Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-21
House Group
Approves Bill
For DrawSpan
Deadlock Looms
On Replacement for
18th Street Bridge
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE

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A House District subcommittee
today approved a bill to permit
immediate construction of a re-
placement for the old SOUTH
bound Fourteenth Street Bridge
over the Potomac. but specified
that it must contain a draw
span.
This condition may cause an
other serious deadlock in the
Senate. where Senator Gore.
Democrat of Tennessee, has OPP
posed drawspans in new Poto-
mac River bridges.
At the same time. the House
subcommittee, headed by Repre-
sentative Davis, Democrat of
Georgia, concluded public hear
ings on whether a six-lane or a
four-lane tunnel should be built
in the vicinity of Constitution
avenue. Mr.. Davis said he would
call an executive session on the
Constitution avenue crossing as
soon as possible.
Row Among Legislators Seen
Today's action on the Four
tenth Street Bridge also fore
cast another controversy over
whether the Constitution avenue
crossing should have a draw
span. Last year, the House ap-
proved a six-lane Constitution
avenue bridge with a drawspan.
but the legislation was blocked
by Senator Gore in the closing
days of the last session.
Today's action indicated that
House leaders. led by Repre-
sentative Smith, Democrat of
Virginia. would again insist on a
drawspan for the Constitution
crossing.
The Fourteenth street action
today would increase from 81
million to SITS million the
authorization in a 1916 act to
pay for two new Fourteenth
street bridges. The existing new
Washington hound bridge COM
pleted in 1850. however, used UP
all but 5000. 900 of the 81 million
authorization for both bridges.
So the District asked Congress to
raise the old authorization by So
million to a total of SIS million
to replace the Virginia bound
bridge.
Tells of Needed Funds
In testimony today, however.
Highway Director .. N. Robert
son said the SO million did not
include money for a drawspan
He said that would cost an addi-
tional SIS million-provided for
by the subcommittee action.
Mr.. Smith, chairman of the
powerful House Rules Commit
tee, told Mr.. Robertson fatty
that he'd better get that draw
span Strengthened out right
fast" He added:
"If you propose to cut of
(navigation) traffic on the Po-
tomac River you're going to
have trouble"
Chairman Davis called an i'm
mediate executive session to APP
prove the change after Mr.. Rob-
ertson said the existing three-
lane Virginia hound bridge. built
in 1904. would be unsafe with
out major reconstruction by
1860. He said the old bridge
would remain in operation while
the new four-lane span is being
built just upstream from it.
A Senate District Subcommit-
tee approved a SO million in
crease last week for the bridge,
but did not get into the matter
of a drawspan. The Senate ac-
ton merely amended the 1916
act. which would leave the ques-
ton of a drawspan up TO the
Army Engineers to decide. The
Engineers recently have ruled
against drawspans, contending
the limited navigation use does
not warrant them.
Earlier, A. M. Parker, vice
president Of the Smoot Sand &
Gravel Corp, and N. r. Neblett
American Oil Co.. Washington
Area division chief, strongly ap.
pealed for a draw span in the
proposed Constitution avenue
bridge. If a span is not provided
they said, they proposed that g
tunnel be built.
The two firms are virtually
the only navigational interests
affected. Smoot uses the river
to get to its Georgetown plant
and Amoco brings oil to a large
storage facility at Rosslyn.