Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
The Remedy is In COnsol ida ton.
n ho Editor NJ Tho Eroninp Sta,,

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In line with your editorial of yesterday on
the political situation in Alexandria county
Virginia, permit me to say that the only
remedy for the evils infesting the Potomac
shore of Alexandra county Is to wipe out
the present county organization by merg-
ing and consolidating the city and county
together. This course would bring to bear
upon the present lawlessness of the county
a police system controlled and directed by
disinterested and determined head, aim
ing at the one object of lessening and re-
pressing crime. Back Of this police system
would be a court not hedsed in with the
present inefficient jury system of the coun-
ty.
AS a citizen of Alexandria county, having
resided in it for many years, 1 am perfectly
familiar with the inability and helplessness
OF our county machinery of government to
cope aid deal with the overflow of crime
from Washington upon our waters edge at
Rcsslyn and at Jackson City. In defense of
our officers of the law, l must say that 1t
matters not how jealous or active they may
be in their efforts to stamp out crime, they
cannot necessarily meet with any degree of
success. 1t is unnecessary at present to
discuss at length them and their acts We
all know that they can accomplish nothing,
and 1 do not believe they ever can; no mat
ter what laws may be passed for them, the
crime of Washington city will continue its
hold upon our borders.
The remedy lies, as 1 say, in change of or
gaEizatiOn, SO that a police system such
the city of Alexandria has, can control the
whole county. The county can have no de-
tective system, while in the city 1t Is per-
feet; and without this detective system,
sheriffs and coLstables will be powerless. A
few mounted policemen, with a trial justice
a Rosslyn, backed by detectives indepen-
dent of the county machinery, will crush
and blot out the present evils summarily.
An amendment to the city charter would
Il ~
cities have by change of their charters alb
scrbed their counties with decided benefit
to all concerned.
The taxes it the county would not be nee
essarily increased in any amount, for 1t
need not be saddled with any of the ex-
penses or the debt of the city This equit-
able course was taken by the city of Balti-
more when 1t absorbed Baltimore county.
Alexandria county is the most beautiful
suburb of the national capital Back of the
Potomac river bluff 1t is principally a mag
Eificent plateau. elevated about $50 feet
above tide water, and is wholly surrounded.
amphitheater-lke, with grand slopes which
stretch up some 500 feet higher into Fair
fax county and overlook the city and river.
Beyond the mere strip of the river edge on
which congregate much Of your hoodlum
element, there is no suburb of Washington
more moral and quiet than the entire eoun-
ty of Alexandria. Her helplessness against
lawlessness at the rivers edge Is not due to
Indifference and refusal to execute law, but
to it's peculiar political and legal situation.
Her people are unit against the rum shop,
yet the legisIa ture infiicts an excise law to
defeat their wishes. Now only good gov
ernor can save them from similar ubiquitous
legislation giving a charter to Rosslyn. The
United States even Expresses by depriving
us of taxable property worth million OF
dollars in open market, and then denying
US the equity of a penny In return Tor the
Injustice Consolidate Us. however, with
the city of Alexandria, then all the infa-
nous Determinations can be avoided, and
we will crush out. root and branch, the
crimes and felonies of our Potomac front.
February % 1898. X. s. LACEY.