Evening star., 1955-06-10
for Span
Asked as Tunnel
Decision Ponds
Gen. Lane Urges
Senate to Restore
Bridge Item Cut

A~A0SAASS OAAASA6Ao9 @AN$A SSAAAAAo
the Senate for money to start
building the Constitution avenue
bridge. today hopefully awaited
administration support for the
move.
Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Lane.
Engineer Commissioner. told q
Senate Appropriations Subcom-
mittee late yesterday he is still
hopeful" a top-level administra-
ton position on the Potomac
bridge-tunnel hassle will bo
reached before the subcommittee
marks up the budget bill.
Meanwhile. he said. the Dis
trict feels it should go ahead
with plans to build the bridge
Congress authorized last year
until it is told differently.
:. Backing up that belief, he
asked the Senate unit to restore
a SIS million item for bridge
construction money that was cut
by the House.
Tunnel Idea Later
Gen Lane explained to Sub.
committee Chairman Stennis.
Democrat. of Mississippi that
proposals were made for a tun.
mel instead of a bridge after
Congress approved the span last
year.
ITS public knowledge that
the policy is being re-examined
at the Budget Bureau level"
Gen Lane said, land that no
decision has been reached as yet.
1--WE are still hopeful that Q
top-level decision will be forth
coming before you mark up this
bill"
| The decision will be based
mainly on whether the admin.
istration feels the Federal Gov.
ernment should pay about $50
million to make up the cost diff
ference between a bridge and
tunnel. The Fine Arts Commis-
sion and Federal parks officials
propose the expenditure in order
to lessen the impact of bridge
on esthetic values in the Lincoln
Memorial area.
J, The White House yesterday
had no comment on the issue.
j Earlier yesterday, the Fine
Arts Commission members paid
: a visit to President Eisenhower,
/. but Commission Chairman David
E. Finley said it was merely "our
: annual courtesy call" following
: appointment of new members.
> At yesterdays hearing, Senator
!, Stennis seemed surprised that
! the issue hadn't been settled.
AS j. N. Robertson, city high
way director. began to explain
the SIS million construction re-
quest, the Senator broke In to
say: That's right, make it q
nice, pretty. attractive bridge
like the one you have there now"
After the controversy was ex-
planned, Senator Stennis urged
the officials to "do all you can"
to reach a decision.
! The SIS million was part Of
total of $3.209, 900 in House
cuts which Mr.. Robertson asked
the Senate to restore in high
way money for the year starting
July /.
Widenings Involved
Other construction funds in
,cluded $450,000 to widen Inde-
Ipendence avenue between First
street S.W. and Second street
Sc. and $250,000 to widen Con-
stitution avenue between Della
ware avenue and Second street
Sc.
The highway director said
city officials are seeking special
legislative authorization now to
acquire land for the widenings.
which involve Capitol Hill prop
terty.
I The other 1929, 900 in House
cuts was for six classes of high
way operating expenses.
One of the most important,
Mr.. Robertson said, is $4,000
to repair the draw span at the
old Eleventh street (Anacostia)
bridge.
! BY a series Of manual opera
tions, it takes bridge tenders
four minutes to get the 50-year-
old draw machinery into action
now, Mr.. Robertson said, and
I'm fearful that one Of these
days we're going to open that
old bridge and not be able to
Iget it closed"