Evening star., 1925-02-19
HOUSE AUTHORIZES
/ MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Passes Measure Calling for
Appropriation of $14,750,-
600 for Project.

The Arlington Memorial Bridge to
cost S14,75O,OO0 to span the historic
Potomac" between the Lincoln Me-
mortal and the Nations Shrine al
Arlington National Cemetery, uniting
the North and the South. linking to-
gether the Lincoln and Lee Highways
and giving Washington the most mag
niticent approach of any Capital in the
world, was authorized by the House
late yesterday by a vote of 204 to 1876
This measure, which has been under
consideration for nearly 100 years
now goes to the Senate for action upon
several amendments. 1t has already
passed the Senate.
The District is to hear an "euuit-
able" share of the cost of this Ma
tional Memorial, as may be deter
mined by Congress at the time appro-
priations are made, according to an
amendment offered by Representative
Louis G. CraInton of Michigan and
approved by the House by two deci-
siye votes.
Finest in World.
The action of the House yesterday
which was taken only after the budget
director had given assurance that this
was not in conflict with the fiscal
program of the President, assures the
erection of this bridge, which is pro-
lected to be the finest bridge in all
the world. 1t is especially design ed
10 accommodate great ceremonial pro-
cesslons from the Capitol to the shrine
of the hero dead at Arlington Fitting
In with this program, the long-de-
ferred development of the Mall from
Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol, as a
great governmental boulevard faced
by Government buildings of memorial
type, Will be carried ont
Other amendments offered while
tue bill was under discussion would
nave had the State of Virginia pay
one-half the costs of the bridge and
another would have required the tax
payers of the District of Columbia to
pay so per cent of the cost. This
was proposed by Representative
1y denounced by Representative
TinCher of Kansas, who said:
Denounces Scheme.
'As I understand the bill, it pro-
vfdes for the building of a memorial
bridge on property owned by the
Government on what is known as the
Mall, the Government owning the
property the same as the property
in the Capital on which are built the
Lincoln Memorial and the Washing
ton Monument. If an amendment
to take funds belonging to the Dis
trict of Columbia and use them in
the construction of Government
building or bridge or monument
would be germane to the bill, then
1t would be entirely proper to offer
an amendment providing that Kansa S
or Nebraska or other States might
have money taken out of their treas
ury and used for this purposes.
Il have been here long enough to
know that there is always more or
less misunderstanding between the
House of Representative and the
people of the District of Columbia. l
hope the House will always be right
in its controversies with the resi-
dents Of the District of Columbia
Personally. if the residents of the
District of Columbia should appeal to
me as member of Congress to vote
to permit them. the residents of the
District of Columbia, to contribute
and help-different from the other
people of the Nation--to build addr-
tions to the Lincoln Memorial, the
Washington Monument, or any other
Government monument or memorial
in the District of Columbia on Gov
ernment ground, 1 would vote against
it, If we are going to build this
bridge, we ought to build it as a ma
tional memorial bridge.
The people of the District of Co
lumbia pay their income tax the same
as the people of Virginia. Kansas, or
any other subdivision Of the United
States, and there is no excuse on earth
for even permitting them, much less in
viting or commanding them, to pay
60 per cent of the cost of, a Femorial
bridge leading to the sacred ground
in Arlington Cemetery.
Opinion of Citizens.
'I can understand how some resi-
dents of the District of Columbia
form the idea they do concerning the
Congress. Just think what this would
amount to. 1 suppose the amendment
is offered for the purpose of defeating
the bill, because surely no man in
Congress would seriously vote in
favor of permitting the District of
Columbia to contribute so per cent
toward the building of national me-
mortal to stand for all time on Gov
ernment property, and If he would.
then that same gentleman would, I
suppose, at the next session of Con-
gress. if we were building a little ad-
dition to the National Capitol, be en-
tirely justified in asking the residents
, OF the District of Columbia to stand so
per cent of the cost of making that
addition. Why not make this thing
retroactive and collect from them 60
per cent of the cost of the Grant Me-