The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-04
ibraska. Louisiana, Maine, South Caro-
lina- Kentucky and Colorado. twenty
three In all, Z; ~ - = ~ X

three IN all b
n It !s strongly ihalsted by the goysr.
nor OF. the statc. Senator Elkins, the en-.
tire delegation In the house and anum-
per OF Other riistlngul8hed Citizens who
have appeared before and been heard by
a subcommittee OF this committee .hhs
the passage OF this bill would save the
government doubie the amount OF tho
extra cost In salaries OF the additional
Judge. district attorney and marshal
provided by IL. A careful study ut the
exciting conditions and facts strongly.
sustain this estimate. ~, g
~ II has been clearly shown tha. the con
dltion OF the docke,s Is 50 coagested that
at any one serm OF court many cases
pending cannot be tried for want OF
time. although witnesses IN large num-
ibers may be In attendance. Il becomes
necessary TO continue them and, In
many instances, they are transferred for
trial TO another point where the next
term Is about to be held. This involves
the extra expense OF large mileage and
per diem costs to wi,nesses, which very
quickly exceeds the amount OF salaries
required 10 pay another Judge, marshal
and attorney. Then too. the large costs
incurred In additional fees to deputy
marshals. by reason OF this condition.
must be considered. While II Is irnpos-
stble TO reduce the estimate to-an abso-
lute demonstration, yet the fac: that In
1886. an average year. Al.7so was paid
In costs OF witnesses which was found to
be insufficient, requiring an additional
sum of 3947 IS to be paid the following
year to make up the deficiency. In all
$i2.737 % for WITNESSES fees for the year,
and that the fees paid marshais for the
same year aggregated Sls.70o. shows this
estimate OF saving to be conservative
and likely under rather than over stated.
The costs incurred In this particular In
this court are only exceeded by two or,
three other districts In the country COW
,erinG vast and sparsely settled territory
where mileage bills are necessarily large.
This measure Is entirely non partisan
and was unarlmously endorsed At the
last annual meeting OF the Bar Associa.
ton OF West Virginia, and a committee
OF seven OF the leading lawyers OF 5:hel
state. belonging to both leading political
parties. was appointed to urge It's pas
sage.
The measure has further been submit
ted to the department OF justice and
strongly approved. as shown by the fol-
lowing letter from the attorney general.
Department OF Justice,
Washington. D. c.. Jan.sz0. 1888
Hon. Case Broderick. Chairman. &C.,
House OF Representatives.
sIR:-1n answer to your letter OF the
18th inst, asking my views rs to the
proprtety Of passing H. r. 1858. a bill TO
divide the state OF West Virginia into
two judicial districts, have to say: That
from 1875 to 1897 Inclusive. the number
of cases pending In the courts Of that
state appears TO have increased from
about 500 TO 1,5s3. although from 325 to
$50 cases year have been disposed OF;
that the number OF criminal cases pend,
ing in West Virginia district exceeds
the number pending IN Delaware. Ken
lucky. Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,.
New Hampshire. New Jersey. Rhode
Island: South Carolina and South Da-
kota combined: that from 1880 20 1887
! the West, Virginia court. had had more
criminal prosecutions pending in It than
have the courts OF any other state or
territory during the years 1880. 1881,
1885, 1884, 1895 and probably 1892; that In
1885 the court In Wes. Virginia had
more cases pending than In the. twelve
districts combined In New York. Penn
sylvanta. Illinois, Ohio. Missouri and
Massachusetts,.
These facts are taken from the reports
OF the attorneys general. where other
Interesting data on the subject may be
found. ~. - al =
II would seem from them That Con-
gress would be justified In establishing
another district in West Virginia.
Respectfully.
JOSEPH McKENNA.
: Attorney General.