The Sentinel=record., 1913-01-01
ACQUISITION
 IS IMPOSSIBLE.
CORRESPONDENT CALLS ATTEN- TON TO BARRIER TO GOVERN
 MENT CONTROL HERE.
Purchase of All the Land That Had Been Sold Would Be Necessary, and That Would Be Too
 Far-reaching.


 Your editorial in Sundays issue, viz: "Results-But How?" is timely and is all pertinent to the solution of present municipal needs and condi- tions. However there is one point in
 your editorial that needs some ampli-
 fication. and that is where you speak
 of federal jurisdiction of all the ter
 ritory originally set aside here for the
 Hot Springs reservation is the last
 and sounds good. but again there is
 Q barrier. The barrier is the state
 legislature. The legislature would
 have to consent to the government
 taking over the territory
 You are right in that statement so
 far as you go, but the consent of the
 Arkansas legislature is not all that is requested to give the government com
 Slete jurisdiction here If that were all, the writer is optimistic enough
 to believe that obstacle not insur- mountable, and they by well directed support and concerted action the ces- sion of Jurisdiction by the state of Arkansas over the territory might be granted to the government.
 Many others as well as yourself be- lieve this is all that is required. Why even the present governor (who is not q fawyer) in published interview some weeks ago stated in a bombas- tic broadside denounciatory of Hot Springs that when the legislature meets he will recommend the cession of this original territory back to the general government, and in doing that he conveys the impression that he will do something that we do not want there--a threat, as 1t were. to place us under the dominion of Uncle. Sam, as If we were averse to that condi- ton. when the facts are that 90 per cent of our citizens would hail with delight, that consummation. If the governor can bring that about we will acclaim him our best friend and ben efactor. He will do for us what many of us have tried for years to do, viz to find way out, or way around the constitutional impediment, and that impediment is found in the fol. lowing language of No. IF of section eight of article one Of the federal con stitution, as follows:
 "To exercise exclusive legislation In all cases whatsoever over such dis trict (not exceeding 10 miles square) as may by cession of particular states and the acceptance of congress. be- come the seat of government of the United States and to exercise like authority over all OTHER places pur- chased by consent of hhe legislatures of the states in which tine same shall be located, for the erection of forts magazines, arsenals, dry docks and other needful buildings"
 Now if the above language be found flexible enough to cover jurisdiction over reservation yet to comply with all the requirements would necessi- tate the PURCHASE of all the prop erty in the original reservation by the United States, an important proposi tion at this late date That word 1 PURCHASE is the impediment. It is | the impediment that is bothering the advocates of the extension of the Dis trict of Columbia. It has been agreed | by the best legal minds who have | the subject that the onl' way is to either purchase the nr arty or secure some amendment to the constitution, changing or elimi hating the word purchase" from ihs elause
 So We see that even if the legislc .ure of Arkansas will cede it's juri fiction over to the government, and congress accepts the cession, yet U will not be valid unless he property embraced is purchased. The United States once owned the erritory and acquired it by purchase md if it had not sold any of it the iession of jurisdiction by the state md the acceptance by congress would le all that would be required by the to give the United States exclusive control, but the United States sold the greater part of the erritory to individuals, thus parting with it's title, which act will compel he repurchase. to cure all defects.
 The jurisdiction of the United States over part of the Hot Springs noun ain was easily accomplished in 1903 because the United states still owned he property and the cession of state was all that was neces. ;a$y to complete the control by the United States. Let us hope that the governor and others who want to do us a great favor may find way around the constitution. When he ac- eomplishes that we will erect a mon nment to his memory. XXX.