Evening star., 1896-12-19
Entire Restoration or None.

IL is evident from the published inter-
views with citizens of Alexandria city and
county. and officials of the state of Vir-
gin Liza that the proposition to restore to
the District all of the original ten miles
square by receding Virginia's share to the
United States is unpopular across the Po-
tomac, and It becomes apparent that little
can be expected to the end of a restoration
of the original boundaries from such a re-
ccssion would involve the consent of
the state of Virginia. In view of this fact
IL is hardly worth while in considering the
question. to regard as likely the adoption
of legislat tive means. 1t Is probable that a
repeal Of the statute of 1916 would have 10
be accompanied by some action by the
state of Virginia Involving, of course, the
consent of that state and her people to
the transaction. So tnat the negative at
titCde assumed by those citizens of
Alexandria and the officials of the state
who have expressed an opinion makes still
more likely the ultimate determination on
the part of those who are interested in
the Iroject to go to the Supreme Court for
only practicable and available remedy al
hand. an OverturDing of the act of 1916
through a Judgment 20 the effect that it
was unconstitutional and therefore void.
This would certainly restore the previous
conGition and would obviate the necessity
of legislation either by Congress or by the
state of Virginia
In view of these considerations 1t is futile
now 10 debate such matters as the propo-
sition to reCede TO the United States only
that part of the original cession of Virginia
which lies outside of the city of Alexandria
and cons titutes & portion of the anomalous
organization known Alexandria county
If the act of 1916 was unconstitutional the
entire proceeding of retrocession was ille-
gal and therefore void and the whole ter
rltory given back to Virginia by that
statute must revert. under the operation of
decision by the Supreme Court to this
effect. TO the District of Columbia A prop
osition TO arnex to the District only Jack
son city, Rosslyn, and the Virginia ap-
breaches TO bridges across the Potomac,
possibly relieving the state from an equI-
table claim to participate in building and
maintaining such bridges would receive
Very careful consideration by the people of
Washington before receiving their indorse-
ert.
IL is TO he borre in mind that the District
l. not a pet.do II for recession and does
not appear az this time, nor has 1t ever
aPl cared, in that attitude The Supreme
Ionit III Its decision of 1870 pointed out
t 'ie oiiI parueS 10 the case which Ii
could recognize were the United States and
the state Of Virginia and it is in line with
nat decision now that the movement for
recession or recovery is to be instituted by
department of the general government.
1Eere are military reasons, appealing to
the nation. Why the banks of the Potomac
opposite the seat of government should be
uf'ier exclusively national control There
"ouiu De obvious material advantages to
'he feoPie OF the retroceded strip in re-
union with the District, and the numerous
movements in the past to undo retrocession
faVe proceeded from residents in Alexan-
drla city and county. If the project has
Iost attractiveness for them 1t is hardly
likely that anybody else Will take sufficient
interest in 1t 10 push forward the move
ment against the active opposition of vir-
giuia