The evening times., 1895-10-28

The reputable people of Alexandria
County, Va, are pxeparing to attack the
disrepu BILE dcns atJackson City and other
points along the Potomac from another
quarter. They have. mt given up the fight.
The defeat OF Dougfas and OF Andrew
LipscOnib and others who could be de-
peisie.l on to take acfion against the gam
blers, thieves and thugs that make their
headquarters i'll these places has only more
fully aroused the respectable portion OF the
community TO try every means in their
power To get relief.
The latest plan is TO go before the Vir-
ginia legislature and try TO get legisla-
ton giving the county back to the General
Government. They DO not believe that any
force can be brought to bear 10 prevent the
consunmation of their plan IL they can
unite all factions of the decent people upon
the plan.
The difficulty all through has been that
other interests have been allowed to inter-
fere, ana steady and determined effort
against the gang of toughs has never been
made by all the respectable element at one
time.
GAMBLERS CANDIDATES ELECTED.
The candidates chosen In the interests
OF the gamblers and race-coursc gang have
always been able TO command the support
OF a considerable number Of good people
who have friendly relations to them entirely
outside their candidacy, while the gentle
men pledged to eradicate the evil have al
ways been opposed or left unsupported at
least by numbers who should have been
their friends by reason of business and
other interests which should not be allowed
to interfere.
Before the legislature all this could be
changed and the issue, pure and simple, OF
relief from the evil by one means or an
other can be presented.
In case the legislature cannot be In
duced to act. another recourse is being con-
sidcred. This Is movement by the
United States Government to recover pos
session OF the territory under the acts al
ready passed governing jurisdiction over it,
The thtrty-siN square miles constituting
Alexandria County were ceded Ia the
United states by Virginia at the same
time the present District was ceded by
Maryland. 1t was given back by act of
Congress in lS4G. The reasons for that ac-
ton that existed then are no longer of
consequence to anything like the same eN-
tent, while the reasons why the territory
should be part of the District are far more
numerous and of much greater weight.
GOVERNMENT OWNS ARLINGTON.
The Government owns Arlington and the
Fort Myer area, and will probably want
to extend its Possessions in that section
In the near future. The property holders
over there, very many OF them, have bnsi-
ness in Washington and spend their days
here.
Their social relations are all here. They
look to Washington as the center from
which their real estate is to be developed.
They are making subdivisions with refer
pnce to Washington, and working Tor the
erection of a memorial bridge bringing
them into much closer and more vital CON
nection with this city. They are 4 unit in
favor of '.anne xation."
1t is said that there are flaws in the |
act OF 1886 retruce'iing the Virginia ter |
ritory. Tf the legislature cannot be iu- |
iGced to act. this will be very carefully |
looked into. 1t may be necessary to have |
an act OF Congress tvfeuablc the Attorney |
General to sue.
This. it is believed. couid be passed with !
Iut much effort. Then, instead of a case |
being made to get possession uf Alexander |
Island. as proposed by the investigation |
now being made by Mr.. Taggart the fight |
would be made for the whole Of Alexandria |
County.