Evening star., 1925-02-18
ARLINGTON BRIDGE
. BILL BEFORE HOUSE
Directors Raise Economy
Plea and Seek Division of
Expense With District.

The Arlington Memorial Bridge. de-
in the most magnificent approach to
any capital city in the world, is
under consideration in the House
this afternoon.
The only objection raised is that
legislation authorizing an appropria-
ton of s14,750,000 for this bridge,
visioned many years ago by the great
statesman, Daniel Webster, and
urged by every President in recent
years, is that it does not appear to
be in harmony with the economy
pronouncements of the administra-
ton. In refutation of this, however,
several speakers have emphasized
that President Coolidge over his own
signature had declared it is in har-
mony with his fiscal program.
May Divide Costs.
The next objection is on the ground
that the residents of the District of
Columbia should share in the expense.
To meet this objection Representa-
tive Louis c. Cramton Of Michigan
announced that he will offer an
amendment providing that when any
appropriations are made for this
r L
shall be divided between the Federal
and District funds in whatever proper
ton may then exist, and providing that
benefits be assessed against prop
erty owners on account of approaches
and street improvements resulting
from completion of the bridge.
REPRESENTATIVE Elliott, chairman of
the committee on public buildings and
grounds, pointed out that the Me-
mortal Bridge across the Potomac
River leading in the general direc-
ton of the Lee Mansion on the Ar
lington estate, has been under con-
sideration by Congress and the ex-
ecutive departments for more than
rs years. He emphasized that Con-
gress has on several occasions passed
laws pursuant to which preliminary
plans have been prepared for this
bridge. Yet in each case. due to
delay in the authorization and active
prosecution of the work of construc-
tion. the project has been allowed
to languish without definite action
being taken.
Favorn Immediate Start.
He reviewed the history of this legis-
lation, pointing out that the Arlington
Memorial Bridge Commission, headed
by President Coolidge, the President Of
the Senate and the Speaker OF the
House, unanimously favors immediate
commencement of this important and
generally approved project under a
10-year program Of construction with
total expenditure in the 10-year period
of $14, ,750, 900.
Chairman Elliott called attention
of his colleagues to the fact that
this is not only the national me-
mortal symbolic of the reunion OF
the North and South, but 1t Is an
important link in the development
of the National Capital and in re-
lieving the transportation system of
the whole United States. It will
connect up the Lincoln and Lee
highways and will give the Capital
one of the most beautiful approaches
in the world. At the present time.
he said there are seven or eight
highways leading into Washington
and all of them are a discredit, to
say the least, and not In keeping
with the Capital of the Nation.
In addition the present facilities are
not sufficient to take care of motor
vehicle traffic from the South and from
the North to the South.
| BY way of Illustration he pointed to
the disgraceful traffic jam at the time
of the services for the Unknown dead in
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