Evening star., 1954-11-07
Interior Asks
Final Voice on
Bridge Plans
Sends to White House
Changes Suggested
By Eisenhower
By George Beveridae


sent the White House a proposal
to give Interior Secretary Nc.
Kay power of approval over
plans just agreed on for the new
Constitution Avenue Bridge, the
Star learned last night.
The proposal also calls for
transferring responsibility for
building the Jones Point Bridge
at Alexandria from Interior to
the Commerce Departments Blu.
reau of Public Roads.
High Interior officials told The
Star the proposal is not expected
to spell any trouble, however, for
the Constitution avenue span,
plans for which were unani-
mously approved Friday by ths
National Capital Planning Com.
mission.
The commission action cleared
the way for the District to take
immediate steps toward getting
the downtown bridge built.
Suggested by Eisenhower.
Both the proposals sent to the
White House were suggested by
President Eisenhower in an Au-
gust message, when he signed o
bill authorizing the two bridges.
He called on Interior Secretary
Mckay then to give him rec
concentrations for executive ac-
ton and amendments of the act
necessary to correct these de-
fects in this legislation"
Interior officials said they felt
Mr.. Mckay could be given the
power of approval over the Con-
stitution Avenue Bridge plans
by an executive order. although
change in the law probably
would be required to handle the
Jones Point shift.
One official said the simple
intent of the Interior draft, as
reflected in the Presidents ear
lier statement, is that "since
the Constitution Avenue Bridge
involves park lands and other
areas over which the Secretary
has control, he ought to have
something to say about It,"
Interior Not Mentioned.
The law omitted any reference
to an Interior voice in the
matter. which officials said
brought about the proposal.
Instead, it simply told the
District Commissioners to build
a bridge about 1900 feet up
river from Arlington Memorial
Bridge after Cd comforting with
the National Capital Planning
Commission and 20 getting sug-
gestions on architectural design
from the Fine Arts Commission.
The first requirement was
complied with Friday in the
Planning Commissions action.
The preliminary design sketches
for the span will be sent to the
Fine Arts Commission as soon
as they are completed-probably
in two or three months.
Presumably, if the White
House directive is issued, the
same plans could be submitted
to Mr.. Mckay.
Expects No Difficulty.
Interior Assistant Secretary
Orme Lewis said he did not ex-
pect the plan as agreed on by
the Planning Commission would
run into trouble from the Sec
retary.
He said that from newspaper
accounts he had seen of the pro-
posal, "it seems to make good
sense to me-" His feeling all
along, he said, has been that any
plan acceptable to the Planning
Commission - with its diverse
representation - would make
sense"
While they were voting as indi-
viduals. the commission menu
bers represent the District and
Federal park, planning, public
buildings and public roads
agencies.
Conrad Wirth, National Park
Service chief and a commission
member, made it plain that he
felt a tunnel would be the most
desirable solution, since it would
not interfere in any way with the
carefully planned esthetic pat
tern of the Lincoln Memorial
area. But he said he felt the
newly approved plan would have
"the least possible impact on the
(See BRIDGES Page A-7)