The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 23, 1931. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (H. R. 5131, 72d Cong., 1st sess.) to extend the time for completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, La., if amended as indicated in red thereon. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, PATRICK J. HURLEY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. RAYBURN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 5131) transmitted with your letter of December 16 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would extend the times for commencing and completing the bridge across the Mississippi River near and above the city of New Orleans, authorized by act of Congress approved April 17, 1924, to be built by the city of New Orleans through its Public Belt Railroad Commission. The times for commencing and completing this bridge heretofore were extended by act of Congress approved May 24, 1928, and the pending bill proposes a further extension for three years from May 24, 1933. The general bridge act of March 23, 1906, provides that all bridges authorized by acts of Congress shall be commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date of such authorization. It is suggested, therefore, that the intention of the pending bill probably was to extend the time for commencing the construction of the bridge and also the time for completing such construction and the probable intention was to extend the times for commencing and completing such construction one and three years, respectively, from May 24, 1933. This is called to the attention of the committee in order that appropriate amendment may be made before reporting the bill if any change therein is deemed desirable. The department is informed that bids have been received for the construction of this bridge and that probably the contract has been entered into but that work has not yet commenced because of delay in the sale of bonds for financing its construction. It is understood that the sale of these bonds was advertised for November 2, 1931, but was postponed due to the adverse condition of the bond market. Favorable action on the pending bill, therefore, is recommended. BRIDGE ACROSS WABASH RIVER IN SULLIVAN COUNTY, IND. JANUARY 14, 1932.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. GILLEN, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 5471] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5471) authorizing Sullivan County, Ind., to construct, maintain, and operate a public toll bridge across the Wabash River at a point in said county to a point opposite on the Illinois shore, having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Page 3, line 4, after the word "so", strike out the word "adjudged" and insert the word "adjusted" in lieu thereof; line 9, after the word "reasonable", strike out the word "interests" and insert the word "interest" in lieu thereof. The bill has the approval of the War and Agricultural Departments, as will appear by the letters attached. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 22, 1931 Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (H. R. 5471, 72d Cong., 1st sess.) authorizing Sullivan County, Ind., to construct a toll bridge across the Wabash River at a point in said county to a point opposite on the Illinois shore. PATRICK J. HURLEY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. SAM RAYBURN, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. RAYBURN: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 5471) transmitted with your letter of December 16 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the department might desire to communicate. This bill would authorize Sullivan County, Ind., or any board or commission of said county which may be created or established for such purpose, to construct, maintain, and operate a highway bridge and approaches thereto across the Wabash River from some point in said county to a point opposite in the State of Illinois. The county, or such board or commission, and the successors thereof, would be authorized to fix and charge tolls for transit over such bridge, provision being made in the bill, however, for such tolls to be so regulated as to provide sufficient funds to meet maintenance, repair, and operation costs and amortize the cost of constructing the bridge within 20 years, after which period the bridge shall be maintained and operated as a free bridge as a part of the State highway system of Indiana. It is difficult to determine the exact location of the proposed bridge in view of the very general language used in the bill, but the only State road that crosses the river between Sullivan County, Ind., and the State of Illinois is on the system of Federal aid highways approved for Indiana. The bill would provide for a publicly owned and operated toll bridge to be made free as soon as the proceeds of the tolls amortize its cost after meeting maintenance, repair, and operation costs, and in any event not to exceed 20 years from the date of its completion. It, therefore, is without objection so far as this department is concerned. Sincerely yours, О R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT OR NEAR BATON ROUGE, LA. JANUARY 14, 1932.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. MALONEY, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 5478] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5478) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Baton Rouge, La., having considered and amended the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass. Amend the bill as follows: Page 1, line 11, strike out the word "five" and insert the word "four" in lieu thereof. Hon. Bolivar E. Kemp, who introduced this bill, has submitted the following information with reference thereto: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., January 14, 1932. CLERK COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, House of Representatives. DEAR SIR: In obedience to your request I submit herewith two letters showing the progress already made and the money already spent on the bridge provided for in the attached extension bill (H. R. 5478) herewith attached. Please give this matter prompt attention, as I am particularly anxious to get this bill on the calendar as soon as possible. With kind regards, I beg to remain, Sincerely. BOLIVAR E. KEMP. Mr. BOLIVAR E. KEMP, Amite, La. BATON ROUGE, LA., January 6, 1932. DEAR MR. KEMP: In behalf of the Baton Rouge-Mississippi River Bridge Co. I wish to advise that this company has been very successful during the past year in making contacts that will result in the erection of a bridge across the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge provided your measure authorizing an extension of time is granted by Congress. |