Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-15
ALEXANDRIA HIT
| AS GREEDY CITY
Annexation Scheme to Get
Revenues, Arlington View
in Opening Fight.
sy STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

what Ii was apparent Will be one OF
the bitterest territorial struggles in
the history of Old Virginia. After
serving notice on the special guberna
torial tribunal that proceedings for
writ of prohibition are being instituted
In the State Supreme Court of Appeals
the county presented to the court
bristIing preliminary statement pic
turing Alexandria as a greedy, debt
ridden city in search of salvation
through territorial aggrandiZement.
The venerable municipality, once
home town of George Washington and
city OF rich Revolutionary associations,
Immediately threw off its CLOAK OF ira
ditional dignity and struck back al
her growing neighbor with claims of
urgently congested residential and in
dustrial areas and denial OF the
charges that annexation of part of
Arlington and Fairfax Counties is not
necessary.
Counsel Array Imposing.
The battle was waged before Judges
Samuel G. Brent. Don Halsey and
Frederick Coleman by an imposing ar
raw of counsel representing the two
counties on the one hand and the city
on the other.
Reiterates Challenges.
The answer filed by Arlington
county began with reiteration OF
IT'S previous challenges as to the con-
stitutionality of the 1924 annexation
law. and as to the competency of the
present court; demanded strict proof
ON the part of Alexandria that its
annexation ordinance, which led to
this proceeding, was ever legally or
sufficiently adopted declared that
the proceedings insofar as they re-
late to Arlington County are unau-
thorized by law. in that they under
take to reduce the area of that
county below the minimum require
ment prescribed by the State constl-
tuition: charges that Alexandria
charter is null and void. and con-
tinues:
There is no necessity or expe-
diency for annexing to the city oil
Alexandria any of the territory men,
toned, and essentially is there no
such necessity or expediency for an
nexing that portion of said territory
embrace within the corporate limits
OF the county of Arlington; and the
nresent corporate limits of the SAID
city are amply sufficient for all It's
needs and purposes of every kind.
Called OfaSpmg MOVE
The answer charged:
THAT this attempt TO unduiy
enlarge the boundaries of the said city
Is born of a selfish and grasplng de-
Sire on the part Of the said city 10
subject the said sought property and
territory and the inhabitants Thereon
10 the increased burdens OF city taxa.
zion. now prevalent in the city OF
NkaA N
additional revenues to be spent IN
management of the present expensive
government Of said city. and for the
further purposes of artifically increas-
ing the population and wealth OF the
citv of Alexa N1ria. not through fs
natural growth but by reaching out
TO absorb some OF the most thickiy
popuiated and valuable sections OF
the county of Arlington, which have
been developed and improved, not as
the result OF any overflow OF the
population OF the city of Alexandria,
nor the pressure of business or popula-
ton within the present area OF said
city. but as the result and outgrowth
of the efforts of the residents Of Ar
lington County. their thrift and enter
prise and it's location in greater
proximity to the city Of Washington
and the District of Columbia. and IL
but an effort to forestall and thwart
the proper growth and development
Of the urban and suburban population
Of the county of Arlington as whole.
and authorized and nurtured by lesis-
iation by the General Assembly of
Virginia for more than 10 years past.
Reaches Its Limits.
THAT the said city has nearly
reached, if it has not already reached,
it's set limits prescribed by law and
the constitution: that its expenses
are yearly increasing, and that the
only necessity or expendiency for an.
nexing the property described in said
ordinance, especially that portion
within the corporate limits of the
County of Arlington, is to obtain
more territory and assets whereby
the annual revenue and borrowing
capacity of said city may be in
creased and il granted. those of the
County of Arlington and the Jeffer-
son magisterial district will be cor.
respondingly decreased thereby. and
their due. orderly and natural de.
velopment impeded. and that said city
Is In no financial condition to arrange
for. or make future improvements for
said territory now sought to be an
nexed, or pay for the Improvement
the statute requires to be paid for,
and for this reason, said city has
failed to state in it's ordinance what
arrangements it had made for such
future improvements, although this
is required by law.
THAT the annexation of the terri
tory described in said ordinance, espe'
rally that portion sought To be taken
from the county of Arlington, Is not
necessary for the health OF the city,
nor does. it's size or crowded condltlon
demand or require annexation or SAID
territory; that the annexation OF salo
territory or any part of it Is not JUS
flied by the past growth of said city;
nor is such territory compact ano
needed in the reasonably near future
for proper development and expense OF
the said city; that the anne ton OF
said territory lis not needed for any
proner municipal improvement. such
as the extension of streets or the In
stallation of sewers or water system.
or to supply places for the conduct OF
business or the abode of residence.
al. Boundaries Held Ample.
THAT the extension OF the limits OF
said city as prayed for does not repre-
sent the actual growth of said city be-
yond its legal boundary, the present
Boundaries being ample and sufficient
in this particular; that said territory
Ia not needed for the extension or OPP
Grafton of needed police protection
either OF the city or of the territory In
question, nor of it's inhabitants.
~ ''On the other hand, Arlington
County AYERS that it is financially
and it's governing body is In every
other particular, far better suited and
qualified than said city to govern and
develop so much of said territory as
lies within its own county limits. and
that there Is no valid or just reason
why any part of the territory of the
County of Arlington should be taken
from II and annexed to said city.
THAT the City of Alexandria is not
in a congested condition as regards
its population; that the city Is al
4 present and has for years been In a