Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-27
Bill Passed by the Senate Yes
terdav Afternoon.
LEFT TO A COMMISSION
COST OF PROPOSED STRUCTURE TO
BE s5,ooo,ooo.
Senator Platt Tells How the Past Con-
troversies Over Plans Have De-
layed the Project.

The Senate yesterday afternoon passed
Senate bill $40. to provide for the con-
structiou of a memorial bridge across the
Potomac river from this city to the Airing
ton estate.
The bill was amended in the Senate Ey
providing that instead of the Secretary Oh
War alone being authorized to pass on the
plans for the bridge. that respons-b my
should be borne by a board consisting OF
tie Secretary of War. the president pro
temrore of the Senate. the Speaker OF the
House of Representatives. and the chaifnieh
of the Senate and House District commit
tees This amendment was adopted a1ter
remarks by Senator Plat of Connecticut.
Criticism of Plans.
II do not Think said Mr.. Platt- we
ought to provide for the erection OF a me-
mortal bridge without Congress itself pass
ing on the plans. There has been great
delI of criticism about the pans that have
heretofore been prepared and submitted
for this memorial bridge; and this bill pro-
noses to put the dec on, as L understand
it of the plans for the construction OF the
bridge solely in the hands of the Secretary
of War. 1t seems to me that Wllei We dfe
about to enter upon work, the importance
ought to know what kind of a bridge is TO
be constructed. and not, as the years go by.
have the whole country feeling that a mis-
take has been made IN the character anu
appearance of the bridge
- II have every confidence in the present
Secretary of War, but he is not an engi-
neer: I have every confidence in the IN
corning Secretary of War, but he Is not
I'm engineer, and /. myself. do not feel
that | can vote for a bill which conclusive
Is appropriates 5000, O00-although only
50 ,o00 is carried in this bill-for bridge,
wi ich Is to be approved by any one man.
Il think that what ought to be done IS
to appropriate S5o0,0O0 to enable the Sec
ret ry of War to secure the plans ana
ma he report to Congress, ana then let
Congress determine what plans shall De Sc
lee. ed for the construction of the bridge
Ii we do not adopt such course, think
we will regret it hereafter.
Why No Bridge Has Been Built.
OF course l do not intend to go through
al the controversy that there has been
about the plans; but there has been such
controversy about the plans that no bridge
has been yet constructed. The difficulty
about it. as I understand. has been that
the plans which have been presented have
met with such opposition-some of them,
not all of them-from parties who have ex-
perience and talent in relation to sucn
matters that it has not been possible to
reconcile the different views to the
plans for the bridge.
II one plan. Mr.. President. which it
was supposed would be accepted and the
bridge built according to it. and with my
little knowledge on the subject and from
what | could gather by looking at the pic
ture of il, ii seemed to me TO be entirely
improper.
Il do not know that desire to say any
thing more about it. want to vote against
this bill L would vote for a bill which
directed the Secretary of War to call for
md t.l, to
secure those plans and then left to Con-
gress the determination of the question.
Il suppose 1t will be said that when the
plans come to Congress there will be diff
ference of opinion about them l suppose
there viii be, but If that be So think We
had better wait before beginning the con-
struction of this bridge until we can get
some one plan which will receive the
quiescence of a majority of Congress. to
say the least and the plans being submitted
and the report ma lie to Congress, if a ma
iorijy of Congress is not ready to adopt any
of them, then l think it would be worth
while to try il over again and get some
otEer plans"
Mr. Martin suggested that bill of this
kind had been before the Senate for many
years, MIR. Gallinger suggesting that two or
three bills for the same purpose had passed
the Senate
Mr. Fairbanks suggested that instead of
leaving the adoption of plan to the Secre-
tary of War II should be passed on by
commission composed Of the Secretary, the
President of the Senate. Speaker of the
House and chairnen of the two District
committees.
The Bill as Amended.
The bill as amended and passed provides
that the Secretary of War is authorized and
directed to cause to be constructed a memo
rial bridge from the most convenient point
of the naval observatory grounds, or ad-
jIcent thereto, across the Potomac river to
The most convenient point of the Arlington
estate property: the bridge to be con-
structed a plan to be approved by
board composed of the Secretary of War,
the President pro tempore of the Senate,
the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tivrs. the chairman of the committee on the
District of Columbia of the Senate and the
chairman of the committee on the District
OF Columbia of the House of Representa-
tiveS. and not to cost more than $5,000,tO0.
The Secretary of War is authorized to ex-
pend SO much of the amount appropria ted
as may be necessary for the purpose in Sc
curing and determining on proper plan,
opening the competition to all who may de-
S re To submit plans.
The sum of $500. 200. or so much thereof as
my he necessary. is appropriated for the
purpose of securing and determining on
proper plan to commence the construction
OF he memorial bridge.