Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-10-04

!
| POTOMAC, Va, October 4.-The
town of Potomac is going to take the
only possible legal step to forestall the
annexation Of a portion of Arlington
| County by Alexandria. According 10
! Mayor William Kleysteuber. the stand
| ing committee on laws has been in
structed by the town council to pre-
! pare an ordinance relative to legal
action in connection with the annexa-
! ton OF that portion of the county
which Alexandria desires. The pro
posed ordinance will be presented at
! the next session of the council
| Public sentiment against annexa-
| ton by Alexandria was stirred by the
| addresses of prominent members of
the Better Government Commission of
Arlington County who attended the
town counsel meeting last night
Arthur Orr. organizer OF the Better
Government Commission. suggested
the plan to thwart the annexation
hopes Of Alexandria.
Want incorporation as City.
1--WE are at your mercy" said Orr
! in addressing the local council and
citizens The legal powers OF the
town OF Potomac provide for the an
nexation of Arlington County as much
as the legal powers Of Alexandra
provide for the annexation Of a por
ton of this county. Get us incor
porated as :. first class city and then
we will be safe" he continued
We. the people Of Arlington
County. want to be annexed by the
town OF Potomac if there's to be
annexation. Our people should he al
lowed to determine their own destiny.
Arlington County is n unit and a unit
that should not he broken by Alex.
andria. We would be proud to ne a
part OF Potomac"
Alexandria, said L. c. McNemar,
IS not fully prepared to start its pro-
ceedings and is forced to start them
three years earlier than planned
Alexandria planned to wait until the
Alexandria Water Go. and the other
public utilities of Alexandria had ex-
tended farther into Arlington County
and then file the necessary petition to
accompany the aim it had in mind.
Il believe in survey of Alexandria
to show it does not need a portion OF
Arlington County for its further
growth.
Incorporation Held Only Means.
'The only possible way TO stop the
annexation by Alexandria is to incor-
porate Arlington County as a city Of
the first class. The town council and
the mayor of Potomac have more legal
powers than the Better Government
and it is up to you.
Should Alexandria gain the terri
tory it plans to annex. 100000 in
taxes would be lost to Arlington
County each year" said McNemar.
Louis A, McM0hon pointed out that
the survey necessary before Alexan |
dria could annex any Of Arlington |
County was being made. 1.-THE town |
Of Potomac has the right to annex |
the same as Alexandria, and there is |
to stop the town of Potomac |
from doing so.
Doubts Aiexandrian's Figures.
"a member Of the Alexandria City
Council claims that 60 per cent of the
people want to be annexed by Alexan.
dria. I think those figures are grossly |
wrong. Petitions should be drawn up
and house-to-house canvass be made.
There is law that says that 81 |
per cent of the people of a community
could petition a town to take it in.
We suffer because there is no law
which says 81 per cent Of the people
Of community could prevent a town
from taking it in. The people should
guild up public sentiment against an
nexation''
Walter U. Varney, corporation
counsel for the town of Potomac, was
called upon by McNemar to give
MS views on the annexation.
1.-The Situation in which pOf0naa~
now finds itself is shocking" said
Varney. I'VE have lived in fear that
would be done by Alex
andria again ever since the first an
nexation Of land by that city some IL
Dr. 10 years ago. We felt ourselves
fortunate when their corporation line
was stopped at our southern bound
AIRY.
1.-THE annexation, il successful, will
take with it great source of The
revenue of the town of Potomac The
revenue Of Potomac yards amounts to
approximately $4,000 annually"
William w. Douglas Of the Better
Government Commission said
alexandria, growth in the past II
'ears does not warrant it's annexation
again. lust the other daE was
Noticing the new streets and pave
nents lust laid by the town Of roto-
nae. I followed .ner up TO the cor
,o-acior limits &c Alexandra. What
&c : EcS - A.exaac..a beyond or
.t~e? 4 cog easrJ-e"
hIel,}r G gorge Ely am A.noa T.
20 ,'nse, iot'nler @ .ne SeusI Gcp
Commission. also addressed
he meeting.
Alexandria IS not prepared to take
potomac in and call it brother" said
Mayor William kleysteuber of Poto-
mac in making the closing address of
he meeting. What Alexandria wants
9 the revenue that is derived from
his community, especially Potomac
fards. 1 am in favor of the annex
ltion OF Arlington County by POtO-
DILL DID,. r.