Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-16
AUTO|STS TO WAR
ON TOLL BRIDGES
Crusade Directed in Next
Congress to Smash Pri-
vate Monopoly.
by FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Another and brand-new anti-monop-
oily fight is scheduled to break out in
the SEVENTEEN Congress. 1t will aim
to curb, with the aid of necessary
Federal legislation. the system where
by the private owners Of toll bridges"
in all parts Of the country now levy
tribute upon persons who use them.
The vast American community of
automobile drivers is the element for
which relief is mainly sought.
The leader In the crusade to regu-
late toll bridges" and make them
less costly for the people is Judson
King. director of the National Popu-
lar Government League at Washing
ton. This is the organiZa ton of which
former Senator Robert l.. Owen,
Democrat, OF Oklahoma, is president.
and Senator George w. Norris. Re
publican Progressive, OF Nebraska, is
a moving spirit.
$50 in Operation.
Mr.. King declares the toll bridge
people have. unnoticed by the coun.
try at large, steadily and systematical-
~ been spreading their net so that
it is today one of the most productive
''monopolies" in the land. There are
already $50 toll bridges in operation
course OF construction, and many
more are contemplated. During the
late lame duck" session of Congress
no fewer than SO bills were passed
granting franchises to build toll
bridges on public highways. Through
approval by the President, all the
bills became law.
Early this, year. at a meeting in
st. Louis. the principal toll bridge
proprietors formed a national aSsocia-
ton to protect their rights. The
chief promoter Of the organization
was Eli T. Watson, president of the
New Orleans Pontchartrain Bridge Co.
The call for the meeting suggested
that 'all toll bridge companies unite
in one national association similar to
that which is now in existence for
public utilities. railroads, banking and
investment banking" Mr.. Watson is
quoted as expressing some anxiety
lest the Federal Bureau Of Good
Roads in the Department of Agricul-
ture should move in the direction of
laws clothing the bureau with control
Of toll bridges everywhere.
erich Pickings" Charged.
THE toll bridge game has come to
be one Of rich pickings," said Judson
King to this writer. "A recent in
vestigation showed that bridge in
5000, had a net income in 1926
og $25,910.51-over SO per cent.
Another, capitalized for $500. 900,
showed a net profit In 1928 of $780,
4i0.22. very nearly SO per cent. An
other. with a capital stock Of $4,000,
admitted gross receipts in 1925 of
$SS, 900. In an Eastern State the
highway department had to purchase
private bridge and was being held
up to the tune of $4,000. because
the owners were making 3S per cent
profit The State got the bridge for
$4,000 only because it threatened to
build a public bridge on another road.
What happens is that whenever
farmers want to go to town, or q
workingman wants to take his best
girl out for ride. or q tourist comes
through. they will pay and pay and
pay for the privilege OF crossing
these bridges. The popular theory is
that our taxes, plus gasoline tax,
motor bus taxes. ETC., pay Tor
roads. but apparently roads don't
include bridges.
THE toli-bridge organization is
aware that campaign to clip it's
wings Is under way. i Battle VIII be
1O.n0Q as soon as the new OOHSESSS
meets. Legislation win be introduced
designed to regulate toll bridges just
as other public utilities are controlled.
It will be a stiff contest. On the one
side will be investment bankers, who,
for the most part, are owners of the
bridges, justifying their tactics on the
ground of the public benefits that ac-
crue from private initiative On the
other side will be the State highway
officials orga nization and the Good
Roads Bureau of the Department of
Agriculture, with their desire to pro-
tect public rights"
Pay to Cross Hudson.
Americas two newest and greatest
bridges are those which span the Hud-
son River between Bear Mountain
and Peekskill and the Delaware be.
tween Philadelphia and Camden, n. J.
The Bear Mountain Bridge is pri-
vately owned toll bridge, but it was
built and is operated under a fran.
chise recoverable by the State of New
York at five-year intervals. Tolls are
moderate and return only a fair divi.
dend on the investment, for which the
family. of the late E. H. Hartman is
principally responsible. The Delaware
River Bridge, jointly constructed by
the States Of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, is a non-toll bridge, tolls hav-
ing been successfully resisted by Phila-
delphia public opinion.
Copyright. 1927