The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-03-04

witness lived az Chickasha. The Of
icer from Paris would be forced to
travel a distance Of two hundred
and any miles 70 reach that point,
and the same distance In returning.
IL the territory courts had exclusive
Jurisdiction this expense would al
be saved. In addition to this the ex-
pense Of the defendant or witness
must also be computed.
The fact that all OF these expenses
may be incurred In = case where the
defendant Is only charged with
the larceny ofproperty Of the value
OF ten dollars, fully iustines rs IN de-
nouncing the present system as an
outrage, and an iniquity.
IL Is Just such unnecessary and
wasteful extravagan~e as this Of the
money wrung by taxation from an
already overburdened people. that is
rapidly causing the common people
who do the work, pay the taxes, and
bear the heat and burden of the day
to complain loudly.
In the light OF these undeniabls
facts who can say but that here isa
cause for Just eomplaint9 Is this the
only case, or is IL but a sample, OF
the way in which the peoples money
is wasted, and the peoples burdens
are increased?
I IL Is believed that IL the govern
mc..t should pay a bonus OF SIS 900 a
var to the towns Of Paris, Ft. Smith
and Wichita each, and divest their
courts OF the Jurisdiction which they
now exercise In the territory, the re-
suit would be a handsome pront TO
the government.
The department of justice and con-
gress have jointly adverted to the
great and growing expense OF the
federal judiciary, and especially to
administering the laws i'm the Indian
Territory.
The ingenuity OF man would be ex-
hausted in the endcavor 20 devise a
/ system that could more successfully
, swell expense unnS c. ssarily, than
; the system which j. sought to be per
: pctuated.
+ the jurisdiction of Paris, Ft. Smith
; and Wichita, profess great soIicitude
J for our welfare. They say they
: would give US full jurisdiction, but
: for the fact that we are not prepared
r TO take care Of Il; that the dockets
; of our courts are already crowded
; with civil cases, and that II We had
) full criminal Jurisdiction, it would
j interfere with the trial OF Of our civil
; cases. II this be true, what does Il
+ ~mount to? Our country is new and,
, TO a large extent our resources are
: not fully developed. Civil litigation
b will increase and not diminish until
, our mutual rights and relations with
each other are settled. This win be
at some indefinite period in the fu-
ture.
3 This not now, but some other time,
: promises Of our opponents amounts
10 nothing. IL allowed 10 have their
J way the convenient season, like the
! conversion Of Felix, VIII never come.
2 We are not deiUded by their protest
Z ations OF friendship. In our judg-
} ment 4 spear is concealed within the
bouquet of flowers which they hand
] rs; they are hugging Us with one
hand, and stabbing US with the other.
? IL our courts are now inadequate,
= the remedy is to make them ade-
r quate, and not put the goyermet to
5 unnecessary expense, infiict wrong
e and injustice upon us and violate
p principle by a continuance Of the
n present inefficient system.
There are many other suggestions
OF n similar character which might
E be made. For fear OF trespassing too
] much upon your patiene cand time,
r we will not further pursue this sub
A iect.
In consideration Of these things,
> we respectfully submit that the pres
{ ent system Of enforcing the law In
\ the Indian Territory IN without iusti-
i, fication or excuse; that IL IL violative
of every principle Of freedom that II
o dear to the hearts Of the American
i people; that IL Is q great and useless
q expense TO the government and an
= outrage upon the people affected
thereby.
! We, therefore, appeal personally
y 10 each Of you as patriots and states
e men, and lovers OF humanity, and
i. through you, we appeal TO all Guch
others in congress, and In the name
OF our common brotherhood and Of
e the principles Of our fathers, we ask
e justice at your hands
- rhud-.,ru Tor, nsCh.rtapn a hff.-