Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-27
COMMUNICATED.
TIE REMUNERATION.


publication OF The following 'interviews"
10 a Washington paper whose
owner. for merceuary motives alone, Ia
eudsavoring to bring about this condi'
ton of affairs. Let them remember,
however, that this man sOd the paper
want only the county aud not the city
annexed. The county is where they
bsve interests aud they have no use ior
Alexandra city:
Several members OF the Alexandra
City Oouucil who we're questioned de-
cined to express an opir ION on the SUD-
iect, but two OF them Oonncilmen Frank
+. Evans aud FrsOk @. Spinks, both OF
whom are 10 he Fourth ward delegation
in the lower board, expressed their
opinions freely. Mr.. Evans said:
ITO use slang phrase, | am red
hot for the proposition. The longer we
live the more we become impressed with
the beautiful simplicity of the character
Of George Washington and also with bis
farsigbtedness. When Washington sug-
gested that the District of Columbia
should be 10 miles square, bisectad BY
the Potomac river, he toressW the most
beautiful city 10 the world, aud We
should be q part of it, as originally In
tended"
Councilman spinks said
"Off hand an of the opinion that it
would benefit Alexsndris commercially II
tbs act Of recession of 1916 were declared
unconstitutional and the original bouu.
daries OF The District of Columbia re-
stored, but for sentimental reasons l
prefer to remain resident OF Old Vir-
ginia. l own q little patch of land down
10 Fairfax county, and II Alexsndria is
ever ceded back TO the government, |
sm going to retain my citizenship by
building on that"
Oscar F. Garter, prominent busines,
mao of Alexandria and former chairman
of the city democratic committee, resent
ed the suggestion that Alexandria might
eventually again become a part of The
District.
1--WE belong to Virginia," Mr..
Garter said; "and | sincerely hope We
will remain Virginisns. can't see any
benefit to be derived from the change,
but l can see a decided disadvantage.
The District authorities would send
negro policemen over here, and the
minute they did there would be trouble"
w. E. Balm, one Of the largest whole
sale and retail dealers 10 hardware in
northern Virginia, was as briet and even
more emphatic than Mr.. Garter in his
opposition'to the presidents proposition.
"The day that Alexandria goes back
into the District OF Columbia all of my
property 10 the city will be for sale, sod
| will take the 6rst offer made for 1t. !"
Former Postmaster Joseph l.. Ofup-
per, who Is at his summer home in
the upper end of Alexandria county,
told q reporter for the Post yesterday
that The sentiment of his neighbors In
that section was strongly in favor OF
President Tait's plan.
at is their impression that land
values will be greatly increased, and
| believe that this will eventually be
the result, though prices will not jump
as rapidly as most persons think. So
far as the legal aspect of the matter is
cor erned, can only speak as a lay
map, but in my opinion the act of re-
cesslon was clearly unconstitutional,
and If the question is put up to the
Supreme Court by the government there
can be no other decision.
Benton OhinD, whose business is 10
Alexandria but whose home is near
BraddOck Heights, Alexandria county,
Confederate veteran whose ancestors
have been Virginisns since 1860, stated
yesterday that sentiment did not figure
10 the "a after for a moment 80 far as be
was concerned.
81 am still a Virginian, whether
Alexandra is followed by Va or ID.
o." Mr.. Ohinn said, land they can
declare the act of recession unconstitu-
tionsl as soon as they please. own
two acres of land In Alexandria county
where l expect to spend my declining
years. There is no doubt 10 my mind
| would receive benefits tbat | do not
now receive il the county were coded
back to the government, and 30 far as
the city OF Alexsndris is concerned !
cannot see but that 1t would be bound
to benefit by the change. The sooner
the people of this section get away
from s3ntiment, the better of they will
be-"
Harry Fleischmsnn, one of the pre-
prietors OF the Hotel Fleischmsnn, took
a practical view of the matter.
eff the retsocession OF this territory
to the government means scent car
fare between Alexandria aud Washing
ton and the smoke laws OF the Capital
are not to be enforced on this side
of the river | SIN for 1t. There is
no reason Why the western Dsnk of
the Potomac from The highway bridge
to Jones Point should not be occupied
by factories, and II 1t Is the idea to
make the Virginia side the workshop
Of Washington | sm for It,"
Several Alexandris officials who we're
seen declined 10 express themselves on
the subject, while otherS, for obvious
reasons, laughiDgly admitted that they
we're opposed to President TsfPs plan 10
bring This subject up fgsin.
Frank L, Saymakfr, real estate
dealer, said: "From a selfish point OF
view ] shonld like to see the change,
but | put the general good above selfish
motives and | csn see too many dis.
advantages to hope that Alexandra will
ever again become q part of the Dis.
trict."
Frank T. King, of Charles King &
Sons Co., Wholesale gTocers, said:
"Mr Charles King lie out Of the city
and m, nh anti orizad IN anaak fnr