The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-03-19
FURMAN'S ADDRESS.
To the Senate Judiciary Committee Set
ting Forth Reasons Why We Should
Have Full Jurisdiction.

\ To the Judiciary committee of the
senate OF the United States.
Gentlemen:-The act of March ], +,
I 1895, provides that after September
l, 1896, the United States courts for
the Indian Territory shall have full
/ jurisdiction of all offenses committed
within that territory. During the
present session of congress, bills
have been introduced into both
houses, providing for the repeal of
this section of the act of 1895. Ifthe
I proposed repeal is effected, the pres
ent manner of enforcing the law in
the Indian Territory will be indeffi-
nitely continued. AS the white peo-
pie residing in the Indian Territory
have no representative on the floor
of congress, many OF them feel that
an injustice might unwittingly be
done them. Documents now on file
with your subcommittee viii show
that have authority to speak for at
least a portion Of them. / therefore
respectfully and earnestly request
your attention to, and consideration
of, the following statements, as ex-
| pressive of their wishes and views,
in opposition to the proposed repeal
of that portion of the act of 1895
which give to our courts full juris-
diction of ali offenses committed in
4 the territory.
The act Of March /, 1895, was
adopted by congress after full con
sideration of the entire matter. The
\ burden should be upon those who
demand any change in its provisions,
to show the necessity for the change.
Ii would be child's play for congress
to enact law at one session and
then repeal it at the next, unless
some just cause for the repeal was
shown. The provisions of the act Of
1898, which is sought to be repealed,
/ has not yet gone into effect; there
/ fore, it cannot be said that expert
ence has demonstrated that its pro
visions are unwise or defective, or in
any manner inefficient TO accom-
plish the purpose aimed at. There
\ have been no new developments or
any such change in the condition or
sentiments of the people of the In
dian Territory, at least SO far as we
are aware Of, rs would warrant the
statement that present existing con
ditions required this repeal. So far
as we are informed, the matter stands
] 1
which it occupied in 1885. The only
possible difference which could exist
is that as our community has grown
older and as our population has been
considerably increased since then, by
persons from the other states, that
we are correspondingly in a better
,ondition to inforce the law among
ourselves, and that greater neces-
sity for our being allowed to do so,
now exists.
The great cost of the federal judi
ciary, and especially of enforcing
the law in the Indian Territory, un-
der the system which at present ex-
lists, has often been the subject Of
Just criticism, both by the depart
ment Of justice and the congress OF
the United States. Ii is therefore
unnecessary that | should dwell up
on this subject. 1t is already under
stood by the several members of
your committee, more fully than
could possibly explain it. Neither
shall l trespass upon your time and
attention by any statement or argu-
ment as to the un-American features
of the existing system, which is
sought to be perpetuated by the re-
peal of that section of the act of
March 1 1895, above referred to, fur
ther than to remark that in the Dec
laration OF independence our fathers
declared that governments derive
their Just powers from the consent Of
the governed" This sacred instru-
ment, the product of the wisdom
which born of danger, suffering diff
ficulty and sorrow, further declared
that we threw of the British yoke,
among other reasons, because the
King Of England had sent among us
swarms of officers TO eat out our sub
stance and devour our living; be-
cause we were subject to foreign iu-
risdiction; because our people were
liable to be arrested and transported
beyond the seas for trial upon pre-
tended ofIenses. I" The spirit of every
one Of these declarations is directly
applicable to the present condition
of the residents of the Indian Ter
ritory. If that spirit exists today
save in name; il it has living, vita
power, we invoke its protection
against the wrongs and injuries