Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

Amos B. Casselman of Alexandria county
was recently read before the Columbia
Historical Society. and has been pub
lished in pamphlet form as "A reprint from
the current volume issued by the society.
in which the subject is considered impair
TALLY with reference to it's historical and
legal aspects. In this paper Mr.. Cassel-
man states his conclusion that the proper
way to proceed to regain this territory Is
by negotia ton and mutual agreement on
the part of the United States and the
state of Virginia for new line, rather
than by lawsuit in the Supreme Court.
He points out that this is the method that
was suggested by the able judiciary COM
mittee Of the Senate In 1902. 1t Is the
method that has since been recommended
and approved by President Taft in his re-
marks at the citizens banquet few
weeks ago. when he suggested agitation
in favor Of a new line" President Taft
expressed his doubts as to the constttu-
ticnality of the act of 1886 retroceding
Alexandria county to the state IF VIRGINIA.
In this he agrees with many eminent law
yers: but at tho same time he expressed
himself rs In favor OF reeaining only a
part of the county. as ne'dful for the pur-
poses of the seat Of government leaving
Alexandria city. and perhaps FAILS
Church. to the state of Virginia. This
necessarily would require a new line. and
is. therefore. In accord with the course adj
vocated in Mr.. casselman's paper In re-
ferrng to this subject recently Mr.. Cas-
selman says:
while do not disagree with those
who insist that the act of retrocAssion is
unconstitutional for its constitutionality
IS, to say the least. matter of grave
doubt. ] do not believe ii IS either neces-
sary or wise to raise the question. II an
effort Is made TO regain Alexandria coun-
~ bySR lawsuit tire state Of VIRGINIA may
he expected to resist such an effort to the
utmost. On the other hand see no rea-
son to doubt the willingness of that state
to code to the United States a orion OF
~ rxrh0 on toll.
for mutual agreement to what portion
of the county Is. In fact. needfuI for TIE
purposes Of the seat of government. Any
one familiar with the subject will racog-
nize that the state Of VIRGINIA Is under a
certain moral Obligation in resnect TO this
territory. and that when anpeal Is made
to her Just sense of obligation In the
premises. she can he relied upon to do
what Is honorable and right. have no
doubt that the state VIII consent to cede
norton of this territory. but am
equally certain that she would resist
most strenuouslv an effort to c"erce her
back into the District by legal rroceed-
ings therefore favor negotiation and
mutual agreement. INSTEAD IF lawsuit,
as the proper ard practicable method Of
re~a ming this territory"
Mr.. Case man will appear before the
committee OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
when II Is ready to gran. hearings, and
submit r's views on this subject
Mr.. HAYES who has introduced the
new bill, says:
There is no doubt that the land first
ceded by Virginia Is still, legally part
OF the District of Columbia. The land
was coded to the government by the
state OF Virginia and am confident that
there was no authority for it's transfer
back TO that state. I am also OF the
opinion that II the land IL reclaimed by
the government the town of Alexandria
must be included n the transfer. I am
confident that the pushing of the measure
will bring the land back 70 the District"