Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1876-01-19
JUDGE KIDDER

JUDGE KIDDER
Interviewed On the Division Of the
Torritory and the Black Hills Bus-
inoss.
A reporter Of the Chicago Post and
Mail interviewed Judge Kidder when in
Chicago during the holidays IS follows:
Repor teri suppose, Mr.. Kidder, You
are anxious to secure the passage Of the
bill organizing Pembina!
xr. Kidder-Yes, my constituents are
unanimous in desiring a division Of the
territory. We are virtnally separate
now, and there can really be no harmony
,f interests On account Of the lack Of
means of communication and travel be-
tween tho northern aud southern parts.
R.-What particular objections will
be raised against such division
K-One objection, | suppose, will te
that it affords the president 4 chance to
appoint few more federal officers, aud
just At this time some .! the politicians
who fancy their party is just going il
as.a the other just going out, may deem
it ssow;se to allow the president the
slie &C tes: increase Of opportunities for
making appointments.
THIS NAY lNPLurNcE SOME, .:
but then 1 think ths. tue democrats will
be honest enough and f&ir enough not
to allow this to interfere If they deem
the plan wise one IL other respects.
R-Are there other objections that
yoa know Off ......-.
K.-Well, some may say that there
arc not enough inhabitants to make It
advisable, but this car be easily d,>2os-
ed of by showing Of the facts aud Zig
ures. Dakota has now between 10000
aud 90 900 iuhabitan t., Of whom about
IL, 900 reside IN the o.thern halt, which
it IL proposed shall form the Pemb,ns
territory. Taers are many INSTANCES IN
which territories have been formed in
sections more sparcely settled, - that |
do net consider that valid objection.
There IL ~
It, ANo2HER OBJECTION :
that may be raised concernlng the ex
pense Of running two governments,
where one now suf6css, but this can be
readily answered. There is no doubt
but that it Gusts more now tl.an it would
If divided into two parts, for this rex-
son: the distances between the two sec.
tions are very great, and the means OF
communication 50 limited that it rem
dsrs the court aud other territorial ex
penses enormous. Why, when was
Judge, have travelled 1900 miles to
resch Pembina from my b ,me in Ver-
million in order to attend court. Then
there is tho mileage Of witnesses and
jurors, 50 that, considering every thing.
1t would be much cheaper to run two
territorial governments. You see We
are compelled t. 60 round from Yank.
ton by way Of st. Paul, and then item
times the witnesses, jurors, m.rshxls,
etc , are obliged to travel 700 or 500
miles. The expenses Of running the
present territorial government would
seem to an outsider as if something was
wrong, but those acquainted with the
condition Of affairs csn readily sec where
the necessity exists for such great ex
pend,tures, aud that the expense Of hav-
ing two territories would be
LESS THAN At PRESENT.
R.-YOu expect then to secure the
passage of the bill?
K.-l have 10 doubt but that it will
eventually succeed, though it NAV no.
be at once, but 1t will surely come to
pass in time, and the main features Of
tie bill will be adopted.
R.-What other measures are you
interested IN particularly, Mr.. Ktdder?
K As soon as can shall urge the
passage ofa hill concerning the Black
Hills. Something must be done to ope"
these up to the whites, for they cannot
be kept from taking possession.
R.-What do you propose to do with
the Indians? -
K-I think the best way is to take
the Hills. and grant them in return an
annuity, and in that way purchase the
country from them. They don't use it
even for hunting, and nothing can keep
the whites from occupying it. You
have doubtless noticed that the commits
sion advises the removal of the Spotted
Tail agency and the Red Cloud agency
toward the Missouri. There is plenty
Of land there for the red men, and what
would be better yet, let them take up
quarters in the Indian Territory.
rather .aink the President
FAvORs THE Latter COURSE.
R.-Can this be done without break
ing the treaty now existing?
K.-The treaty ofl868, by which they
received the Black Hills was not legally
made. / am confident that there are
certain technicalitiss which renders it
lenallx III stif;ahle TO taka the Black Hills