CHAP. 146.—An Act To authorize officers who served during the February 4, 1897. war of the rebellion in the Regular Army to bear the title and, on occasions of ceremony, wear the uniform of their highest rank. form of highest officers for serv ice during the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Army. the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all Title and uniofficers who have served during the rebellion as officers of rank allowed exthe Regular Army of the United States, and have been honorably discharged or resigned from the service, shall be rebellion. entitled to bear the official title and, upon occasions of ceremony, to wear the uniform of the highest grade they have held, by brevet or other commission, as is now authorized for officers of volunteers by section twelve hundred and R. S., sec. 1226, twenty-six, Revised Statutes. Approved, February 4, 1897. p. 212. CHAP. 173.-An Act To approve and ratify the construction of a February 8, 1897. bridge across the Sulphur River, in the State of Arkansas, by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Company. Fort Smith Rail Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Texarkana and the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the way Company construction by the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway may bridge Sulphur River, ArCompany, a corporation duly organized under the laws kansas. of the State of Arkansas, of the bridge over the Sulphur River, in said State of Arkansas, be, and the same hereby is, approved and ratified, subject to the stipulations and conditions hereinafter set forth. ture and post SEC. 2. That said bridge, so long as maintained accord- Lawful strucing to the limitations of this Act, shall be a lawful structure, route. and shall be known and recognized as a post route, and the same is hereby declared to be a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States, or for through passengers or freight passing over the same, than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads leading to said bridge; and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge for a postal telegraph. Postal tele graph. Secretary of regulations, etc. War to prescribe SEC. 3. That said bridge shall be under and subject to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, and the present plan and structure of said bridge shall not be altered or changed except by consent of the Secretary of War, and with his approval of the proposed change or alteration: Provided, That any change or alteration in the Proviso. said bridge which the Secretary of War may deem necessary in the interest of navigation shall be made by the said railroad company at its own expense. Changes. SEC. 4. That all railroad companies desiring the use of Use by other said bridge shall have and be entitled to equal rights and companies. privileges relative to the passage of railway trains over the same, and over the approaches thereto, upon payment of a Compensation. reasonable compensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any one of them, desiring such use, shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, and upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War, upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties. Amendment, etc. SEC. 5. That Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act at any time. Approved, February 8, 1897. February 8, 1897. bridge Sabine Tex. CHAP. 174.-An Act To authorize the construction by the Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Railroad Company of a bridge across the Sabine River between the States of Louisiana and Texas. Kansas City, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Shreveport and Gulf Railroad the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Company may the Kansas City, Shreveport and Gulf Railroad Company, River, Orange, a corporation duly created and existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, its successors or assigns, be, and it is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto across the Sabine River at or about twenty miles above the town of Orange, in the State of Railway, etc., Texas. Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railway trains, and, at the option of said corporation, may be so constructed as to provide for the passage of wagons and vehicles of all kinds, animals, and foot passengers for such reasonable rates of toll as may be approved by the Secretary of War. bridge. Toll. Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. Changes. Unobstructed navigation. SEC. 2. That the bridge herein authorized shall be built and located under and in accordance with such regulations for the security of navigation as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, drawings showing the plan and location of said bridge, said drawings to give, for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the current at all stages, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and until the plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War the bridge shall not be commenced or built; and any change in the plans of said bridge, either before or after construction, shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War; and any change in said bridge during or after construction which the Secretary of War may require in the interest of navigation shall be made by the said company at its own expense. SEC. 3. That the said bridge shall at all times be so kept and managed as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels and other crafts through or under said structure; and if said bridge be built as a drawbridge at its own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or Lights, etc. other signals on said bridge as the Light-House Board shall prescribe. SEC. 4. That any bridge built under this Act and subject Lawful structure and post to its limitations shall be a lawful structure, and shall be route. recognized and known as a post route, upon which also no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States, or passengers or freight over said bridge than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to said bridge; and it shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as other post roads of the United States; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge shall be granted to all telegraph and tele-Postal phone companies, and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and its approaches for postal-telegraph purposes. graph. companies. tele SEC. 5. That all railroad companies desiring the use of Use by other said bridge and its approaches shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of trains over the same upon payment of a reasonable com- Compensation. pensation for such use; and in case the owner or owners of said bridge and the several railroad companies, or any of them, desiring such use shall fail to agree upon the sum or sums to be paid, or upon rules and conditions to which each shall conform in using said bridge and approaches, all matters at issue between them shall be decided by the Secretary of War upon a hearing of the allegations and proofs of the parties. SEC. 6. That this Act shall be null and void if actual construction of the bridge herein authorized be not com- Commencement and completion. menced within one year and completed within three years from the date hereof. etc. SEC. 7. That the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act Amendment, is hereby expressly reserved. Approved, February 8, 1897. CHAP. 175.