J 4 6 THE I. \fPROVr.Mf-..\T <>/ KIVKK*. 



rnited State* whenever requested to do so by the Secretary of War or by anv of the 

 tttorncj 

 Drowcute of- cials hereinafter designated, and it shall furthermore be the duty of ^ 



district attorneys to report to the Attorney-General of the United States the 



action taken by them against offenders so reported, and a transcript of such 



eJptoyws "^ reports shall be transmitted to the Secretary of War by the Attomey-Gen- 



fnited states era j. an( j f or tne better enforcement of the said provisions and to facilitate 

 to arrest of- 

 fenders, the detection and bringing to punishment of such offenders, the officers and 



agents of the United States in charge of river and harbor improvements, and 

 the assistant engineers and insjx-ctors employed under them by authority 

 of the Seeretary of War, and the United States collectors of customs and 

 other revenue officers, shall have power and authority to swear out process 

 and to arrest and take into custody, with or without process, any person or 

 persons who may commit any of the acts or offenses prohibited by the afore- 

 said sections of this Act, or who may violate any of the provisions of the same : 

 Provided, That no person shall be arrested without process for any offense 

 Parties ar- not committed in the presence of some one of the aforesaid officials: And 



rested to be 



given a hearing, provided further, That whenever any arrest is made under the provisions of 

 this Act, the person so arrested shall be brought forthwith bef< >re a commis- 

 sioner, judge, or court of the United States for examination of the offenses 

 alleged against him; and such commissioner, judge, or court shall proceed 

 in respect thereto as authorized by law in case of crimes against the United 

 States. 

 Bridges ob- SEC. 1 8. That whenever the Secretary of War shall have good reason 



structing navi- 

 gation, to believe that any railroad or other bndge now constructed, or which may 



hereafter be constructed, over any of the navigable waterways of the United 

 States is an unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation of such waters 

 on account of insufficient height, width of span, or otherwise, or where there 

 is difficulty in passing the draw opening or the draw span of such bridge by 

 rafts, steamboats, or other water craft, it shall be the duty of the said Sec- 

 Notice of ai- retary, first giving the parties reasonable opportunity to be heard, to give 



terations. 



notice to the persons or corporations owning or controlling such bndge so 

 to alter the same as to render navigation through or under it reasonably free, 

 easy, and unobstructed; and in giving such notice he shall specify the 

 changes recommended by the Chief of Engineers that are required to be 

 made, and shall prescribe in each case a reasonable time in which to make 

 Proceedings them. If at the end of such time the alteration has not been made, the Sec- 



in case of de- 

 fault in making retary of War shall forthwith notify the United States district attorney for 



alterations. 



the district in which such bndge is situated, to the end that the criminal 



Penalty for proceedings hereinafter mentioned may be taken. If the persons, corpora- 

 default in mak- ' 

 ing alterations, tion, or association owning or controlling any railroad or other bridge shall, 



after receiving notice to that effect, as hereinbefore required, from the Sec- 



