Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-24
RETROOE3SION TALK.

There is more retrocessiou lax IN
Washington but not in Alexandra,
and one of the papers Of the former city
today says: =,
President Taft in his next annual
message probably will recommend to
Congress that the old boundaries oil the
District of OOlumbis be restored.
The legal points involved in q transfer
from Virginia to the United States OF
that part of the District receded to Vir-
GINA 10 1916 are nowIbeiug investigated.
1t is probable that joint resolution will
be introduced at the beginning OF the
next session of Congress directing the
attorney general 10 report the steps that
should be taken to secure the restoration
of this territory.
President Taft in his speech to the
citizens of Washington st a public din
ner on May deplored the shOrt-sigl,ted-
ness of Congress 10 re.ceding to Virginia
that part OF the District south of the
Potomac. He said that it was a day OF
small things when Congress could have
held that the District of Columbia wa
too large, and he added:
al have never been able to satisfy
myself that reirocessiou was within the
power OF Congress to make"
Mr.. Taft referred to an attempt made
IN later years TO test this question in the
United States Supreme Court. On this
point, he said:
"They did attempt to settle 1t once
in the Supreme Court but the
Supreme Court has faculty OF
avoiding the main question, born OF long
practice. Aud when a gentleman who
was paying taxes on this side asked ths
they be extended to the other aide on
the ground that re!rocessiou to Virgins
is unconstitutional, so that he Nigh
have his taxes reduced, the Snprem'
Court said he could not do it in a collst
eral way. They said that as both partie
to the transaction seemed to be satisfied
| up to this time they did not intend t
investigate or seek any burdens thst thei
salaries did not requr them to meet, w
have never had that question tested.
81 believe we ought to look forward
to a great city of Washington, anC
while the Auglo-Ssxon-and especially
| the Auglo.Ssxon 10 Virginis-holds OF
10 territory SIS long as he can, 1t might
| be possible by sgitstiug the question IL
leading way to induce another settle
meut by which We should get the 0Dlj
| part of that that We really would like Il
have; the part that We OVID now 10 fee,
| the l, 100 acres of the Arlington estate
and a great deal that is unoccupied
leaving Alexandria out, and Fall
Church, and taxing ouly that that IL
Inhabited, so that We may have In thil
district, under our fostering control
where we can build roads and make the
district still more beautiful--tbat bank
of the Potomac on the other side as you
20 up toward Cabin John Bridge.
"We will need 1t; the city will con-
tinue to grow"
10 1902 a jOint resolution looking Il
the retrocession of the Virginia portion
of the District was introduced In both
houses OF Congress. II was referred to
the judiciary committee of the Senate,
and Mr.. Hosr, chairman sof the com
mittee, submitted an adverse repor
thereon.
So II seems to Us the case must be
deemed settled by the aoquiesceucs In
the act by Virginia and Of the United
States, as manifested BY the conduct oil
the departments of government for more
than half sIcenturY.
If 1t be desirable that Alexandra
become a part Of the District OF o.
lnmbia again, the only way 10 accom-
plish 1t will be to open negotiations with
Virginia and get her consent.
1t Is understood to be President Taft's
| opinion that the consent of Virginia or OF
the inhabitants of the territory in ques.
ton need not be obtained. His poaition,
it Is said, is that the cession TO Virginia
WAS unconstitutional and that if pro-
ceediDg be brought in which the United
States is made q party sgainst Virginia
the case can be presented so cleareIy to
the Supreme Court that the Issue may
not be avoided.
The government would be In q better
strategic position II Congress should fret
repeal the act Of 1916, there BY, declaring
its own belief that the act was nncon-
stitutional. Steps probsbly will be
taken at the next session to press q bill