Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-12


comes moro frequent This necessitaies
repeated service OF process and trips
10 court by witnesses. All of this y at
the expense Of the government
II the suggestions here made are
followed up. ready solution will be
found as 20 why II Is that the cx-
penscs OF the present system OF en-
forcing the law In the Indian Territory
runs up 10 a sum total which seems
incredible. except TO those who are IA
nliiar with the details.
The present system Is inefficient. u
Is impossible that there should be such
a thing ns harmonious action against
every grade OF crime. where the 1uris-
diction over the same territory is d.
vided into fractions The men en-
forcing the law In these fractional
parts have their efficiency. In all ways.
crippled and impaired. Neither incen-
tive or obligation exists for the officers
OF the Paris, Fort Smith and wichita
courts to arrest parties committing
crimes OF which the courts In the Ter
ritory have Jurisdiction Whatever they
may Voluntarily do. would De az the
risk OF losing their time and expenses
The same can be said Of the officers
or the courts here. Neither obligation
or Incentive exists for them 10 appre-
bend ofiendcrs. where the courts OF
Paris. Fort Smith and wichita have
Jurisdiction. In 80 doing they would
not only run the risk of losing their
time and expenses Incurred and the
danger OF attempting the arrest. but
also OF subiectlng themselves 70 pos
slbie trial in other courts FOR some act
wherein they may have exceeded their
authority. and trespasseo upon the
other Jurisdiction.
representing es we do. all classes
and conditions OF our people, and be-
l.ts~ % ~wtf nrnrflCAl work.
ings OF the present system. we unhesl
itntinFly affirm that human ingenuity
would he taxed TO It's utmost TO devise
a scheme which would be more expen-
slve to our government. and more In
efficient in Its operation. more burden
some 10 our people. and more yiolalive
OF the principles Of freedom. than tnnt
which now exists.
TO refuse us the right ~ enforcing
the law among ourselves ia TO cast a
most unjust and cruel aspersion upon
the Intelligence. integrity ana law
abiding disposition Of our people. Ihat
there are lawiess characters here we do
not deny. They arc the natural result
OF the system which congress has
forced upon us Their presence here is
not owing TO any encouragement or
support which they got from our pso-
Pile
Give us the right to enforce the law.
and we will speedily reduce crime 10
minimum among u.s. Our people have
suffered from denredatims; they UNDER
stand the condition and needs Of this
country: they have a Just pride in
their character, and II allowed he OPP
portunity they will enforce the law
as faithfully as 1t Is enforced In any
| community.
To be compelled to travel long dis
| tances, incur heavy expenses and lose
n great deal Of time in attending courts
| In foreign jurisdictions Is not only a
great burden upon our people. but II is
un-American In principle, II not only
seriously interferes with the business
| OF our people. but II constitutes a con-
slant drain upon cur resources.
| II our people attended court at fome
the money which they would be forced
to spend would remain at home and
| would still constitute part CT the
common wealth Of the community. As
| matters now stand when parties attend
court MT Paris, Fort Smith and Wichita
they nre forced 10 spend considerable
sums OF money individually. In the Gg-
| gregate this amounts to an enormous
sum. Thus the wealth OF these places is
| unjustly incrchrol nc our expense, nnd
we are correspondlngly impogcflshe /.
Why should we nay tribute 20 Paris.
| Fort Smith and Wlrhita2 WHY should
swarms OF officers from foreign ju'is-
dictionr be sent among us 10 eat out
our substance and devur our living =?
Why should We be subject 10 foreirn
Jurisdiction? Why should our people be
arrested and carried away from their
homes. TO he tried before strangers for
real or supposed offenses?
These are questions which the poonle
~ this Territory are asking each other.
These are questions which we ROY ask
or the congress- ~ the United states.
As American citizens. we appeal to
you for Justice
We respectfully request Senator Fen
ny NJ Teller and Hon c. X rell 10
present this 10 the aenate nnd house OF
Representatives OF the United states
as our protest aFainst the proposed
Legislation. Resnectfully. Jno. =. .ialt,
NJ. Wheeler 7. N. Russell, w. r.
sloan q. w. Montgomery. u r.. Dill
llnghan. Thomas NJ. BOYD. p. h. Ar
thur. u. II Tanner. r. G.. Martin.
Roberut s. Bell. w. @. Prize NJ. Tom
linson. Edward Noble r. Ross and II /.
II. Pennington.