Evening star., 1937-04-11
COLL|NSPRED|CTS
BIGGER D. c. AREA
Restoration of Original 100
Square Miles in Gener.
alton Seen.

alton Seen.
Chairman Collirs Of the House Sub
committee on District Appropriations
believes that An increase in the area
Of the District is evitable-that with
in generation the original 100 square
miles Of the Federal District will be
restored.
ITS not a wild or silly dream"
Collins declared yesterday, discussing
his theory.
But Collins declined to reveal the
basis for the prediction or even dis
cuss how such a plan could be carried
out.
Nevertheless, other members Of the
House, especially those from Maryland
and Virginia, whose districts would be
affected by the expansion have heard
reports of movement to bring about
the change movement that ap-
parently has not yet gone beyond
discussion
Representative Smith, Democrat, Of
Virginia, whose territory embraces
Arlington County, Alexandria. and in
fact the entire area included in the
original District that Congress retro
ceded to Virginia in l846, Is one OF
those who has heard the proposition
discussed. But he thinks the plan Is
merely "a wild dream"
1t has always been Smiths
philosophy, he says, to keep his gun
loaded and FIRE when there is some
thing to fire at" Thus far. he pointed
out. no definite plan has been de-
veloped. so there's nothing to fire at.
Agreement With States.
Under one of the plans discussed
Congress would enter into an agree
ment or compact with Maryland and
Virginia to take over certain areas in
those States contiguous to the District
and include them In the proposed
Greater Washington" How these
States would be compensated for CIV
ing up such valuable territory Is one
question which apparently hasn't been
given serious thought.
Under one proposal, however, Mary
land and Virginia would be given =
percentage OF the annual tax collec-
tions made in the territory absorbed
by the District.
Like Smith, Representative Kennedy,
Democrat, Of Maryland, a member OF
the House District Committee, regards
the proposal As fantastic which
he believes should not even be seriously
considered
Kennedy pointed out that the voters
Of both States as well as the State
legislatures would have to ratify any
plan that Congress might approve to
extend the borders Of the District, and
it is very doubtful if that would be
done
In the first place, Kennedy ex-
planned, any extension of the District
into Maryland would take away from
the State some Of its most valuable
territory in Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties. The Maryland State
Legislature would hardly approve such
plan, he said. and the voters, espe-
cially those IN the areas affected. would
rebel against 1t because they would be
denied the franchise, unless national
representation Is granted the District
in the meantime.
The same condition would exist in
Virginia. The area that would be
taken into the District is among the
most valuable In the State, and Is
said to yield more tax revenue per
capita than any section, exclusive OF
the cities.
Area for Workers.
The idea behind the proposal, Mr..
Collins suggests, Is to Include in the
greater District the area in which
the people live who work here, and
give them the benefit OF a central
government. Maryland and Virginia,
he argues, should not have the right
OF taxation and government over
the people who work in Washington.
In this connection. he declared Con-
eress already has committed itself to
the principle Of accepting RESPONSE
oility for the welfare and happiness Of
Federal employees by permitting non-
resident children to attend District
schools.
Collins also pointed out that Wash
ington Is strained to the bursting
point due to steady enlargement Of
the Federal establishment, and cited
the forecast OF George McAneny,
chairman Of the Jacobs Fiscal Re-
lations Advisory Committee, that the
population will reach 100000 in is
years 1t Is impossible, he said, to
crowd 100000 persons into the pres
ent area.
AS the population grows, Collins
believes, 80 will the Federal establish
ment, and make more necessary an
increase in the District area. At the
present time, he explained, there is
no available space for the concentra-
ton OF additional Government build
ings such as exists in so-called tri-
angle area, and declared that Con-
gress would not agree to scatter new
Federal buildings to be erected in the
future far beyond the existing build
ings and thereby reduce the efficiency
| OF interdepartmental b,IsineSs