Evening star., 1922-07-08
TAKES UP QUESTION
OF BRIDGE RAILWAY
Secretary Weeks Asks Ad-
vice on Laying Tracks Over
Georgetown Structure.

Secretary Weeks has asked the judge
advocate general Of the Army for an
opinion as to whether he may legally
authorize the Capital Traction Company
to install "a standard system Of electric
propulsion" across the new Georgetown
bridge and If not, whether there Is any
other method under existing law by
which tracks may be laid across the
bridge under the law An opinion also
is asked as to whether the Secretary OF
War has authority to grant the Wash
ington and Old Dominion Company per-
mission to build its proposed new termi-
nal on the United States reservation at
the southern approach to the bridge. at
Rosslyn.
Questions Based on Act.
These questions are based on the
provisions of the act of May Is. 1916.
authorizing the construction Of the
bridge and the changes in the rail-
road situation that have occurred
since the enactment of that legisla-
ton. The act of 1916 provided that
the bridge should be used as a
highway for traffic, and for gas and
telephone wires or cables. and inter-
urban railroads, upon such conditions
and for such compensation, as may
from time to time be prescribed by
the Secretary of War" 1 twas pro-
vided that the Washington and Old
Auqeduct bridge. BE permitted to
change it's location so as to cross the
new bridge with a double track. sub
ject to approval of the Secretary OF
War" Another provision was that a
standard system of electric propul-
sion should be installed on the bridge
by the Washington and Old Dominion
and maintained in Gnnd ~nndifinn
was also specifically provided that
any electric railway shall have the
right to use said new bridge and the
double tracks above described upon
terms determined by the Secretary of
War. who is authorised and directed
railways using the bridge were to be
required to pay one-half cent for each
passenger transported over the
bridge and Just and reasonable
rates" for freight. These payments
were to be made monthly and one
to the District of Columbia. which. un-
der the act, is required to pay one
half of the cost of the bridge.
Company Relinquishes Claim.
The Washington and Old Dominion
Company recently notified the War
Department that 1t had decided to
abandon its present terminus at
Georgetown and build new one at
the Virginia end of the new bridge,
and consequently relinquished its
privilege to lay tracks across the
bridge. About the same time. the
Capital Traction Company. in a letter
to the Secretary of War. indicated
its willingness to lay tracks across
the bridge as provided by law, and
extend its line from NJ street to a
loop on the Virginia approach, pro-
vtded 1t was permitted to collect a
fare OF half cent from bridge pas
sengers to meet the tax. of that
amount imposed by the law
War Department officials hold that
the Secretary Of War is legally vested
bridge and the uses to which 1t is
put, but admit that he will be guided
in the specific matter of the COL
lection of separate fare for bridge
passengers by the report of the
Public Utilities. Commission of the
District. which has had that oues-
tion under consideration.
Question May Not Arise.
That particular question will not
arise, however, unless the law Off
GERS Of the War Department hold
that the Secretary of War has full
legal authority to permit the Cap
ital Traction Company to lay tracks
across the bridge and he grants the
permit. In case it Is held that such
trackage permission is restricted to
company and no other method of
track construction is authorized
under the law, it will be necessary
to nave Congress pass remedial leejs-
latton before any tracks at ali can
be laid on the bridge.