The Washington times., 1916-07-21

Congress ID likely to ponder Q long
while before It grants permission for
a bridge across the lower Potomac from
Riverside to Metomkin. near Colonial
Beach.
This was the Impression gained to-
day from talks with Senators and House
members. most Of whom never heard Of
the project until they read OF It yester-
day In The Times.
Senator John Walter Smith of Mary.
land was asked today about the propo-
sition to construct q drawbridge for use
Of the Potomac and Baltimore Railroad
Company.
He said the matter had not pre-
| viously been called to his attention.
''As to the report that the Maryland
board Of public works has decided such
| a bridge may be built, know nothing"
said Senator Smith.
Congress Must Decide.
The lower Potomac ,s q navigable
stream. Congress Is the body that will
have to decide whether a bridge can
be built. II It Is proposed to build one.
!! The matter has never been called to my
attention heretofore"
In the opinion Of Senator Smith. the
State authorities cannot decide the
question. and II the matter Is pressed
It will be up to the War Department
In that event. Congress will give care
full consideration to the question whether
such q bridge would be hindrance to
navigation and would interfere with
ing here. especially naval vessels.
Senator Smith would not say. whether
he believed Congress ever would assent
TO the bridge But he was explicit IN
say whether II should be constructed.
kenyon's Views.
Senator Kenyon. who IL a member Of
the Senate Commerce Committee. to
which any bill on this subject would be
referred. and who also Is q member Of
OF this kind would get through without
| careful consideration. Moreover. he felt
the interests of Washington would not
be overlooked.
cept as I have read Of It In the papers"
, said Senator Kenyon. 1T Is clearly a
question for Congress to decide. I am
willing to say. however, that any such
oush confederation before It was passed.
And the interests of the National Capt.
tai would be fully taken into account"
When a bill Is introduced IN the
this bridge 1t will 80 to the Inter-
| state Commerce Committee. Even
when the question of q navy yard
exit is not involyed that committee
cation. The proposal to construct u
bridge across the Potomac. curtailing,
to say the least, the exit and entry
waterway leading to the National
Capital and It's navy yard 10 certain
to be subjected to the closest scru-
Chairman Adamson. of the House
committee. is Z. consistent guardian
Of navigation. He said significantly
today:
we say to such a proposition"
And that, to one who knows the
meaning Of the laconic expressions Of
chairman Of the Interstate Commerce
Committee. means as much as column
statement.
Jealous Of Potomac.
Congressman A. w. Barkley Of Ken
lucky, another member Of the COM
mittee. said:
"I am Jealous Of the Potomac river
and Its navigability. So far as ! know.
no proposition has ever come before our
committee that would mean the partial
cutting off of navy yard. Even under
ordinary circumstances the resolve the
benefit Of doubt In favor Of navigation
when a. proposal is made to bridge .
navigabie stream. You may be assured
that will not favor anything that
would interfere with the navigability OF
the Potomac or the plying Of vessels t9
and from Its navy yard and the Capf-
tal"
| Congressman Dan v. Stephens Of
Nebraska. said:
II am opposed to anything that
| would interfere with the navigability
OF the Potomac river. I love the his
toric Potomac. Tho very strongest
reasons would have TO be presented
to me before I would vote for a bill
to bridge the river between this city
and Colonial Beach. do not see at
this time how l could support such a
bill. 1t Is hard to get through Con-
gress q bill to bridge an ordinary