The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-03-16
HIGH court
WILL DECIDE
Big QUESTION
PIT O. STATE OF VIRGINIA
MI Dc GIVEN BACH TO U. S.
ALEXANDRIA
RESIDENTS or ALEXANDRIA
COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO az
TURNED BACK TO DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.

06SWSSRNs
| WASHINGTON. March 15.-One Of
the greatest movements yet iRau-
| guraNed w1than the District OF Col
umbh that has an effect nationally IS
the recession OF part OF the state Of
vfrgsnaa GO the federal government
A Commute, styling itesef the com
mi0aee OF the original District OF
/ Columbia" and composed Of large
number of prominent and Influential
men, has revived the projec4 for the
restoration OF that part OF Virginia
which was originally included IN the
district. and which was receded 70
Virginia by congressional encatmen1
in 1916. Hsrnis Taylor, one of the
mcst prominent constitutional lawyers
IN the country. kas been engaged by
the committee TO carry the case TO
the supreme court OF the United
States.
The recession act, by which con
greSs restored the territory south
Of the Po.omac river to Virginia
without the Formally of colstitu-
ttonal amendment and without sub
mitting the matter TO a vote o.
the states, is TO be attacked on the
ground that the act was wholly an
co0StitRS loaal; that congress exceed
ed its authority N an uRwarranted
manner; that the recession was a
4 political move and a part of the
slavery agitation which preceded the
civil war; and that, the co1sttu-
4 tionalsty of the act beng in question,
no statute of limitations runs in the
premises.
Mr.. Taylor via set forth IN his
+ petition TO be presented 20 The
supreme court that, L congTeSs ii
recedng to Virginia that part q
the original District of Columbia ay-
ing on the Virginia side OF the 20
tomac was within is constA.u. lo1lal
rights, it would without qUss loL
: have the right to give back 10 tbs
state of Maryland all the remainder
Of the District and even the cl.y o.
Washington itself.
Practically every man Of proni
neace residing IN that part OF Alex
andria county that ives formerly :
part of the District Of Columbia Oue
side OF the city of Alexandria Ia.
signed the petlsioa and the commit
tee Itself is sanguile Of the success
Of It's efforts.
This controversy has been wage
in and around Washington for III
past two years and was the sub
Charges were made that the propc
tect of many debate in congress.
sit5on was the creation OF a schem
engineered by a number OF real <
tate brokers il Washington, Bait
more and Philadelphia for the pal
pose of booming the properly K
Gated on the other side OF the river
When the matter was first bFoacheJ
It resulted n increasing the value G
lands in Virginia, particularly tina
part below the level OF the rive
which falls within the old terri .oyia
/ hznaks of the district.
Necessarily the property ON IA
\ Virginia side made a treme1dcu
i gain in prices. Real estate dealer
II sold marsh lands, water lands an
II every other kind of land q
II tremendous prices Signs weT
posted over the vast tract calm
II the attention OF pass ers5y 70 the d
/ s<ablky of the location for snyeS
L ment The whole tract has been da
posed of 70 individual purchaser
\ Few il any houses are occupy n
\ sites. One or two factories Ii.
take care Of the refuse from Vas
ingson have bulk plants on Il
other side OF the river. Otherw ise q
property remains today aboU as
wSs during CNaI war times.
The question, however, b.
simply developed into a proposals <
that the residents Of Alexandra cou
", that hotbed Of sezti,ion during 4
Civil war, wish to throw Of Il
sovereignty OF Virginia 10 become
part of northern territory and o.
incidentally that real estate PRONE
ers wish TO reap a Ions delayed rs
vest
Members Of congress are watchi
! the progress of the case being Int,
ested N the constitutional quest
that IS 70 be fought out before (
supreme court
Sensational dey eiopmen.s are
pected should the court rule T.
congress exceeded its authority
ceedAng this part Of the District ba
to Virginia.
In the Garden Of EDEN.