Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-03-31
Refrocession.
M tbe 4Terdndrid Gazeife:


Dear Sir Permit me few words con-
corning the movement Oh iootlooking to the
restoration of Alexandria county to the DIS
trict of Columbia.
As stated by your Washington correspon'
dent, petitions to that end have been pre-
pared and are being circulated throughout
the county. The petitions simply pray
Congress to repeal the Act of Retrocesslon
of 1916, which prayer. if granted, Will com
ne the Supreme Court Of the United states
to determine whether the act was Consiltu.
tional or not and thereby our precise legal
status. We endeavored some years ago to
obtain decision from the Supreme Court on
this moot point, by bringing suit under re
f,sal TO pay taxes, but the Court avoided the
real issue aud said that Congress should take
the initiative. Alexandria county must nave
relic in some form from its burdens OF taxa
tion. and return TO the District would un-
doubtedy give this. The present Conslltu-
lion of Virginia saddled her with county
machinery CT government whose support
compel]ed tenfoli increase OF taxes, oil OF
which has been absorbed by current eSpen'
seq. owing to the fact that the county la less
than township in size.
Fairfax county with nearly fifteen times
her area and five times her population ana
property valuation, has never raised 10 Is 1es
donble the amount levied and raised by Al
exandria county. In 1864 the government
se;zed The Arlington estate and at once with
drew il from our taxables. Worse than this
tie estate was made rendezvous for freed.
men but who were most nesrtlessly and
wrong fully abandoned in 1863 The sup
port and schooling of these unfortunetes
since then have cost the county nearly $25,-
600. not dollar of which has ever been re-
imbursed us, though more than that amount
has been exacted for rents from them hy The
government
The Arlington eetate would sell to day
in open market for one million dollars. Alb.
sorpton of the county by the District would
give us government contribution equal 10
the amount raised by us on the whole coun
ty, as our appraisement is less than mil.
| lion, and besides would give US the full bene
! fit OF the District hospital and asylum ssys
TENS for our paupers as we'll as its police
surveillance.
The rate of taxation On agricultural lands
in thu District is LOO only on the 500 in
| Alexandria county since 1869 the rate has
not been less than 81 so, often 81. 70, and that
too on appraisemenis as high es those in the
District. Beyond this the government con-
tributions enable improved roads, etc
while we cannot rebuild e washed-out
bridge without increase of tax rate
The argument for return to the District Is
far stronger for Alexandria city than for the
county. The fact that her deep water would
compel immediate removal OF the Navy
Yard to her limits suffices to show what The
possibilities are for the city in single di-
rection. From every standpoint, save that
of the elective franchise, appears induce
ment to the citizens of the city and county
for return to the District. On this excepted
ground arises, presume, the unanimous
opposition of The coored people to the pro-
posed change.
l would, however, cay in conclusion, that
am not SO much welded to the return poll
cy as to the endeavor to secure relief from
existing onerous burdens caused by our
ANOMALOUS political condition.
The approaching constitutional conven-
ton can, in large degree, remedy our evils
Restoration to the status existing prior to
1869 would require US to raise only ope dol.
lar by tax where now We are compelled to
raise $40. Second, the city and county can
be merged or an equitable basis which
would entail no more taxes than that OBJ
tanned prior to 1859. Third, consolidation
with the mother county, Fairfax, would ef-
feet much the same results.
Hence our agitation has in view relief
from the present Infamous inequitsble bur-
dens by any means possible, rather than
committal to any single line OF policy. We
cannot permit existing order Of things to
continue another twenty years.
Very respectfully yours,
B. 9. LACEY.