Evening star., 1900-06-05
A MEMORIAL BRIDGE
The House Refuses to Concur in
Senate Amendment.
LIVELY DEBATE ON TIE SUBJECT
Proposition is Advocated by Many
Representatives.
DEF ATED ON VOT Z

After The Stars report of the House pro-
ceedinss closed yesterday afternoon vote
was taken on Mr.. Babcocks motion to con-
cur in the Senate amendment 10 the Dis
trict appropriation bill appropriating $780,
oso fo, a site for a municipal hospital. The
motion was carried. and with this action
the appropriation bill passed by the
House. The form Of the amendment was
slightly altered. however. so that the bill
had to so back TO the Senate for concur
renee.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois then presented the
conference report on the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill, reporting a disagreement
OF the conferees upon the item of s2oo1o1
to comm nee a memorial bridge across the
Potomac river.
Mr.. RiNey Advocates Concurrence.
Mr R;xey of Virginia secured the floor to
advocate concurrence in the Senate amend
ment.
This is not new question" he said. 1T
has been before Congress in one form or
another for the last ten twelve years. A
number of bills have been introduced in
both Houses of Congress. A report has
been made 10 this House in one or two Con-
crosses. and bill was passed IN the Senate
providing for the building of a bridge
across the Potomac river. The Importance
of a bridge across the Potomac river, con-
meeting the city of Washington with Ar
Gngton cemetery, has been urged repeat
tdly by the several quartermasters, by sew
erstl of the Secretaries of War, and more
recently by the President of the United
StateS.''
After referring to an appropriation for
soundngs in 1877. he said:
The sundry civil bill of March g. 1899
carried AN appropriation of s5.Ur to provide
plans and specifications for bridge across
the Potomac at that point. Under that ap-
preparation architects were selected and
called on to make 4 report.
Upon the receipt Of their several plans
by the War Department the Secretary of
War appointed special board. consisting
Of three members of the corps of engineers
and TWO civilian architects. This board
consisting of engineers and architects re-
ported unanimously in favor of the plan
which was subsequently approved by the
engineer-in-ch chief Gen. Wilson and by the
Secretary of War. The plan submitted
provided Tor an expenditure of something
less than Si.HD.,sD for the bridge. The
chief of engineers Gen. Wilson and the
secretary of War recommended that the
plans b. modified by additions 50 that The
total cost would be something less than
S.N-''s'' The Importance of the bridge al
This point is Well set forth in the renort of
the Secretary of War in 1N.s:
Il call the attention of the House to the
1aCt that the approach on the citv side is
owned by the national government. The
idrd upon the south side Of the Potomac ic
also owned hy the government The bed of
the Potomac is owned by the government
NO better pace can be found for the build
Ing OF this bridge; it Is urged as a neces-
slty by the War department. it was recon-
mended by the President, and | trust that
this House will be in favor of it,
Mr. Mudd's Amendment.
Mr.. Mudd of Maryland offered an amend
mcnt limiting the cost of the bridge to
SJs1OU
The proposition which has just been
read from the clerks desk perhaps ex-
presses my judgment to this measure
for the construction of a memorial hridpe
better than could do II in any other wav"
said Mr.. Mudd. II believe that We should
construct this bridge and that We should
authorize the Secretary of War to contract
for il now.
i shall not however, insist upon the
provisions Of the amendment which have
suggested and had read to the extent of
conflict with the motion made by the gen.
teinan from Virginia, because / am willing
to cooperate in any effort from which there
is any hope of success for this movement
lie spoke OF the length of time the sub
oect had been considered and continued:
ne Grand Army of the Republic fayors
ana has appealed to Congress from time 10
time Tor the construction of this bridge
Ihe secretary of War has over and over
again reported In its favor The President
OF the United States. in his late message
to Congress commends 1t in terms that
should appeal to us all. as what he was
pedsed To regard as "a monument to Amer
lean patriotism
This bridge should commend itself to
this body a measure of utility and as a
measure of the best and highest national
sentiment. 1t commentaries the one hun
dredth anniversary of the establishment of
the seat of government in this country in
this city. This bridge viii span the Poto-
mac river. 1t will link this city of the liv-
ing with the city of the dead over yonder
at the home of Lee. 1t will, in better and
more attractive manner than can in any
other way be devised. give a concrete ex-
precision to the sentiment of the fgurative
hand clasp across the line that hitherto
divided the two sections of this country.
II will typify and symbolize and be for
the yCars To come an object lesson of tiie
comp etc and, as We hope, the lasting
unity Of the two sections Of this great land.
There no adequate facilities now for
crossing this river between the national
capital and the national cemetery. There is
no occasion for parsimony ilIberality in