Evening star., 1924-12-30
Sponsors Hope for Early
House Action to Rush
Actual Work.
10-YEAR CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM is APPROVED
Commission Empowered to Use
Whatever United States Land Is
Needed in Project.

The Senate today passed the bill
providing for construction of a s14.-
100000 memorial bridge across the
Potomac River to the Virginia shore
from a point near the Lincoln Me-
mortal
Both Senator Swanson of Virginia.
and Senator FernaId of Maine, who
introduced the bill, expressed them
selves as jubilant today over its pas
sage. Senator Swanson said that he
hoped quick action could be obtained
In the House and that the beautiful
bridge would soon become a reality.
Senator Fernald said that passage
OF this bill was a personal matter
with him and that he had talked to
each and every Senator, so that moth
ing should impede its passage
This bill passed solely on its
merits" said Senator Fernald when
completed 1t will make the most
beautiful entrance to a city of
any in the world. I have had letters
from governors of various States
urging the project and I am very
much gratified that the Senate passed
the bill with no debate"
Construction Ordered.
Under the terms of the bill the
Arlington Memorial Bridge Commits
sion is authorized to proceed at once
in the construction of the bridge. in
cluding roads, streets and walks
leading to 1t on both sides of the
river. The total amount to be spent
on the bridge in an estimated 10
year construction is s14,75O,000.
The commission is authorized to
occupy such Government-owned land
as may be necessary for the con-
struction of the bridge and on COM
pletion of the project to transfer to
the park system under the chief of
engineers, United States Army, all
or such portions of such land as the
commission may decide to be neces-
Sary.
Purchase on the open market or
by condemnation of privately owned
land as may be necessary for ap-
proaches on the Virginia shore Is also
authorized by the bill. 1t also allows
condemnation of purchase to permit
B street northwest to be opened up
from the Capitol to the Potomac River.
River.
Appropriations are to be provided
directly or by continuing contracts,
enc year shall not exceed the amount
for the corresponding year as shown
in the 1o-year program of expendi-
lures. The commission shall annually
submit to Congress through the Bu-
reau of the Budget a statement OF
sums of money previously expended
and an estimate of the total sum of
money necessary to be expended in
the next succeeding year to carry on
the work authorized by the bill.
Text of Report.
The committee on public buildings
and grounds in its report on the ad-
visibility of the construction of this
bridge says:
"A memorial bridge across the Po-
tomac River leading in the general
direction of the Lee Mansion on the
Arlington estate has been under con-
sideration by Congress and the execu-
tive department for more than 75
years"
Action often Delayed.
Congress has on several occasions
passed laws pursuant to preliminary
plans for this bridge Yet in each case.
due to delay in the authorization and
active prosecution of the construction.
the project has been allowed to languish
and fall asleep without definite ac-
tion.
Not only does the project provide for
one of the most impressive and beauti-
full memorial bridges in the world, but II
also provides for park Improvement
on Columbia Island, on the Virginia
shore and immediate surroundings of
the Lincoln Memorial, which will
mark it as one of the greatest single
park projects the country has ever
undertaken.
Not only Washington civic organi-
zations but organizations through
out the Southern States and the Dor
der States lying between the North
and South. extending from the Dis
trict all the way across the country,
have given most impressive backing
to the memorial bridge project
The bridge commission Is COM
posed Of President Coolidge, Albert
B. Cummings, President pro tenn of
the Senate; Frederick H Gillette,
Speaker of the House; Senator Fer
nald. chairman of the Senate com
mittee on public buildings and
grounds. and Representative John
w. Langley, chairman of the house
committee on public buildings and
grounds.
This commission is authorized to
employ the services of engineers
architects, sculptors and artists with
out reference to civil service require
ments, with a view to the elimination
of any delay that might arise in the
immediate carrying out of the
project.