The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-23
The Judicial District.

The Wyoming Democrat publishes
the following interview with Hon. r.
r. Little:
The following is the substance of a
recert conversation with r. r. Little,
Esq, in reference to the last, and the
now pending judicial apportionment
bills. We said to him: al observe
that you have been recently mentioned
as the father of the last judicial ap-
portionment bill, by which an addition
al law Judge was imposed upon Judge
Elwell's district. Whether such was
the fact or not, l do not perceive its
force as an argument against the pro
posed attachment of Wyoming to Sus-
quehanna as a new district at this
time"
"Nor do / but the truth is that /
have no right to claim the distinction
of having controlled the action of an
adverse Legislature, Republican in both
branches, upon this, or any other inn
portant public measure"
"Will you give me an outline of its
history?"
Certainly. The new constitution
imposed upon the Legislature at that
session the duty of re-districting the
whole State. The bill which became a
law was framed and passed by the
Senate. In shaping the several dis
tricts, it seemed difficult if not imprac-
ticable to provide for Montour county
without attaching to Judge Elwell' 8
district. The Senate so attached
it. and provided for an additional law
Judge. In that shape the bill came to
the House for its concurrence. l am
now satisfied that 1t would have been
better, even then, Notwithstanding some
local opposition, to have detached Wy
oming from the district 80 framed, and
attached it to Susquehanna county,
in which event no additional Judge
would have been needed. But at that
time neither the Susquehanna Judge or
the Wyoming Bar were willing to ac-
cept such an arrangement. There was
no expl ession of lay sentiment upon the
question, and as no other practicable
course seemed to be open to us, we
passed the Senate bill. 1t would seem
that am hardly entitled to claim its
paternity
"Was there not another change
made in the bill later in the same ses
sion y
"Yes one, however, not affecting
the question of public expense, or of in
adequacy of population, since it merely
divided the double district composed OF
the four counties into two single dis.
tricts-leaving to each Judge his sep
arate field of labor One of the most
difficult questions under the new consti
tuition was whether the Legislature had
power to attach several counties to-
gether each containing less than 10000
inhabitants, and supply district sc
formed with two or more Judges
Very soon after the passage of the bill
we were informed that test case was
about to be instituted in the proper
court involving the constitutionality OF
our district. AS division of oul
double headed district into two single
districts would obviate all doubt upor
this question, bill for such purpose
was introduced, think, by member
from Bradford, and passed by botf
branches
"Would it not have been better tc
have avoided the difficulty by attaching
Wyoming to Susquehanna, instead ol
making district containing scarcely
half the population contemplated by Tn,
constitution T.
Whether it would have been better
then, or not, / think il would certainly
be better now / will not say that tho
reasons then urged in favor of the bill
were without merit-especially the fac
that the business of our court had beer
for 80 years gradually falling in arrears
1t was, perhaps, well enough TO provide
la little district for single term t.
wind up the old business. This hayine
been accomplished, am aware of NJ
good excuse for retaining the district
and such opposition as is now being
exerted against the proposed attach
ment to Susquehanna is evidently
largely, if not wholly, manufactured
deposition.