Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-08
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.


are cited today both by those who are
urging that legal steps be taken in an
effort to restore wholly, or in part, the
original lines of the 10 miles square"
and by those who wish the Federal
Government to open negotiations with
the State of Virginia for the same
purpose.
said President Taft, addressing the
Bankers Association of the District
April Is, 1910. that our friends from
Virginia will recognize the necessity of
shaping out again that 10 miles square
that was in the original act.
IT know the adhesiveneasS of the
Anglo-SaXon character to real estate.
J j recognize the justiflable State pride
of Virginians. But they originally
did give it to us for while. / am sure
they do not want to be regarded as In
dian-givers.
Every One Would Benefit.
. sand we could make so much of that
land over there Everybody would be
ihe better for it. We need not include
Alexandria, if Alexandria wishes to
stay out. But it was in accord with
sighted man and the Father of His
Country, George Washington, and would
be difference to his memory to fill
out the square. =
> Many of you have-all of you doubt
less have-seen the beauties of the
banks of the Potomac on the other side,
the possibilities of park development
which are there, the possibilities of
the expansion of suburban settlements
in that direction. Thirty years hence
all the property that you have in the
District of Columbia will be filled up
Rnd We will be looking across the river
for that.
81 hope Congress will give me an
opportunity to test the question. We
nave law department, well organized,
and all that Congress need say is go
in,' and will direct the Attorney
General accordingly; and we will see
within the competence of Congress.
1T was passed when there was a day
OF small things. We have got now
70 a point where there is day of large
things. am sure the people of the
country at large would approve our
taxing 1t over and would be glad to
admit another obligation to the Old
Dominion"
Two OF the men who are today agi-
Eating the question of restoration anew
are finding encouragement in these
words of Mr.. Taft, although they never
were followed up at the time by any
definite action by Congress or the At
torney General. President Taft about
three years later intimated that, after
conference with Senators and Repre-
Sentatives from Virginia, he had learned
that they would oppose restoration OF
any part OF Virginia to the District if
1t should be brought up in Congress,
or In the courts Independently. Mr..
Taft said then that he would ask his
attorney General for an opinion en-
the subject.
But it was near the end of his ad-
m1nistration as President, and no fur
liner action was taken by Mr., Taft
IN the matter.
The question of constitutiona!ity was
raised about two months ago by
Richard w. Mcmahon of Glencarlyn,
IN Arlington County. He seized upon
a tax dispute as test case and set
up against the payment Of 1859 in taxes
10 the county the defense that Con-
gresS had no legal right to recede the
county TO Virginia 80 years ago, and
that Virginia officials had no author
1ty TO tax him, since Arlington County
of Columbia.
j. But Mr.. Mcmahon made no progress
IN the Arlington County Circuit Court,
and he realizes that as an individual he
is eStopped from raising this question in
view OF the acquiescence of the Federal
Government and the State of Virginia
IN the retrocession act of 1916. But he
has not given up hope that something
may be done by the Federal Govern
ment TO accomplish the result he desires
Constitutional Question.
There is no doubt about the matter
being constitutional question" says
M. Mcmahon, "as was dwelt upon by the
opponents OF retrocesSion in 1916. When
everything is said, one can hardly dis
agree with Mr.. Taft's statement in an
article in the National Geographic Mag
az1ne that governmental affairs were in
the hands of little men in 1846, and
that since such was the case it can not
be wondered at that the Governments
rights were sighted"
Richard L. Sacho of Ashton Heights,
in Arlington County, who is making
plans for launching a Back to the Dis
trio Club" to be composed of Arlington
County men and women who advocate
restoration, is not particular, he says,
about the method by which return of
the county to the District is sought
whether by court action or negotiations
with the State of Virginia. He claims
That there Is widespread sentiment
among residents of the county in favor
of such change, and he hopes to or
ganize this sentiment into an effective
propaganda machine.
Still Opposed to Move.
Virginia Senators and Representa-
tlveS in Congress- SO far as they have
expressed opinions in the matter, are
today as much opposed to retrocession
OF Arlington County to the District as
they seem to have been when Mr.. Taft
sounded them out.
Senator Swanson of Virginia, told The
Stars representative a few days ago
that he was opposed to the movement.
Il am against it," he said, but do
not care at this time to enter into dis
!cussion of the question"
Representative r. Walton Moore, who
for something like 10 years has repre-
scented the Virginia district opposite
Washington in the House of Repre-
Sentatives, was asked for his opinion
regarding the restoration proposal. AL
though he is not in sympathy with the
present agitation and regards it as
anything but live question at this
time, he consented to discuss it briefly
Before entering Congress Mr.. Moore
was one of the leaders of the Virginia
bar and for time was president OF
the State Bar Association.
THE retrocesSion by the Federal
Government TO the State of Virginia OF
that part of the original District OF
Columbia" said Mr. Moore, was due
to q growing dissatisfaction on both
sides of the Potomac with the existing
conditions. After the people on the
Virginia side had voted in favor Of
.retrocession. the act of 1916 was
promptly passed. BY that act the title
OF the Government of the United States
was forever relinquished and ownership
was formally accepted by the State O
Virginia.
. "Since that time the validity of thu
Tetrocession has now and then beel