The Washington herald., 1907-08-17
MAY BAR COLLINS
Secretary Taft Will Rule on
Conduit Road To-day.
CALLS FOR ALL PAPERS IN CASE
Possibly He May Deputize Watch
men Along Aqueduct as Aids 40
United states Marshals-In that
Event, Glen Echo Authorities VIII
Have No Jurisdiction.

Secretary Taft will this morning take
up the question of the jurisdiction over
the Conduit road and decide what the
War Department will do under the Opin-
ion rendered some time ago by Attorney
General Bonaparte, declaring that the
road was under the complete jurisdiction
OF the War Department, and not under
the State of Maryland nor the village
authorities at Glen Echo.
When the opinion of Attorney General
Bonaparte was rendered II was sent 20
Secretary Taft at an early day. and yes
terday he notified Chief Clerk ScohelaIo
have all the papers in the matter put on
his desk this morning. and 10 notify
Maj Cosby, the engineer officer in charge
Of the aQueduct and the Conduit road, 10
meet the Secretary for a conference. The
calling in OF Maj. Cosby. instead OF sum
moning the law officers OF the department
to confer upon the matter is taken to
mean that the Secretary is going TO fol-
low the attorney generals opinion and
place the road under the control Of the
War Department.
May DeputIze Watchmen.
II was understood yesterday that the
Secretary Will appoint government watch
men, now on duty along the Conduit
road deputy United States marshals. and
give them complete control over the road.
They will exercise police authority and
arrest all viOlaters OF the Laws or regula-
tons the entire length of the road from
Cabin John Bridge to the city. This
u. - a.
the Glen Echo limits, and neither Mayor
Garrett nor Marshal Collins will be al
lowed 10 trespass or arrest any one on
the road, and II they do SO, they viii
be liable TO arrest themselves.
II Is supposed that the speed regulation
now In force on. suburban roads In the
District viii be extended 10 the Conduit
road. or new regulations with regard 20
speed VIII be made, so that Automobiles
will not gain much or anything, by the
government assuming control over the
road for instead Of having their speed
restricted on the road to that portion
within the limits Of Glen Echo. the limit
will extend the entire length Of the Con
duit road and Will thus abolish speeding
on that thoroughfare altogether.
Has Precedent 10 Follow,
If the Secretary follows this course. he
will only be following precedent estab-
hshed a few years ago on the Virginia
side Of the Aqueduct Bridge. For some
time the government reservation. on the
south end Of the Aqueduct Bridge.
throsgh which the road runs TO Airing
ton, was policed by deputy sheriffs of
Alexandria. Complaints were made. and
Il was established that the Alexandra
officials had no jurisdiction over the road
IN the government reservation, ana deputy
marshals were appointed to police that
reservation. Since then the government
has complete control. and the Alexandria
officials have not trespassed. or attempted
70 arrest any one on the reservation.
II is not believed that the Secretary
has any idea Of using the army 70 police
the Conduit road. but will increase the
number OF Watchmen now stationed along
the thoroUghfare. and make them deputy
marshals with the cooperation OF the
Department Of Justice