Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-30
TOTAL ANNEXATION
OR NONE URGED
Arlington Says County Is Too
DenseIy Populated to
Be Divided.
By a STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

COURTHOUSE, Arlington County.
Va, December 30.-All or none Of Ar
lington County should be annexed to
Alexandria, and not a portion thereof.
the annexation tribunal was told to-
day by counsel for that county.
Charles T. Jesse. Arlington County's
delegate to the Legislature. explained
that this broad claim Is based on a
ruling of the court at the time OF the
Clarendon Corporation proceedings,
known as the case of Bennett versus
Garrett, in which 1t was held that the
congestion existing outside OF the ter
ritory, which was sought to be incor.
porated, was so great that line could
not be drawn through any part OF II
TO designate a corporate limit. He
argued that Arlington County, as a
whole, Is so densely populated and
built.up that this court now in ses'
sion cannot separate any particular
portion Of 1t for annexation to Alex
andria.
Opposes Court Ruling.
Mr.. Jesse presented this argument
In noting an exception TO a ruling by
the court that II was not interested IN
testimony regarding the density OF
population outside of the Territory
which Alexandra desires to take with
in her boundaries. The ruling Of the
court occasioned a spirited debate on
the part of counsel for Arlington and
Fairfax Counties. The effort was so
spirited, in fact, that Presiding Judge
Samuel G. Brent was prompted to
break into the controversy with re-
mark that ne had never heard OF a
court ruling not being respected by
counsel. The court might be wrong,
he added. but counsel had redress by
taking exception to the ruling.
Jesse disclosed that Alexandria's an.
nexation proceedings constitute
threat against a carefully worked out.
comprehensive scheme on the develop
ment OF Arlington County along mod.
ern city lines. He said the county
now has every right accorded a city.
and wishes jealousy to guard those
rights.
Extensive Loans In County.
do you mean to say that this court
should extend Alexandria's limit be.
yond the section requested by Alexan.
dria In these proceedings" asked the
court.
1--WE contend" counsel for Arlington
County replied, that the county In SO
densely populated that all OF 1t, or
none of 1t. should be annexed. We
base that contention on the ruling OF
the court in the Clarendon case"
At the opening of court this morn.
Ing Carroll Pierce. president OF the
Citizens National Bank OF Aiexan-
dria. testified that the city's three
national banks had deposits totaling
$5.700.000 and had loaned money ex'
Iii fy.fu
Counties. Questioned regarding the
AlexandrlE Water Co.. OF which he Is
a director. defense counsel raised an
objection to the insinuation" that
this water works is municipality
owned. Judge Brent remarked that
the court understood It was q private
corporation. but added that II was IAN
Alexandria enterprise Crandall
Mackey OF counsel for Arlington
County took vigorous exception to
Judge Brent's statement about the
system being an Alexandria enter.
prise.
Then II. Exrine. subdivision develop.
er. testified regarding building opera.
lions In the disputed territory and
also within the city limits. Court
adjourned for lunch with George T..
Garrett. former county engineer. on
the stand for discrimination.
The court announced that IL would
adjourn this afternoon until next
Wednesday.
Increase Of AL shown.
The special Federal census OF Alex.
andrias population. requested by the
court at the citys instigation. con.
Cured In by the counties. showed n
population increase of All since 1920.
The figures were seized upon yester.
day by defense counsel as corroborat.
Ing their contention that Alexandria
In not progressive and that there In
no need for an increase In Its bound.
airy lines.
Witnesses put on tho stand yester.
day afternoon for Alexandria testi.
Ned the city II prosperous ana has ex-
perienced a marked rise In land values
since tho war. These witnesses In.
cluded Taylor Burke and George t.
Warneld. bankers. and Fred c. Good.
now. real estate dealer.
On conclusion Of .examinatio ion
Of Mr.. Burke II was charged by Gar.
ter Hall of counsel for the city that
attorneys for the counties have un.
necessa rily prolonged the examina.
ton. The charge was denied by John
=. Barbour. an attorney for the de-
Tense.