The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-24
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.

The bill to establish a term Of the dis
trict and circuit courts of the United
States in the Western district of Vir-
ing the same, is an important one to this
city and section. and Congressman Otey,
of this DISTRICTS deserving of much praise
for his unremitting efforts in that direc-
ton. The bill was introduced by Mr..
Otey Oh the 18th of March, and was re
terred to the.committee on the judiciary
with the order that it be printed. 1t
reads as follows:
a bill to establish term of the district
and circuit courts of the United States
ut Roanoke, Virginia, in the Western
district of Virginia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Repl esentatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That IL
term of the district aud circuit courts of
the United States shall be held in each
year at Roanoke, in the Western district
of Virginia, on the Tuesday after the sec.
ond Monday in February and August.
Sec. =. That the counties of Roanoke,
Botetourt Giles, Craig, Franklin, Mont.
Eomery, Floyd, Pulaski, Tazewell, Bland
and Carroll shall be attache to the divis-
section of this act, and all process run
ming to said counties shall be returnable
to said courts.
That the locat ton of the courts here will
result in many advantages and benefits
to the people OF the counties embraced
within the boundaries of said courts goes
without saying. Very often in enforcing
the provisions of the internal revenue law
innocent men are arrested and put at
much inconvenience by being taken long
distance from their homes to stand i'm
prisonment or secure bail; while in al.
most every instance the witnesses in the
case are put at an expense which they
cannot afford to bear 1t Is true that
eventually they are recompensed for every
outlay in this direction; but ready cash
is not always an accompaniment of the
class Of people affected, and in conse-
quence there is often much real incon-
venience and privation on that account.
BY establishing the courts here many
OF these annoyances are avoided. while,
ut the same time, there is a material les
SEEMING of the expenses to the general
government The lawyers, too, are
deeply interested in this matter, rs the re.
duction ir travelling expenses may often
determine their course as to the 'acce pit
ance or rejection of the position of counsel
Tor such as come under the provisions of
the law. 10 the poor client this is very
important question, for without an attor-
ney qualified to defend him, the chances
OF his acquittal are often seriously i'm
periled, even when innocent of all the
charges preferred against him.
The geographical position of Roanoke
also renders it especially suitable as the
place for holding these courts, and there
is no reason why Congress should not
pass the bill On the question of room,
the present public building could be en-.
larged If necessary, and ii in the present
condition of the national finances it
should be deemed unwise TO make the adj
dition at present. all the extra room
needed for holding these courts could be
easily secured at comparatively small eX.
pense
This section of Virginia is the most
Pio'PSio uo oHC NitHiu bHc DouHuttrlcS Ol
the State, and it is only matter of n
short time when the establishment of
these courts will become imperatively
necessary, il it is not already so. 1t is
hoped, therefore, that the representative s
OF Virginia in the Senate and House. as
we'll rs all other members of Congress
friendly to the great Southwest, will aid
our energetic and interchangeable Congress.
man in his efforts to secure the passage
-.of the bill.