Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-18
House Hearing
Tuesday May
Restore Funds

prospects OF LIlaIClIls Gull
struction of the authorized
Jones Point bridge over the Po-
tomac River frightened today,
as the House subcommittee
planned to consider legislation
Tuesday to clear the way.
The legislation would transfer
from the Interior Department
to the Commerce Department
jurisdiction for construction of
the span.
District Subcommittee Chair
man Davis said his unit win
meet in closed session Tuesday
to consider the bill. But he
wanted to confer first with Rep
resentative Broyhill, Republican
Of nearby Virginia. to learn off,
cially what his position is on
the measure and how his con-
stituents In Alexandria feel
about it.
The pending bill was cited by
the House Appropriations Conn
mittee yesterday as one OF the
reasons why an item Of $13.8
million was stricken from the
Interior Department appropria-
ton bill for the next fiscal year
beginning July /. This funds
measure, without the $13.8 mil
lion, win come up for considers
ton BY the House on Tuesday.
No State Commitments
Another reason cited by the
appropriations unit for knock
ing out the money for the span
was that firm commitments"
had not yet been obtained from
Virginia and Maryland to par
ticipate in payment for ap-
proaches to the bridge.
Mr.. Broyhill told The Star yes
terday he feels the Appropria-
tons Committee was justified
In postponing approval of the
appropriations" until the legis-
lation transferring jurisdiction
becomes law. He said he hopes
I'VE still can get the money this
year"
Should the legislation become
law. 1t would transfer jurisdic-
ton from Interior to Commerce
Departments Bureau of Public
Roads. which already is planning
the Jones Point bridge.
It would then be possible,
Legislative experts said today. to
insert In the Commerce Depart
ment appropriation bill funds for
construction of the bridge.
Change Considered
AtAEeeent public hearing BY
the Davis subcommittee on the
transfer legislation, Roads Bu-
reau officials testified that
changes in the structure were
under consideration.
These proposed alterations.
they testified. would save be-
tween $500, 900 and 1000 by
changing from a swing span to
O more suitable type, such as
the bascule, like the one on Ar
lington Memorial Bridge.
Also, it was explained at the
hearing, the bridge design could
be lowered for navigation from
70-foot clearance, originally
planned, to 40 feet at mean tide
Such lowering of the span would
still permit passage Of all nayi-
cation on the Potomac, and make
1t easier to get approaches on
both sides, witnesses testified.
The planned approaches on
the Virginia shore have stirred
up opposition in Alexandria. The
City Council has voted against
the bridge approaches through
Alexandria's "Old Town" anc
recommended study of APP
proacheS closer to the city's wa.
terfront.
Solution Expected
This difficulty. however, wa.
believed to be soluble, according
to proponents Of the Jones Point
crossing.
ThA charge by the Appropria.
tons Committee that neither
Virginia nor Maryland has giver
a firm commitment on ap'
proaches was questioned toda!
by officials familiar with tn,
project. It Is believed by pro
ponent that the two States hav'
shown clear intentions of build
ing the approaches.
Another measure pending be
fore the Davis subcommittee +,
be considered Tuesday woult
name the Jones Point span tn,
Woodrow Wilson Memoria
Bridge.
Representative Davis an
rounced that his earlier plans b
hold q public hearing at 10 am
Tuesday on a bill to deprive pc
lice and firemen Of the right
Of appeal from District decision
on discipline because of veterans
preference probably will be post
poned or Cancelled. He said h
had learned that police, firemel
and veterans groups are tryin
to iron out the problem withou