Evening star., 1952-10-17
Camaier Would
Upset Old Law
ToGain Revenue
Questions Whether
D. G. Retrocession to
Virginia Is Legal

A century-old act of Congress
has been questioned by District
Commissioner Renah F. Camalier
in an effort to find a way to swell
the cityS' revenue, prerequisite
for improving municipal public
works.
The Commissioner went even
further. He limited that some
Washington resident should go to
court to challenge constitution
ality of the 1846 act which retro
ceded what is now Arlington
County and part of Alexandria
to Virginia.
II really believe in my heart
that that section belongs to the
District of Columbia" Mr.. CANA
lier said. He added that he has
sometimes thought he should file
such a lawsuit himself.
Commissioner Camalier ad-
dressed these thoughts to the
Cosmopolitan Club at a luncheon
meeting in the Carlton Hotel yes
terday. Commissioner F. Joseph
Donohue later told reporters he
shared Mr.. Camalier's doubts.
Pressure From Virginians.
Both based their feelings on the
same premise. The United States
Constitution specified that the
Federal City of Washington con-
sist of territory mot exceeding"
10 miles square, to be jointly ceded
by Maryland and Virginia. This
was done in 1889. In 1846, owing
to pressure from Virginians, Con-
gress voted to hand that part of
the city south of the Potomac
River back to the Dominion State.
Under constitutional procedures.
the Commissioners argued. an
amendment to the Constitution
requiring a Nationwide referen-
dum-would have been the nor
NAL course to retrocession.
Only one point gives Commis-
Sioner Donohue pause He said he
does not know who might prop
erly make a court test of the queS-
ton.
I'm afraid the Commissioners
would lack standing in court" he
said. But. he added, District
taxpayer could possibly make an
issue of it that the courts would
hear.
No Commitment.
Commissioner Camalier would
not commit himself on whether
he or some other resident could
make such a lawsuit stick.
Commissioner Camalier raised
the retrocession question while
sounding what he called a "clar-
ion call" to the Districts busi-
nessmen to back a 1919 million
six-year public works construction
program.
He cited the problem caused by
deficient city facilities-broken
water mains. overflowing sewer
lines, flooded cellars, inadequate
police protection and the lack of
off-street parking facilities that
adds to traffic congestion and
tends to drive business into the
suburbs.
Get Lousy SO Million
The Commissioner repeatedly
demanded that Congress pay al
large portion Of the cost of the
proposed building program. AS in
recent years, he said, I'VE are
still getting only a lousy $40 mil
lion from Congress whose
theory Is, Take more and give
less" The Federal share of rou-
tine District costs this fiscal year
comes to slightly more than 8
per cent of the city appropria-
ton. More than half of District
land is tax exempt, and the bulk
of this property is Federally
owned.
Mr.. Camalier called not only
for the support of the Cosmo-
politan Club. an organization of
top business and professional
leaders, but for a great ground
SWELL that might result in "thou-
sands marching on Capitol Hill"
I'VE must try to whip the city
into a frenzy of civic interest to
demonstrate to Congress the
plight we're in," he declared.
Congress will respond. They
cannot disregard u.s."