The Washington times., 1909-10-05
Attorney Sands Says Con
greSS Could Not Return
District Land.
MEMBERS PLANNING
TO HEAR ARGUMENT
Constitutional Lawyers to Advance
Reasons for Taking Back
Territory.

''The act OF Congress retrOceding
10 Virginia its present part OF Alex
andria county is clearly unconstitu-
tional.
when one considers the various
formal acts on the part Of the States,
OF Congress, and by the President,
pursuant 10 the provisions OF the
Constitution, connected with the Gre
alton OF the District OF Columbia,
one can readily see the inherent de-
fects in the attempt made in 1876
to put back into the State Of Nir-
ginta that part OF her territory for
maIly ceded 10 the United States by
her in December 1883
Attorney +. p. 3. Sands 20 the
committee of the Chamber Of Com
merce appointed to consider the
constitutionality Of the act of 1876.
Will Continue Work.
II the constitutional lawyers who are
20 appear before the committee of the
Chamber of Commerce in the series of
hearings regarding the validity OF the
retrocession of portion OF the District
to Virginia in 1916, take the same views
as does Attorney T. 3. Sands. and IL
they can impress the committee with
them as favOrably, II is pretty well
settled that the Chamber Of Commerce
is going to busy itself this winter with
working out practical plan for getting
back the ceded territory.
Following the pointer given by Pres
ident Taft at the citizens dinner ten
dered him last winter, when be de-
clared that he questioned the constitu-
tionality Of the retrocession act, the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday after
noon formally took up the problem
which is TO be the subject of an ex-
haustive investigation by that body
9HrrHf ion n
peared before IT, committee. which has
been appointed specially to conduct the
hearings. This committee is a branch
OF the law and legislation committee and
is composed Of Charles Dnkins, chair
man: J. Miller Kenyon, Jackson IL
Ralston. Corcoran Thorn, Leon To-
briner, BENJAMIN + Barnes, r. Golden
Donaldson, DR.. W. G. Woodward,
Charles w. Darr, Walter 3. Guy, John
Is. SIeman, jr., and Louis II. Stabler.
II is stated that Amos X. CasSelman,
who has given the subject a great deal
OF attention, may DE the next speaker
before the committee
Sands Makes Argument.
Attorney Sands declared that in the
recitals of the preamble OF the retro
cession act there are several sections
which are all suggestive Of the doubts
which existed then as to it's propriety
and legality.
IAN Of the citizens of the entire ter
ritory OF the District of Columbia, said
Mr. Sands. male and female, white and
black. infants or insane. were entitled
10 the benefits of the exclusive juris-
dfction' Of Congress over the whole ter
ritory. and Congress could not renOunce
or part with that constitutional duty IL
whole or in part.
when this territory became vested
in the United States the power and au-
rhoritv contained in the words 'eXclu-
sive Jurisdiction which was given 10
Congress over this territory precluded
the idea that vote of the majority Ct
any certain class OF its residents, within
any limited portion thereof. could give
validity or strength to any legislation
by Congress I'm regard thereto. TIE
whole population OF the entire District
was Just as much entitled 10 voice
in such action. had IL been at all law
ful