Evening star., 1920-02-05
CHAIN BRIDGE BILL
BLOCKED IN HOUSE
D. c. COMMITTEE
Mr.. Lampert Raises Point OF
No Quorum-Mr. KutZ
Favors Span.

The House District committee was
ready to report out today the bill in
troduced by Representative r. Wal
ton Moore of Virginia for an investi-
cation and drafting of plans for
new bridge to replace the old Chain
bridge three miles above Georgetown,
but was blocked by Representative
Lampert of Wisconsin.
The bill introduced by Representa-
tive Moore would authorize $500 for
the investigation and drawing OF
plans for the new bridge. After the
committee had discussed the need for
hiring an outside architect to draw
plans that would meet the approval
of the Fine Arts Commission, Repre-
sentative Lampert moved to reduce
this sum to $2,500.
When his motion was lost, Repre-
sentative Woods of Virginia moved
to report out the bill. This motion
was passed. but Representative Lam
pert raised the point of no quorum.
The committee then adjourned and
this matter goes over to the next
meeting.
Engineer Commissioner Kutz ap-
peared in favor of new bridge. He
told the committee that the present
restrictions as to the weight of loads
across the bridge are considerably
under the weights of vehicles which
would be most apt to use this bridge.
Architectural Advice Needed.
When Representative Johnson of Ken
lucky raised the question whether the
employees of the District could not draw
the necessary plans. Commissioner Kutz
said that the present District force can
make the tests necessary and can draw
plans for the bridge; that it is not en-
gineering advice that is needed, but
architectural and esthetic. He thought
it would be a short-sighted policy not to
pay the four or five thousand dollars
to an architect when such large
amount must be paid for a permanent
structure. He said that it will probably
be masonry bridge. In reply to ques-
tions by Representative Woods he said
it would cost much less than the Key
bridge now being built to replace the
old Aqueduct bridge.
He said that it would be a great mis-
fortune to the people of the Dis
trict and of that section of Virginia
not to have the bridge replaced He
said that the Commissioners have had
to divert great part of the traffic
that ordinarily would use this bridge
Representative Moore also empha-
sized the need for a new bridge, and
said that the present structure is un-
safe. Representative Johnson said
that the question of the bridge being
unsafe is the most important consid-
shows 1T to be unsafe, as leader of
the minority in the committee. he will
urge the construction of a new bridge.
The committee generally expressed it
self In favor offs new structure. e
The committee also discussed the
Treadway bill to relieve hotel pro-
prietors from liability for valuables
stolen from rooms in their hotels.
Representative Burdick Of Rhode Is.
land reported for a subcommittee IA
voring this legislation. The commit
tee showed inclination to urge this
measure for passage, but devoted more
than an hour to careful consideration
of the wording of the measure. 1t will
provide that the hotels must provide
a safe place where guests may deposit
their valuables on payment of a rea-
sonable fee. The principal point of
difference between Representative
Burdick and Representative johnson
was the extent of liability of the
hotels for theft by it's employees from
the rooms when the hotel guests have
neglected to deposit their valuables
in the safe provided for this purpose.
This measure went over until the
next meeting of the committee. In
the meanwhile Representative Burdick
will have the bill redrafted to meet
the suggestions of the various men,
bers.