Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-25

SPANS. THE POTOMAC
Eaters Into Discussion With North
Carolina Representative Who Would
Tax State

ssss j uS s4tSNtsS '.-ss'
Washington Feb. 25-Shall Virginia
help the United States government
build the proposed one million dol
lar akueduct across the Potomac
river, connecting the national capirai
with the State of Presidents? Repre-
sentative C. C. Carlin, who repre-
sents the Alexandria district in Con-
rress. saws ono" The Virginian is au-
thor of the bill to replace the present
structure across the Potomac with Il
new and up-to- date bridge, and is
violently opposed to using funds OF
the Virginia treasury to help IN the
construction of this aqueduct. Mr.
Carlin so told the members OF the
lower branch of Congress in three
hour debate on the bill before that
body this week. Representative Rage
of North Carolina, injected this issue
into the discussion. the Tar Heel
wanted to know whether Virginia
would bear share of the cost OF con-
structing this bridge.
Noticing" he said, chat there is
no provision in this bill that the State
of Virginia shall contribute q part OF
the cost of it's construction, | will ask
the gentleman (Mr. Carlin) does rot
the south end of the bridge reach over
into Alexandria county, Va. and is
not a very considerable benefit de-
rived from the bridge by the State OF
Virginia
Mr.. Carlin replied: ~ desire to cali
the attention TO the gentleman from
North Carolina to the fact that the
approaches and abutments of this pro-
posed bridge will be entirely on prop
erty owned by the United States gov
ernment and no part of it will be un-
der the control of the State of Vir-
ginia. If Congress would give to, the
State of: Virginia the control 'oyel; the
bridge or any part of it, | believe If
would be very easy matter to secure
its construction, and it, would still be
easier il. the government would pay
to Virginia the debt that the govern
ment owes that State. If ;that were
done, we would be glad to build the
bridge and present it to the people. "
Later on the debate became heated
and other representatives joined in.
Questions flew thick and fast, and it
was with difficulty that the House
shorthand sartists.-and they are en-
perts, too7-could; keep up with the
flow of conversation. Congressman
Carlinf: again .camte to the fore with
his arguments against Virginia pay
ing. anything toward the construction
of the proposed aqueduct, and Incl
deNtally referring to the great debt
that the national government owes TO
the State across he Potomac.
"The government said Mr.. Car
lin. towns these valuable lands In
Virginia, and, above ALL the govern
ment owns the land upon which this
bridge is to be constructed ,and 1t
seems to me remarkably narrow
view for any gentleman to undertake
to say that the State Of Virginia ought
to construct the bridge upon govern
mcnt land. give control of bridge to
the Federa government, and have
nothing 70 do, with it except. to con-
tribute to the, payment. Virginia does
not ask fer anything to which she is
not entitled. We are not supplients
for the charity of any government of
any people; but Virginia has the right
to say through me to this Congress
and she ought to say 1t, That she has
never been requested in any spirit Of
earnestness to participate in the own
ership of this bridge, and therefore
she does not feel called upon to par
ticipate in the payment of it. If W.
are going to look today to the ac
counts between Virginia and the gov
ernment, if we are going to open vi
the ledger and. see where the balance
is. we would have no difficulty in find
ing where the obligation rests"
Representative earlin then told o
the great debt this government owe1
-. fanas; aid, Dn,nipinn aThe :Wb;+