The committee also calls attention to the many cases of the innocent who served years in prison, only to find later that injustice was done, as cited in the book by Prof. Edwin Borchard entitled "Convicting the Innocent." If we indemnify the taking of property, we should indemnify injustice to human beings.

75TH CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3d Session

{

REPORT No. 2300

EXTEND TIMES FOR COMMENCING AND COMPLETING CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE ACROSS COLUMBIA RIVER AT ASTORIA, OREG.

MAY 6, 1938.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

Mr. LEA, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. R. 10351]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 10351) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Columbia River at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oreg., having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass.

The bill has the approval of the War and Agriculture Departments, as will appear by the letters attached.

Respectfully returned to the chairman, Commerce, House of Representatives.

WAR DEPARTMENT, April 30, 1938. Committee on Interstate and Foreign

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. 10351, 75th Cong., 3d sess.) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Columbia River at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oreg. HARRY H. WOODRING, Secretary of War.

Hon. CLARENCE F. LEA,

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Washington, May 5, 1938.

Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,

House of Representatives.

DEAR MR. LEA: Careful consideration has been given to the bill (H. R. 10351) transmitted with your letter of April 23 with request for a report thereon and such views relative thereto as the Department might desire to communicate.

This bill would extend for 1 and 3 years, respectively, from June 13, 1938, the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the

Columbia River at Astoria, Oreg., authorized by act of Congress, approved June 13,
1934, to be built by the Oregon-Washington Bridge Board of Trustees.
The bill is without objection so far as this Department is concerned.
Sincerely,

HARRY L. BROWN, Acting Secretary.

[PUBLIC-No. 326-73D CONGRESS]

[S. 3502]

AN ACT Authorizing the Oregon-Washington Bridge Board of Trustees to construct, maintain, and operate a toll bridge across the Columbia River at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to promote interstate commerce, improve the postal service, and provide for military and other purposes, Guy Boyington, judge of the county court of Clatsop County, Oregon, and his successors in office, J. C. Ten Brook, mayor of the city of Astoria, Oregon, and his successors in office, and L. D. Williams, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Pacific County, Washington, and his successors in office, all as trustees, are hereby authorized to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge and approaches thereto across the Columbia River, at a point suitable to the interests of navigation, at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters", approved March 23, 1906, and subject to the conditions and limitations contained in this Act; and said trustees shall own and hold said bridge in trust for Clatsop County, Oregon, Pacific County, Washington, and the city of Astoria, Oregon; said trustees being known as and functioning as the OregonWashington Bridge Board of Trustees, and serving without compensation. Said board of trustees is hereby granted the right to assign, transfer, and mortgage all the rights, powers, and privileges conferred by this Act.

SEC. 2. There is hereby conferred upon said board of trustees all such rights and powers to enter upon lands and to acquire, condemn, occupy, possess, and use real estate and other property needed for the location, construction, maintenance, and operation of such bridge and its approaches as are possessed by railroad corporations for railroad purposes or by bridge corporations for bridge purposes in the State in which such real estate or other property is situated, upon making just compensation therefor, to be ascertained and paid according to the laws of such State, and the proceedings therefor shall be the same as in the condemnation or expropriation of property for public purposes in such State.

SEC. 3. The said board of trustees is hereby authorized to fix and charge tolls for transit over such bridge, and the rates of toll so fixed shall be the legal rates until changed by the Secretary of War under the authority contained in the Act of March 23, 1906.

SEC. 4. In fixing the rates of toll to be charged for the use of such bridge the same shall be so adjusted as to provide a fund sufficient to pay for the reasonable cost of maintaining, repairing, and operating the bridge and its approaches under economical management, and to provide a sinking fund sufficient to amortize the cost of such bridge and its approaches, including reasonable interest and financing cost, as soon as possible, under reasonable charges, but within a period of not to exceed twenty-five years from the completion thereof. After a sinking fund sufficient for such amortization shall have been so provided, such bridge shall thereafter be maintained and operated free of tolls, or the rates of toll shall thereafter be so adjusted as to provide a fund of not to exceed the amount necessary for the proper maintenance, repair, and operation of the bridge and its approaches under economical management. An accurate record of the cost of the bridge and its approaches; the expenditures for maintaining, repairing, and operating the same; and of the daily tolls collected shall be kept and shall be available for the information of all persons interested.

SEC. 5. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, June 13, 1934.

[PUBLIC NO. 247-75TH CONGRESS-CHAPTER 568-1ST SESSION]

[S. 2205]

AN ACT To extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Columbia River at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Columbia River at Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon, authorized to be built by the Oregon-Washington Bridge Board of Trustees by an Act of Congress approved June 13, 1934, as heretofore extended by Acts of Congress approved August 30, 1935, and January 27, 1936, are further extended one and three years, respectively, from June 13, 1937.

SEC. 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, August 5, 1937.

о