Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-01-31
40 REFoRMAToRY AT BELvoIR.

-ha' iauu ana OF Representative CarllD,
OF Virginia, the House voted proyis-
ION into the District Of Columbia ap-
preparation bill specifically prohibiting
the erection OF any penal institution in
either Maryland or Virginia within 10
miles of Mount Vernon. A workhouse
for District prisoners already built at
OccoQuan, was excepted by name
Sometime ago the District commits
sioncrs bought 4 tract OF land for
sSS3, 900 on which to build q reforma-
tory. Nothing was thought of it until
the ladies who comprise the board OF
regents OF Mount Vernon discovered
that the land that had been purchased
was some 800 acres OF the Belvoll
tract. which is IN the immediate vicin-
ity OF Monnt Vernon, the home oil
Washington. Belvoir, Gunston Hall,
Mount Vernon and Mount Eagle were
the great country estates OF colonial
days. The ladies protested against the
dcsecration OF Mount Vernon, and
their protest was taken up by patriotic
societies all over the country. Petitions
and rcmonstrances have been presented
in both Houses Of Congress every day.
When the District appropriation bill
came up yesterday, Mr. Carlin intro
duced his amendment providing that
no reform or penal institution OF any
kind should be located in Virginia
within 10 miles OF Mount Vernon. The
practical" men OF the House objected
on the ground that the government
had paid 1888 900 for the land. Repre-
sentative Taylor, OF Ohio, denounced
what he called the misguided and mis-
placed sentimentality," and insisted
that the reiormatory at Belvoir tract
would not be half as great 4 desecra
ton Of Mount Vernon rs was tho exist
cncc at present Of beer garden at
Marshall Hail. directly across the river
aud i'll plain view OF Mount Vernon.
NJ. P,arrc then offered an amend
mcnt including Maryland within the
zone Of exemption. Colonel Pearrc, in
4 brief address, cxonerated the Dis
land. stating that thcY had paid, per-
haps, 100 much attention to the prac-
teal side and too little to the sentimen-
tai phase Of the situation.
The women OF this land, and Indeed
all patriotic citizens," said Mr.. Pearre.
are far more profoundly interested in
this matter than the House seems to
realize Our opposition to the erection
Of Il rclormatory. as proposed, is based
on the idea that the shrine Of Wash
inglon should not be desecratcd by the
proximity OF such penal institution.
The government cannot prevent the
operations Of beer garden at Marshall
Hall, which is privately owned, nor
can it prevent the presence Of jail in
Alexandria, because it has no jurisdic-
ton in the matter. But it can and will
prevent the erection Of penal institu-
ton within 4 little over three miles Of
the tomb OF Washington
Representative Tawncy and other
members Of the appropriation commit.
ire dwc!t almost patheticaIly on the
fact that the government had spent
S3$ 900 for the land ana that this
money would be wasted.
Suppose we have spent S3335, 900 for
the land, cried Representative Sims, Of
Tennessee. we can keep the land.
We spend that much money sometimes
in this House in less than one minute.
| appeal to every man Of the north,
the east the west and the south, who
has a drop Of patriotic blood in his
veins, to protest against this desecra-
ton. The amendment should not DO
measured by dollars nor mentioned IN
the same breath with money"
Representative Cooper, Of Wisconsin,
announced that he too, was one OF the
sentimental" members OF the House.
As for the S33 900 he said it was q
mere nothing, and reminded the House
that every four years Congress spent
nearly three times that sum to give q
ball in the Pension Office in honor OF
the president.
Mr.. Carlin, author OF the amend
mcnt, closed the debate. He said that
he had offered the amendment so that
the proposition could be permanently
killed and not come back from the SEN
ate through legislative trick.
He eu!ogized the splendid work OF
the ladies Of the Mount Vernon Asso-
citation, who had saved the homestead
without asking a dollar Of government
money. "Ionder," he said, only a
short distance away, we have expended
millions Of dollars for the erection OF a
mdnument second to none in the world,
in response to this sentiment which you
would destroy. (Applause.) Now you
come and say that, although you have
spent the peoples money for these
great structures to commemorate his
memory, We will put near his home
where rest the remains of the only
woman he ever loved, and where rest
his sacred bones, this reformatory that
it may stand and smell in the nostrlls
of the American people. (Applausc)
As finally adopted the bill prohibits
the location Of rcformatory within
radius Of ten miles of Mount Vernon,
in Virginia or Maryland, except the
workhouse at Occoquan, and authorizes
the REMOVAL OF jail and workhouse for
prisoners from the District to that in
stitution.
To make the bill complete and bind.
ing, as the majority willed it, the word
sites" was stricken out and site !"
substituted and The whole was limited
to the requirement Of a site for 4 work
house. Under this form the appro