Evening star., 1900-06-05

expenditure for a project of such national,
patriotic and commemorative character as
this would and ought to be.
There is a surplus and large surplus, of
money in the treasury of the United States.
1t seems to me there could be no better
way of distribution, no method of eXpend1-
ture more in consonance with national
spirit and national pride, than in the erec-
ton of great public works that at once
tend to facilitate travel and trade between
the various communities between which
they built. and TO perpetuate and keep
alive the memory of the great landmarks
of the history of the country.
Mr.. Pearre Urges the Bridge.
Mr.. Pearre of Maryland was then recog-
nized to advocate the bridge
"Mr Speaker so far as / have been able
to gauge the sentiment of this House upon
this subject" said Mr.. Pearre, (which has
recently been brought to its attention by
the incorporat ton into this bill of the Sem
ate amendment, there is very little differ
ence of opinion as to either the necessity
or the propriety of this memorial bridge.
The District of Columbia has been sep
arated. we may say, from the state OF Nir-
gnia and from the whole south by the
Potomac river without any proper or de-
cent means of communication between the
two II You canvass the sentiment of this
House upon this subject you will discover
that almost every man yields to the argu-
ment or suggestion that this bridge should
be built, and many suggest the postpone
ment of the beginning of this construction
at this time.
1T appears to me, sir, that now is the
accepted hour, now is the time to begin
this bridge; not only because the revenues
of the government of the United States are
greater than they have ever been before;
not only because this government at this
time can better afford to pay the money
bridge
il, but because. sir, the relations existing
between the great southland and the north
have reached that degree of harmony that
this sentiment of reunion and of reuniting
portunely incarna.ed in this magnificent
memorial structure. loud applause) The
time has come, sir. after many years of
travail, after many years of hesitation
after many years of pride, and after many
years of msgiving and suspicion upon both
sidcs-the time has come when the heart of
this nation has become healed and the two
sections are united; the time has come
the south march side by side for the glory
of the flag and the honor of a reunited
country. That time, sir, is the time when
this memorial should be constructed -
loud applause.)
MIR. Swanson FavOrs the Project.
Mr.. Swanson of Virginia also spoke in
favor of the bridge proposition.
Now, this bridge is for ornamental pur-
poses and for useful purposes" said he,
which is rare in the other appropria tions
heretofore made. Here is the capital of the
nation, and the whole people of the United
States are interested in all which makes
Washington great and beautiful The ma
ton owns it. All the people of this coun-
try are interested in Arlington. There is
the national cemetery. There will be buried
In the future, as there has been buried in
the past, the great heroes of this nation.
1t is proposed to build a bridge that will
connect that portion of the city from tie
naval observatory with Arlington, making
II the most beautiful bridge in the world.
Upon II is proposed, instead of having
monuments scattered here and there in the
various parts of the city, to erect on the
bridge monuments and memorials of the
distinguished citizens of the United States.
If you want to make a memorial that will
be beautiful. be remembered, that will be
equal to the Washington monument, to
which you have contributed thousands and
thousands OF dollars, one that will be more
sensible and certainly equal in every way
then make this appropriation for this beau
tiful and great bridge 1t will have as
much beauty, it will have much senti-
ment. 1t will have as much admiration and
devotion to the great heroes and the great
achievements of this nation as all other
memorials combined.
MIR. BabcOck COunsels POstpOnement
Mr.. Babcock of Wisconsin then addressed
himself TO the subject under consideration
Il have always been a firm believer that a
bridge across the Potomac river at Wash
ington would be very desirable and ap-
propriate thing to build he said. II have
always been friendly to the proposition and
today | would be glad to vote for a bill, If
brought before the House here intelligently
and with a design which met the approval
of the people of the District and the Secre-
tary OF War. In such manner that Con-
gress would know what it was doing
The proposition before the House is to
make certain minor appropriation limiting
the expenditures in the future to a certain
sum. Now, in the first place, Congress has
not this matter in shape to act Intelligent
ly. memorial bridge has no better friend
this proposition until 1t has been brought
to the House intelligently, and has been
considered by committee of the House
that can make its report and answer all
questions as to the design and the cost and
the terms of construction.
Gentlemen you have no information ne re
except some surveys that have been sub
mitted by the War Department. Now, If
l found that II would require $4,000, 600 to
build that bridge and We had an intelligent
report here upon it, l would vote for it to-
day"
Mr.. Grosvenor-"What is this?" (holdine
up large document.
Mr.. Babcock-"That is the report submit
ted by the Secretary of War"
Mr. Grosvenor-"With all the drawings
and plans for this proposed bridge"
Mr. Babcock-''Yes, sir With drawings
and plans: but l have been informed by
reputable men in the District of Columbia
that they do not want that kind of a
bridge; that the plans are not satisfac-
tory
Mr.. Grosvenor-"You want the .reputa-
BILE men to have the first say about this
matter
Mr.. Babcock-"Oh. no; but this bridge
Is proposed as great monument to"
Mr.. Grosvenor-''lt may be that this re-
port Is weaker because 1t did not come
from the committee on the District of
Columbia
Mr. Babccck-"Does the gentleman think
so?'
Mr.. Grosvenor-"No; but the gentleman
himself does"
Mr.. Babcock-'"rhank you. The gentle