Evening star., 1934-01-25
One of Several Amendments
to D. Virginia Measure
Cuts Sum to $4,000.
HISTORY OF DISPUTE
GIVEN AT HEARING
Opposition to Smith Proposal
Lacking as Capital Officials Show
Desire to End Dispute.

A subcommittee of the House Judi.
ciary Committee voted today to make 9
favorable report on the bill OF Repre-.
sentative Smith. Democrat. of Virginia
providing for creation of specia
commission to settle the century -olc
controversy over the District Virgins
boundary.
The measure will be reported to the
full committee with several minol
amendments, one of them reducing the
appropriation for the commission from
$4,000 to $4,000.
Action of the committee followed q
public hearing, at which Smith ex-
planned in detail the history of the
boundary dispute, the adjustment OF
which he said is imperative to the solu-
ton of number Of jurisdictional ques-
tionS.
Opposition Is Lacking.
ings on similar bills. there was nc
opposition to the Smith measure
Thomas Settle. secretary and legal ad-
wiser to the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, and Walter l.
Fowler, assistant corporation counsel
pointed out that both the commission
and the Board of District Commission
ers are anxious to have the boundary
dispute adjusted.
Included in the controversial land Is
part of the Washington Hoover Airport
which has been the subject Of another
House committee hearing in connection
with a proposal that the Federal Gov
ernment buy or lease the property fol-
an airport Title to several hundred
additional acres of land on the Virginia
side of the Potomac also is involved.
The Smith bill provides for the crea-
tion of commission Of three men,
bers. one of whom would be appointed
by the President, another by the Gov
ernor of Virginia and third would be
selected by the two appointees. The
commission would be empowered to sur
vey and fix the boundary line and sub
NIT its report not later than March !
1885
Smith told the committee at the out
set Of the hearing that a similar bill
which he introduced during the Sew
enty-second session of Congress was
the subject of serious controversy be-
tween Virginia and District interest
The bill got as far as the House calen-
dar, but was never passed. He ex-
planned, however. that controversial
features have been removed from his
latest measure and it is identical with
legislation approved by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
Jurisdiction Questions.
Under existing conditions. with the
boundaries in dispute. Smith pointed
out. that if a crime is committed on
the south approach of Highway Bridge
three questions of Jurisdiction would
Immediately arise-whether the case
should be tried in the District courts,
the Arlington County courts or the
United States Court for the Eastern
District of Virginia in Alexandria
Smith also told the committee that
the boundary between the District and
Virginia had never been definitely set
tied and that the chief question for de-
termination is whether the line should
follow low or high tide on the Virginia
side, or whether it should be from point
to point, and include indentations. A
number of these indentations have been
filled in and improved, completely
obliterating the low-water marks
This bill does just what the Park
and Planning Commission wanted all
the time" Settle declared. 1T is the
most equitable way to handle the
boundary question
1T will fix proper and convenient
boundary line and preserve the title of
the property of the United States.
Under this bill no property will be
taken away from the Government or
from private individuals. Out of it will
come many recommendations for equit-
able adjustment"
F. D. McKenney, attorney for the R..
F. & C Railroad. the only other wit
ness. said the carrier was not opposed
to the bill.