Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-02-19
Memorial Bridge.

upon a bill providing for the con-
struction of the projected Memorial
Bridge across the Potomac, linking
the North and the South in physical
union and providing proper access
to the national cemetery at Arlington.
Heretofore this measure has been
approved only by the Senate, usually
in the form of an amendment to one
Of the appropriation bills, and it has
been ignored by the House, or, when
in amendment form, eliminated in
conference. Now, as a separate
measure, it commands an approving
vote in the House of Representatives
of 204 to 125.
The bill was amended in the House
and therefore goes to conference.
There is time for its final shaping and
enactment before the close of the
session. In one respect the amend
ments are Of particular interest to
the District. A provision was adopt
made for the cost of the bridge shall
be divided between the United States
and the District Of Columbia 'in such
a manner as shall then be determined
by Congress to be equitable" This
is the first time that it has been pro-
posed that any part Of the cost Of
this strictly national memorial struc-
ture should be borne by the taxpayers
of the District.
This bridge will be more than a
mere commercial, traffic-bearing high
way. 1t will be monumental struc-
ture, designed to commemorate the
reunion of the States and to estab-
lish link between the National Cap
ital and the national cemetery and.
by extensions beyond Arlington, with
Mount Vernon, the home and last
resting place of George Washington.
1t will incidentally benefit the people
Of the District and those of Virginia,
who would in any arrangement Of
the costs share in the expense
through their contributions Of Federal
taxes. 1t will more distinctly benefit
affording to them a proper, dignified
and inspiring avenue Of approach to
two Of the national shrines, the
final homes Of the soldier dead and
Of the first President.
In 1922 Virginia contributed in ma
tional internal revenue taxes to the
fund from which the money to build
the Arlington bridge will be taken
s14.453.S0s; in the same year the Dis
trict of Columbia contributed in the
same kind OF national taxes to the
same fund s11 1881 S4. Thus if the
Arlington bridge is built as a national
memorial entirely from national taxes
the District of Columbia will con-
tribute to it's construction more per
capita and almost as much in gross
as Virginia. If this were a mere inter
community commercial connection be-
tween the District and Virginia both
cost of the structure. But since it is
a national memorial project the Dis
trict and Virginia, treated exactly
alike by the Nation, should neither OF
them be required to add to their con-
tribution toward Arlington bridge
building, which is made in their pay
ment of national. taxes.
In respect to certain features of
the project, the widening and open.
ing of streets within the city to afford
better approaches to the Memorial
Bridge, there may be ground for some
participation by the District taxpayers
in the cost. Those features, however,
are pertinent to the park develop
ment of the Capital rather than to
the bridge project itself. There is
no justification in adding a blanket
provision 10 the bill that the cost Of
the entire work, bridge, approaches
and park treatment altogether, should
be shared by the District with the
United States on any fixed basis.
The feeling of congratulate that
this great work has at last been ad-
vanced virtually to the stage Of def
mite enactment is therefore tempered
by the reflection that in pursuance
Of its policy of adding steadily to the
tax burdens of the District the House
has done what was never heretofore
contemplated, in stipulating that
portion Of the cost of the bridge
shall be borne by the District. The
hope is that the Senate, to which the
bill is now returned, will so correct
this matter, either by eliminating the
cost-division paragraph entirely, or by
so framing the paragraph that the
District will share only in such costs
as may pertain to street and park
developments within the city proper.