The Washington times., 1905-10-16
GAMBLERS MAY GET
ALEXANDRIA FOR Us
Argue That County Belongs
to the District.
FAMOUS QUESTION REVIVED
Federal Court Will Decide Whether
Congress Legally Returned the
County to Virginia.

Interest in whether Alexandria county
IL part of the State of Virginia or Of
the District of Columbia has been re-
vived through the prosecution OF pool
rooms in Virginia
The cases are now before Judge Wad-
dill. judge of the United States court
of the eastern district of Virginia.
His decision tomorrow may mean the
opening of this celebrated question.
Ten years ago the jurisdiction Of
Alexandria county was questioned The
case was taken before the United States
Supreme Court by r. A. Phillips,
well-known capitalist and real estate
owner OF Alexandria county, with Of
fees in Washington.
The court decided that the issue was
one wholly between the United States
and the State Of Virginia and that a
private citizen was not qualified to
bring 1t up for disposition
Since that decision, which failed TO
settle the status Of the county. the
case has been at a standstul and is so
now. There are residents Of Alexan-
dria county who now are inclined to
believe that with the agitation attend
Ing the poolroom cases the retroces-
sion Of the county viii again come up
for serious discussion
Return of County.
In the proclamation Of President
Washington. Alexandria county was
part of the ten mile square allotted
as the seat of the Federal Govern
ment In 1s46. Congress voted to re-
trocede to Virginia that portion of
th1sten mile square south of the Poto-
mai"
= has been contended by eminent
lawyers that II Congress had that
power in 1876. it has the power today
to retrocede to Maryland that portion
which is known as the District of Col
umbia-' They argue further that it
then has the power to change the seat
OF Government TO Bladensburg, Jack
son City, or even to Hawaii
1t Is not understood that Congress
ever had the power to cede away any
part or the "ten-mile square" defined as
the limits of the District of Columbia
In PRESIDENT Washington's proclamation
The activity of Mr.. Phillips and others
Is ascrioed TO the lax methods which
now obtain in the government of the
county and the benefits to be derived
from its restoration to the District.
Would Benefit Town.
The county would have the benefit OF
tne good-roads law, the revenues from
Government property, such as Arlington.
the three Government bridges. and
other property would revert to the
District. and citizens OF what Is now
Alexandria county would have the pro-
lection of a police system and the bene-
nts OK sanitary laws which are not now
In force in the county
L. T. Phillips, the Washington attor-
ney, son Of R. A Phillips, said ycs-
teroay that there is practically no san
ilalon IN the county. the police -facili-
tes are poor, and that the methods of
governing the county are much in line
Tor improvement. Should the court de-
eide that Alexandria county is legally
within the District line II would mean
practically general revision of af-
only mean benefits 10 the people Of the
county, but to the county itseif. and
to the District OF Columbia
New Phase Brought Up.
A letter from Mr.. Phillips father to
Attorney John A. Lamb. counsel for the
two poolroom men who are now under
arrest. is interesting in that it pre-
sents a phase of the matter which has
not been brought prominently before
the public.
The letter reads as follows:
1T Is pleasure TO me 10 observe
lnat you assert in case before Judge
Naddill: OF the United States district
court, tnat Alexandria county is a part
or the District OF Columbia end fhat
the act OF retrocession was wholly mira
wires. ui'ia
IN my opinion Congress had less right
i',,;sS,lit, sSSiin9ulsh or transfer its exclusive
jurisdiction over part OF the seat OF Fed
eral government than ii would have to
seoe away or relinquish its legislative
power over postofiices and postroads.
Ot course. we all know the Constitu-
non mas become a mere political footbal;
N theSe modern days. We flnd onr
fecerai Goyernment in the canal-dig.
sing business in foreign territory. and fn
.ne missionary business in Asiatic isl
amos. and IT Is refreshing to observe
~N1Sioileiiiy y q recurrence to safe prin-