Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-11
HouseApproydI
Sought on Span
Al Jones Point
Favorable Report
Raises Hopes for
Action Monday
By Don S. Worren


House approval will be sought
next Monday for a bill to au-
thorize construction of a new
area bridge over the
Potomac, from Jones Point in
Alexandria to Maryland below
the District line.
In a belated move for action
In the continuing Battle Of the
Bridges, the House unit unani.
ordered a favorable re.
port on the Jones Point span.
Action was reserved on the
controversial question Of where
to put a new span to serve down.
town WaShington-at E street,
Roosevelt Memorial Island.
favored by the District Govern
ment, or at Reaches Run. rec.
by the National
Capital Planning Commission.
States Must Act.
The House committee ap-
proved an amended Jones Point
bill by Representative Broyhill,
Republican, Of Virginia, calling
for the Jones Point span. This
would authorize the project with
Federal responsibility for $14.9
million of its total cost, but 1t
also specifies that not a dollar
can be spent until both Mary
land and Virginia have taken
steps assuring State acceptance
of their costs for necessary ap-
proach roads. The total cost,
including approaches, has been
estimated at about $24.2 million.
Maryland officials already have
agreed to this and some spokes-
men for Virginia have indicated
arrangements can be worked out.
The District, too, would have
to bear some related costs. al
though the line of the bridge
would cross only the tip of the
District, in the waters Of the
Potomac. The District even
tually would have to build roads
to connect with Maryland ap-
proach roads.
Compromise Still Sought.
Late as it is in this Congress,
another effort may be made to
work out some compromise over
the downtown Washington area
bridge controversy. Scheduled
for next Wednesday is confer
ence called by Chairman Case
Of the Senate District COMMITTEES
with two of the principal con-
tenders in that battle-Harlan
Bartholomew, chairman Of the
planning commission, and Brig.
Gen. Louis w. Prentiss. District
Engineer Commissioner.
The Jones Point bridge bill
was one Of Is bills favorably re-
ported late yesterday by the
House District Committee. ALI
of them are to be called up for
action in the House on Monday,
District day there.
: The committee postponed
action on a bill to moderniZe
District welfare statutes and to
combine several separate laws
into one act. This bill also
would give the Commissioners
power to decide whether the
names of relief recipients
should be kept secret.
Puts Bill in Doubt.
The Senate, in the last Con-
gress, passed such a bill. It failed
of enactment. Lack of action by
the House committee yesterday
virtually killed any chance for
action in the closing weeks OF
this Congress, some observers
said. Since it was deferred in.
stead of tabled. however, the
possibility of favorable action
remained, they said.
Bills approved by the House
unit included one to permit the
judges of the United States Dis
trict Court for the District OF
Columbia to call for the assign
ment of a District Government
psychiatrist or psychologist to
check on cases in the Federal
court where there was any doubt
about the sanity of the de.
PENDANT.
This measure to amend the
Districts 1853 Crime Act had
been opposed by a majority OF
the Crime Subcommittee but
yesterday they were outvoted in
the full committee.
Assurances were given that
the use of experts on mental
disturbances will not be abused. "
At a recent House District
hearing. United States Attorney
Leo A. Rover, urging adoption Of
the pending bill, said its passage
would make it easier and quicker
for officials to use city govern
ment experts. He promised there
would be no abuses" of such ex-
pert testimony.
Other Bills Approved.
Other bills approved yesterday
by the House District Committee
included those to:
Allow the District assessor to
employ not more than two as.
sistantS from the metropolitan
area, instead Of the District only.
Stiffer penalties for the unli-
censed practice Of medicine.
Let Columbus University Law
School merge with Catholic
University.
Let the Commissioners sell an
unused stone quarry in Mont
gomery County.
Prohibit picketing near the
White House.
Exempt from real estate tax
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