Evening star., 1896-12-18
ALEXANDRIA COUNTY
Virginia Congressman Express Their
Opinion on Retrocession.
GENERALLY OPPOSED TO TIE PROJECT
One Representative Believes the
Proposition to Be Proper.
HIS REASONS THEREFOR

Senator McMillan's proposition to secure
from the state of Virginia the territory
formerly belonging to the District of Co
lumbia does not meet with the approval of
the Virginia members of the House who
read the resolution introduced by Mr.. Nc
Milan yesterday. Several of the Virginia
members have not looked into the question.
and give 1t merely passing notice wnen
tteir attention is called to it.
THE resolutions do not amount to any
thing" said Representative Meredith, who
halls from the district from which it is
proposed to take back such territory. THE
question has already been tested. and it
has been found that everything about the
retrocession by the government to Virginia
was regular. No man who lives in that
territory need have any fear that his citl-
zenship ir Virginia will be taken from him.
The resolution is rainbow chaser.
The state of Virginia will never consent
to give up this or any part of her territory
She ceded to the genera. government all tho
lands up to the lakes except West Virginia,
which was taken from her. l suppose this
thing originated this way: Jackson City has
gotten into bad repute and there has been
so much trouble over there that the au-
thoritieS here would like to have control of
that place, but in my judgment it be-
longs to Virginia ard cannot be taken from
her by any act of Congress. The govern
raent owns now in the Arlington estate,
about one-tenth of the entire county Of
Alexandria. Virginia derives no taxes from
this valuable property. So long as l am
here this new proposition will be fought
but / believe it will die with this session
anyhow.
Representative Otey of Virginia said that
without having read the resolution. he
would be opposed to retroceding foot Of
Virginia land. There is as much land
here now as Is needed for government pur-
poses"
Representative Tyler of Virginia said: "I
dent know much about the facts, but /
have no iGea that part of a sovereign state
can be taken from it that way. Virginia
has been sufficiently dismembered already"
Representative Swanson said that the
matter had never been discussed or thought
of in Virginia, and that he would not care
to express an opinion until he knew what
the people of his state thought of the SUP
Ject. He said if it assumed any definite
form he supposed action would be taken
on the matter.
Representative Richardson of Tennessee
said that ne had given the matter no at
tention: but that If it was brought before
his committee he would give 1t full con-
sideratfon with the object in view of ascer-
tanning what vas the best interests of each
side of the question.
FnvOrs the Proposition.
Representative Tucker of Virginia
terially differed from his colleagues who
talked on the subject.
He said: Il am in favor of the PROPOSE
tic made by Senator Mcmillan. The needs
of the capital require that territory an,l
they require that the District shall have
exclusive control over ii. Virginia does
rot need this territory and | believe that
the Legislature of that state would cede it
back without any serious opposition. The
government has to spend money for the
fhnf farr
ought to own and control everything
around these bridges. The territory is
convenient, and l am, / said heartily
In favor of its coming back to the Dis
trct."
Senator NcMilIan's Object
One caller from Alexandria who visited
the room of the Senate District committee
was anxious to know whether this resolu-
ton was the outcome of suggestions made
by the people of Alexandria county, and he
was told that no petition had been received
from the people on the Virginia side of the
Potomac river the basis for Mr. McMil-
lan's action. Mr.. Mcmillan frequently en-
joys long drives in every direction about
this city, and during these drives he has
on many occasions crossed the Aqueduct
bridge and the Long bridge, and he has
seen evidences of conditions of laWlessness
which would not fol a moment be allowed
to exist if the District of Columbia eXer-
cised jurisdiction over the south bank of
the Potomac. He has been interested IN the
large property holdings of the United
States at Arlington, for which the govern
ment paid $2OO,Uo, has seen the necessity
for the further improvement of roads on
that side of the river as a convenience for
this government property, and has con-
stantly been impressed with the necessity
of having improvements on the Virginia
side. which can probably never be made
until that pert of the county is made u
t'pinmb
McMillan's resolution of inquiry was a di-
rect result of his observations and of his
personal inquiry regarding the necessities
in the case, and was really a surprise to
the Senate, as well as to the people of Alex
andria county.
Mr.. Mcmillan, since becoming the chair
man of the Senate committee on the Dis
trlct of Columbia, has made a thorough
study of every question which has come
before his committee. and in this way has
become extremely familiar not only with
the actual conditions existing within and
about the District, but has considered
every proposition that has been suggested
to him BY others, or which has been the
result of his own observation for the i'm
proVement of the national capital. He be-
lieves that the extension of the limits of
the District into Virginia soil, as was
originally the case. is a matter that will
attract the support of most people who
have a pride in the national capital, and
many assurances Of support have come to
him during the short time since the intro
duction of his resolution in the Senate yes
ecrday.
1t has not at any time been the purpose
OF Mr.. Mcmillan to include the city of Alex
andria within the limits of the District of
Columbia, especially if the people of that
place do not wish to lose their citizenship
in the old dominion. Indications are at
present that the people of Alexandria will
wish to retain their citizenship and suf-
frage. which. of course, they would have
to lose If they were brought under the gov
eminent of the District, but, outside of the
city of Alexandria. ii is believed from pres
ent Indications that the people by a large
majority will favor being included within
the District of Columbia.