-An Act To amend the Act entitled "An Act to au- February 8, 1897. thorize the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at or near the city of Lexington, Missouri," approved July twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Bridge across the Act entitled "An act to authorize the construction of Missouri River, Lexington, Mo. a bridge across the Missouri River at or near the city of Lexington, Missouri," approved July twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, be, and the same is hereby, amended so as to extend the time for the commencement of the construction of said bridge to one year and its completion to three years from the approval of this Act. Approved, February 8, 1897. Time extended for construction. Vol. 28, p. 121. February 8, 1897. Ouachita Parish, Provisos. CHAP. 176.-An Act To authorize the mayor and city council of Monroe, and the police jury of the parish of Ouachita, Louisiana, to construct a traffic bridge across the Ouachita River opposite said city. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Monroe and the mayor and city council of the city of Monroe, and the La., may bridge police jury of the parish of Ouachita, in the State of LouisiOuachita River. ana, are hereby authorized and empowered to construct, operate, and maintain a general traffic bridge across the Ouachita River, to be located at such point, within or near the corporate limits of said city as shall be approved by the Secretary of War: Provided, That said bridge shall be Drawbridge. constructed as a drawbridge, and the draw shall be opened promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats; and whatever kind of bridge is constructed the owners thereof shall maintain thereon, at their own expense, from sunset to sunrise, such lights or other signals as the LightHouse Board shall prescribe: Provided further, That if the said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage Use by street of street-railway cars, all street railroad companies desiring the use of the bridge shall have equal privileges in the passage of trains or cars over the same, and over the Compensation. approaches thereto, upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case of disagreement in regard to the terms of such use, or the rates to be paid, the matters at issue shall be decided by the Secretary of War. Lights, etc. railroads, etc. Lawful struc route. SEC. 2. That any bridge built under the provisions of ture and post this Act shall be a lawful structure, and shall be recog nized and known as a post route, upon which no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, troops, and munitions of war of the United States passing over said bridge than the rate per mile paid for the transportation over the public highways leading to said bridge; and equal privileges in the use of said bridge. shall be granted to all telegraph and telephone companies; Postal tele- and the United States shall have the right of way across said bridge and approaches for postal-telegraph purposes; Free naviga- and said bridge shall be so constructed and operated as not to interfere with the navigation of said river. graph. tion. Toll. SEC. 3. That said municipal corporation shall have the right to charge and collect a reasonable rate of toll, to be approved by the Secretary of War, not exceeding the rate limited by the law of Louisiana. Secretary of SEC. 4. That the bridge authorized to be constructed War to approve under this Act shall be located and built under and subject plans, stc. to such regulations for the security of the navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, a design and drawings of the proposed bridge, and a map of the location, giving for the space of one-half mile above and one-half mile below the proposed location the topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high and low water, the direction and strength of the currents, and the soundings, accurately showing the bed of the stream, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject. And until the said plan and location of the bridge are approved by the Secretary of War, no work upon the bridge shall be commenced; and should any change be made in the plan Changes. of said bridge during the progress of construction, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of War. and completion. SEC. 5. That this Act shall be null and void if actual Commencement construction of the bridge herein authorized be not commenced within one year and completed within three years from the date of approval hereof. etc. SEC. 6. That Congress hereby expressly reserves the Amendment, right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act. Approved, February 8, 1897. CHAP. 234.-An Act To provide for appointment by brevet of February 16, 1897. active or retired officers of the United States Army. Army. Officers may for highest vol receive brevet unteer rank. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all officers of the Regular Army of the United States, active or retired, who served in the volunteer forces during the late war, may, at the discretion of the President, receive a brevet in the Regular Army equal to the highest rank held or the highest brevet received in the said volunteer forces and be commissioned accordingly as of the date of such brevet: Provided, That they have not already received a Proviso. brevet of equal or higher grade in the Regular Army. Received by the President, February 4, 1897. [NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.-The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the house of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.] Condition. CHAP. 236.-An Act To amend an Act entitled "An act making February 17,1897. appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes," passed finally June third, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. commission. Vol. 29, p. 213. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Pacific deepthe United States of America in Congress assembled, That water harbor the Act entitled "An act making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes," passed by the House of Representatives June second, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and by the Senate June third, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, notwithstanding the objections of the President, be, and the same is hereby, amended by inserting on page two hundred and thirteen of the Statutes at Large, Fifty-fourth Congress, first session, after the word "War" and before the word "Provided," on the thirty |