Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-04
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.

LIE OlSJIiCI Vi NOluiIlbId III an hiItN-
ltionS and promising more than to full
ell the fondest dreams Of George
Washington. Thomas Jefferson and
other far-seeing statesmen of the young
Republic. consideration is being given
once more to the old question of reStor-
ing the original lines of the Federal
District, so as to embrace the ten
miles square" laid off by order of the
first President in accordance with the
terms of the Constitution, or at least
the major part of the Virginia portion
of the old District.
It is in Arlington County itself,
which under the old name of Alex
andria County formed a part of the
District for more than half a century,
that the proposal to bring the Vir-
ginia portion back under Federal juriS-
diction is being agitated anew. AS
they watch the progress of the City
of Washington. just across the river
from them, many men and women OF
this smallest Of Virginia counties are
bordering the advantages and disad-
vantages of a return of their terri
tory to its former status.
Sharp Differences Arise.
But now. as in the past. whenever
this subject has been discussed sharp
differences of opinion are arising
among the citizens of Arlington County.
Some welcome the agitation because
they think the time is ripe for 1t and
that ultimate success is certain, and
because they. want to share in the prog
ress of the National Capital more d.
rectly than is possible under present
conditions.
Others. who have not made up their
minds fully in the matter, welcome the
movement as a means, at least, OF call
ing attention to what they consider
the backwardness of the county under
existing conditions, hoping that it may
be a stimulation to county reform.
BY large number of the inhabitants
of the county, including most of the
older and the native Virginia families
and county Office holders, the movement
is vigorously opposed and belittled.
They declare that there is no appre-
ciable sentiment, either in the county
or the District, in favor of change.
They insist that the advantages of self
government and the full rights OF
American citizenship, which they enjoy
and the residents of the District of CO.
lumbia do not, outweigh all supposed
benefits claimed in behalf of restora-
ton to Federal jurisdiction.
Has Not Gone Far.
The movement investigation discloses.
has not gone far. 1t is only in the
initial stage and it Is entirely too early
to predict whether or not 1t will grow
to any appreciable extent. The few
who are thus far taking an active part
in it admit frankly that the most eff
fective argument which they have to
meet on the other side is that the peo-
pie Of the District are deprived of the
right of American citizens to vote for
President and Vice President and are
not represented in the Congress which
makes their laws.
Some citizens of Arlington County,
with whom a representative of The
Star talked, are willing to forego the
vote and representation in Congress, as
we'll as local self-government, for the
advantages which they expect to get
from having their present homes IN
cluded within the District. But for
the most part there Is a widespread
hesitancy to give up these rights, no
matter what is offered in their place.
In fact, many of the residents OF the
county have gone there from the Dis
trict so as to obtain the rights of cit
izenship in full, and they want to be
allowed to work out their own destiny.
If the present movement in the Dis
trict, fostered by the Citizens Joint
Committee on National Representation,
should be successful in its effort TO have
Congress and three-fourths of the
States approve a constitutional amend
ment to Americanize the inhabitants OF
Washington. the principal objection to
the present agitation in Arlington
County would probably be removed, IN
the opinion of those persons who are
familiar with sentiment on the VIZ
ginia side Of the river.
Watching With Interest.
For this reason many men and women
of Arlington County are watching with
a degree of interest only second TO that
of the residents of the National Capital
the present campaign for national
representation for the District When
this is achieved, and when fair ap-
portionment of the expenditures for the
District is made between the local and
the Federal Governments, the move
ment for the restoration of Arlington
County to the Federal Government will,
1t is believed, be given new impetus.
The independent city of Alexandria
was once also included in the District OF
Columbia, but the primary purpose OF
the present agitation is to bring only
Arlington County back to its old status.
Sentiment in Alexandria has been found
by inquirers to be strongly against any
change of this sort, and it IS recognized
by the leaders of the movement that an
effort to include an already independent
and thriving city In the plan would be
attended by complications that might
jeopardize the movement unnecessarily.
Furthermore, the relationship be-
tween Alexandria and the National
Capital is not SO close as that between
the latter and the county which lies
directly across the river and is only 10
or Is minutes ride from the center Of
Washington with direct connection by
three bridges. The completion of the
Arlington Memorial Bridge will still
further cement the relationship between
washington and the transpotomac
county.
LOath TO Express Opinion.
While it has been claimed that SEN
timent in Arlington County in favor OF
restoration to the District has been in
creasing with the influx of thousands
of residents of Washington and the
Northern States and the growing BUSH
ness and social intimacy with Che Cap
ital City, investigation discloSes gem
eral hesitancy to express opinions on
the subject at this time.
We want to know more about it be-
fore we say anything" is the answer of
most of the inhabitants of the county
to all requests for their views.
There are some on both sides of the
question, however, who do not hesitate
to speak out vigorously. Those who
are working at this time for a restora-
ton of the countyS former status are
approaching the question from two
points of view. Some lawyers have
no constitutional authority to retro
cede any part of the original District
of Columbia to Virginia, and that the
retrocession act of 1846 was illegal and
may be set aside by the courts. They
would like to see the question decided