The Washington times., 1902-04-12
ALEXANDRIA RECESSION
TO VIRGINIA SHELVED
Congress Finds 1t a Politi-
cal Question.
If Desirable That Land Become Again
Part of District Negotiations With
Virginia Must Be Opened.

The project of regaining from Virginia
the portion of the old District of Colum-
bia across the Potomac is probably dead
for this session of Congress at least
Senator Hoar, from the Committee on
the Judiciary. yesterday reported ad-
versely the only bill bearing on the sub
ject now before Congress. The bill was in
troduced two months ago.
1t proposed that the Judiciary Commit
tee examine the question of the constitu-
tionality CT the cession by the United
tion Of its territory when a portion of
the District was given back to that
State. 1t was also proposed that if the
cession were found to be unconstitu-
tional proper steps be taken to regain the
territory.
Views of the Committee.
The report of the Judiciary Committee
says:
THE territory on the other side of the
Potomac River, including the city of Alex
andria, which was originally part OF the
ten miles square. was ceded by Virginia
troceded to Virginia by act of Congress in
1886, accepted by Virginia, and thereafter
Congress exercised no Jurisdiction over
it, except SO far as 1t controls the A:ling-
ton National Cemetery, the experimental
farm of the Department of Agriculture
the military school for cavalry and the
signal corps. with the lands occupied by
them.
1T seems by the committee that 1t IL
not expcdient that this act OF retrOces-
sion should be set aside by Congress,
even if Congress had the power so to do,
without the consent of Virginia Vir-
ginia accepted the transaction, it being
understood that it was at the desire and
for the benefit of the National Govern
ment. She has established at Alexandria
the important and intimate relations
which every State forms for it's own citi-
zens, DWELLING on her own soil: and the
people, OH the other hand, we presume,
feel the loyal and deep attachment which
such relation eXcites. Such a tie ought
not to be wantonly broken, and ought not
to be broken at all without the consent
of the parties, except in case of some
paramount and overwhelming public in
terest.
A Political Question.
"As to the suggestion that the retro
cession was unconstitutional, it seems to
us the answer is that from the nature of
the case ii is political and not a judicial
question; and that it has been settled by
the political authorities alone competent
to decide It,"
The report states that such a question
is partly one Of law and partly one of
fact and that In this case ~ would be
utterly intolerable that territory should
be held in one ease 10 be part OF Nir-
ginia and in another case to be a part of
the District of Columbia, according as
might be Eeld in the individual case
The committee continues:
so ii seems TO MS the case must be
deemed settled by the acquicsccnce in the
act by Virginia ard OF the United States
as manifested r. the conduct Of the de-
partnents OF Government for more tian
half century. The ccnseTuons s Of hold
ing that this retcoc,ssion has hoeu void
from the tcgiuning would be- very seIioas.
III il hc desirable that Alexandra b.
come "A part OF the Distr,o, OF c lum.ia
again the only way to acccmr lish il viii
be TO onon negotiations with Virginia and
get her consent.