The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-26
UNITED STATES COURTS IN ILL.
NOIS,
Proposal to redistrict the State, form
ing Three Districts,


aud the Southern, with court Judge
Treat at Springfield and Cairo. Nearly
all the business is now done in Judge
court, at Chicago, there not
being business enough in all the Southern
district to occupy the court but short
time in the year.
For some years there has been an effort
to induce congress to create new district
in the northwestern part of the state, in
order to relieve Judge Drummond's court
Of the onerous duties now deYolving upon
it,
In the last congress Mr.. Burchard, of
the Fifth district (Freeport, introduced =
bill for new district, with courts at Free
port and Peoria, but it failed, AS it ought
in the shape it was offered.
In the present congress the effort for
another district has been revived and three
bills have been introduced:
l. By Mr.. Hartzell, of the Eighteenth
district, Cairo cutting the state into three
districts, with lines nearly east and west
and with courts at Chicago, Springfield,
and Cairo and to be called the Northern,
the Central, and the Southern districts.
This bill would give no relief whatever
to the now oVerburdened court at Chicago
There is scarcely business enough in all
the present Southern district for court
and cutting it into two districts would be
an absurd proceeding, leaving neither
Springfield or Cairo with enough business
to warrant holding more than one term a
year-and very brief ones at that. Hart
cells bill ought not to pass. 1t would
increase the burdens of the people and not
afford the relief desired.
2. By Mr.. Whiting, of the Ninth dis
trict, Peoria) carving out the following
district: Rock Island. Henry, bureau.
Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell,
Mason, Schuyler, Hancock, Henderson,
Mercer, Knox, Warren, McDoDough, Full
ton, Peoria, Stark, Mclean, Livingston,
TOTu, anu lTOquOlS counties.
This is district carved out especially
for Peoria. 1t takes away from Spring
field several counties which can be much
better accommodated there, and it does
not relieve the Chicago court of several
counties which must be detached from it
in order to better expedite business and
ensure speedy trials. Writings bill
ought not to pass Better leave the state
as it is than to pass that bill
8. By Mr.. Burchard, of the Fifth dis
trict, (Freeport) leaving to the Northern
district the counties of Lake, McHenry,
Boone, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Cook.
Will, Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Living
ston, Grundy, LaSalle and Kendall, with
courts at Chicago.
The new Western district is to be com
posed Of the counties of Winnebago,
Stephenson, 10 Daviess, Carroll, Ogle'
Lee, Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry,
Bureau, Putnam, Stark, Knox, Mercer,
Henderson, Warren, Peoria. Marshall
Woodford, Tazewell, Mason, Fulton
Schuyler, McDonough and Hancock, with
courts at Peoria and Freeport.
The balance of the state is to constitute
the Southern district, with courts a
Springfield and Cairo, rs at present.
| The formation of Burchard's Western
district is we'll enough, but the courts arr
to be in the wrong place. Any man in hi
senses knows that it is very bad policy t.
hold courts fer the same district in tw,
places. 1t entails the expense of two sets @
oficerss two clerks; two court houses; tw'
sets of records, and double expenses gen
orally, besides inconvenience to litigant
and the public
The Peoria bar held meeting Monda,
morning, and resolved that they wan
Writings bill if they can get tiff the
can't get that, then they want Burchard' s
1t is very evident that the Burchar'
bill is compromise between Peoria an,
Freeport, to fall back 9n in case Whiting
fails. 1t ought not to pass in its presen
form.
The counties comprised in Burchard's BIZ
are all we'll enough. The passage of tn
bill would greatly relieve the Chicago dis
trict, aud from new distric
1.-THE Westorn) having larg
amount of business to be transacted; bu
the places for holding the courts should b
at Chicago, Rock Island, and Springfield
1t is wild idea to hold court in twoIplace
and have double set OF expenses fo
middle and southern Illinois, when tn
business can be done cheaper and to tn
better accommodation of the people q
Springfield Even as now managed in th
Southern district it is about as bad as
can be. That court is rotary or movabl
institution, and when Judge Treat hold
court at Cairo he takes clerk, marsha
and all the records along-moyes tn
whole concern down to Cairo in order t
comply with the very absurd law whic
requires court in that district to be held i
Cairo and Springfield And after holdih
J court there flew days, record books, papers
etc., are packed up and toted back
Springfield, where they ought to remain
permanently
i With the experience Of that court o
wheels, it seems very unwise for MI
Burchard to undertake to logroll anothe
court on wheels through congress. His bi