Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
DEBATE DEVELOPS
ON RETROCESS|ON
Taking of Arlington County
From D. C.. Declared
Unconstitutional.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
stan Correspondent OF The Star.

STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
LYON VILLAGE, Va, May 3o.-Ap-
pearing last night before the regular
meeting of the Lyon Village Citizens
Association, Richard l.. Eacho. a men,
Der of, and George M. Yeatman, preSi-
dent of the Ashton Heights Citizens
Association, took opposite sides on the
question Of the retrocession of Arlington
County to the District Of Columbia.
Eacho, who had been invited to ad-
dress the meeting, In conjunction with
j. Cloyd Byars, was unaware of the
fact that he was to participate in a
debate until he arrived at the meeting
and found that Yeatman had preceded
him there, having been invited to
present the negative side of the
question.
Arguments for Rctrocession.
In support of the move to recede the
county to the District, Eacho pointed
out first the differences in the cost of
automobile tags. He claimed that the
average cost Of tags in Virginia is SIS,
as against 81 in the District.
His second reason was that, although
the telephone rate in Arlington County
is the same as in the District, there is a
scent toll charge for every call made
in Washington and that most of the
calls made are subject to toll.
The electric rates are higher, he
claimed, with little chance Of a reduc-
ton, since the Potomac Electric Power
Co. and the Virginia Public Service
Co.. both of which operate in the coun-
ty, have an agreement whereby the
former company will not increase their
service and will not interfere with the
present rates charged by the latter COM
pan"
o2t. he said, costs twice as much as
in the District, despite the fact that it
is furnished by the same company.
Water rates are mueT cheaper in the
District and sewerage would be installed
without the necessity Of bond issue
or other technicalities. he declared, and
the streets and sidewalks would be i'm
mediately cared for.
Yeatman replied that he was a ma
tive Washingtonian and had moved to
Virginia for the advantages that he
could get here that were not available
in Washington. His decision was based
upon many years of civic work in the
District, he declared
ct do not believe there is any one
here tonight who has ever attempted
to accomplish anything through the
red tape necessary in Washington who
will ever want to go back" he said.
Self government and the right OF
suffrage were advanced as the prin-
cipal arguments for remaining under
State control.
Stresses Legality.
Byars confined himself to the legal
points involved in the original granting
of Arlington County to the Federal
Government and stated that he did
not believe that the Constitution per-
mitted Congress to cede 1t back to
Virginia.
There has always been doubt in
the minds of attorneys as to the
validity of the act by which that part
of the original 40 miles square" was
returned to Virginia, he claimed, stat
ing that the only case on record that
was carried to the United States SUI
preme Court did not result in q decision
as to the validity of retrocession, but
only as to the right OF the State OF
Virginia to collect taxes IN the county
The return of Arlington County Is
In his opinion not only unconstitutional
but is illegal in that the original agree
ment was "consummated in q quadri-
lateral contract between 10 property
holders, the United States, Maryland
and Virginia, for the establishment OF
the District of Columbia 40 miles
square" and that neither party can
alter or abrogate that contract without
the consent OF all parties thereto"
The association passed a resolution
instructing its delegates to the Civic
Federation TO work for any plan that
would result in the increase in the
number Of users of county water. with
the resultant decrease in the present
rates, or for an increase in the con-
sumption permitted under the present
rates. It was the consensus OF opinion
of those present that the present rates
are entirely too high.
Recommendation Approved.
In consideration of the proposed FIVE
year development program of the Ar
lington County Chamber of Commerce
in which all civic associations have
been invited to participate, the follow
ing recommendations were approved:
Regulation of signboards, the estab.
lishment of q municipal golf course, the
eventual erection Of joint community
be housed the chamber OF commerce
Zoning Commission and other similal
organizations, possible changes in thu
present form Of the county government
and the reorganization of the votinl
precincts of the Clarendon, section.
Louis c. Carl, chairman Of the com.
munity house committee, reported thai
his committee has perfected q plar
whereby the association can build ;
community house this year and sug
gested that special meeting be helc
to consider the plan. The meeting
was set for June IL at the home o.
S. S. Eareckson.
A strawberry festival is to be helt
on the lawn adjacent to the offlcer;
of Lyon & Fitch on June for thu
benefit of the association treasury, 1t wa
announced at the meeting