New-York tribune., 1876-02-07
THE FORT SMITH COURT.

A PRIZE WHICH THREE STATES AND A TERRITORY
CAST LONGING EYES UPoN-hEAsOSs FOR TAX
ING 1T TO INDIAN TgRRIToRY-wnY GEN. BUT
Ter ONCE sTiFLED THE PENDING BILL.
ITRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBusE.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. EN- response to the
Of citizens Of Arkansas against the estab
lshment United District Court in the Indian
Territory, notice 0f which made In THE TRIBUNE q
few days ago. the advocates Of the bill which cOntem-
plate the creation OF such court make tho following
explanation Almost the only business which be
the United States court holding sessions at Fort
smith Arkansas is that which arises in the Indian Ter
rory, and this business gives employment 10 q great
number of deputy marshas professional witnesses &C.,
and. indeed, does than other thing to sup
port the town The people OF Kansas living tho bor-
der OF the nd Tertiary desire To have the lcourt re-
moved into state. aud the people of Texas the
SOUTH would IKE TO have tho court mee at point
the Red River.
may be mhercd that in the last Congress an IN
vestlgation made by the House Committee on tx
pendturcs Of the Department OF Justice, OF which MFR.
OF Virginia chairman and that this nvestisa-
disclosed great rrc artios and frauds In the
management OF tho judicial affairs In the Western Dis
trct OF Arkansas The result tha: Judge story, who
prcsdes In that district resigned, and Mr.. Parker, a
member OF the last Congress, was appointed In bis
place.
The bill establish court I'm the Indian Territory was
agreed by the Committee the judiciary Of the last
Congress hut Gen Buicr neglected from week TO week
10 report the House, although urged very strongly
do by those Interested. After tho resignation OF
Judge Story, prsOns who were representing tho inter
Of Indians, secured from the President promise
that he appoint citizen OF Arkansas TO succeed
10 { e place Lat Senators from Arkansas also 90
cured promise from GEN Grant that he would appoint
no jidse from any other State without their approval
II was rDored the tno that prominent members OF
the Arkansas delegation had understanding with Gen
R,fl. II he he
court in Western district OF Arkansas aud transfer
ring Its business TO one In ho II dan Territory, they
would support Tor appointment to the vacant jnfgosip
any candidate whom he might In icae. A gentIem ln
was nominated for the place who sad 10 have been
selected by Gen Butler, but as bis confirmation by the
Senate was found to very doubtful, the name was
withdrawn and that Of Mr. Parker sent In In its place
Tho repre- sentatves ~ tho Indians that the civil
lied tribes in the Indian Territory are Intelligent.
well educated and In other respects competent To h
upon ures as the people OF Arkausas gentleman who
during the war commanded hith Arkansas and Indian
troops in the United States reports that larger
per cent OF tie Iudln soldiers were able to read and
write than OF those from Arkansas and argues that even
II citizens Of the Indian nations more Intelligent
than the people OF Western Arkansas there would still bc
no reason why the having iur sdicon Of onenses
in The Territory should hold s sttings in an adjoining
state and all trials made before urcs strongly pr jn-
diced against the Indians.
urged In support of the bl for esablishing court
in the Indian Territory, that !, will pnt an en- TO ma ny
Of the worst abuses reported by Mr. Seucr- committee
Deputy United States marhals have been Ia the habit OF
smuggling small bottles ~ whisky into the wagons Of
emants their way 10 Texas and then arrcstng them
after they had passed into the Indian Territory. on nm
accusation OF taking sgrtuols liquors into that territory
contrary law part Of the penalty Ia the forfeiture
OF the wagon and used FOR that purpose The cost
OF such proceedings these. aside from their injustice,
was found be very great n the msrshas received large
.,ffnar f.xo 10
srorg effort will be made 10 socure the passage Of The
LII 4.