population of both sides of the Potomac
ana as an approach to the national Gene
terry at Arlington, but also as military
convenience TO bring the principal garrison
OF me nationa capllal WITHIN easy reach of
its streets and puDllc buildings.
{" Z vice l have submitted the suggestion
that such a structure can easily be made
the most Impressive of the worlds memo
rlals to herolsn. The natural advantages
OF the site unsurpassed The region is
associated with war as no other region of
our country, and the site is distinctly ma
tlonal such a memorial bridge, orna-
mented with statues of our greatest war
riors, with symboiical figures OF the strong
qualities that warfare brings into pay and
with representations of the crucial events
III national history, would be the same in
comparable memorial TO the greatness of a
peaceful people aroused by war as our sim
iS he rfH
monument 10 indiV dual greatness which
genius has yet executed. 1t is not proposed
that the establishment of the bridge shall
now be provided for, but it is urged that its
ultimate memorial character shall be con-
sidered in the first designs and earliest ap-
pfopriations "
MIR. Rixey pointed out by means of a
large map the route between the War De-
partment and Fort Myer three and three
eights miles in length. The proposed bridge
would shorten the distance to two and one
fourth miles
chairman Hepburn's Suggestion
You know said Chairman Hepb1rn
the difficulty of getting appropriations
now Would you be content for US to re-
port the bill with the approximation
stricken out depending upon future ap-
preparation bill for the money!
Mr.. Rixey said that as an alternative he
thought that proposition would be accent
able.
Senator Martin said he desired to appear
simply to evidence the interest which his
stale reels IN this proposition. He was as
sured the committee thoroughly understood
the proposition, which he regarded as a
natlona matter and not entirely local
senator Martin was asked by member
OF the committee whether electric cars
should be permitted to use the bridge. He
SAID he thought it would be better to hold
that question IN allegiance until later when
circumstances might dictate the course
The Grand Army's Interest
Mr.. D. X. Trimmer of York Pa, in behalf
OF the Grand Army of the Republic smoke
FOR the bill. In happy vein Mr.. Trimmer
said that the old soldiers realized now that
the line of demarkation between the sec
tions is disappearing. and there was mo
better way to emphasize that fact than bv
constructing this bridge connecting the
north and the south. He said the old SOL
diers demand the bridge 10 afford then, ar
cess to their national burying ground
Mr.. b. H. Warner, addressing the COM
nlittee, said the Grant Memorial AssocIa
tion, of which he is member feels that
the valor of the country demands recoeni-
ton of the erandest military hero of the