The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-05
THE HEARING ON THE NEW FEDERAL
DISTRICT BILL.
Editor of The Tribune.


mentioned in Thursdays Tribune, Chair
man Henderson, of the Committee on tho
Judiciary of the House of Representa-
| tiVcs, granted a hearing on the bill re-
Gently introduced by Congressman Con-
nell, to create a new federal judicial dis
trict of Pennsylvania, to be called the
middle district, embracing within its
scope twenty-eight counties i'm the ccn-
tral part of the state. A delegation of
the legal fraternity Of Scranton, consist
ing of Judge Archibald eX-Judge Knapp,
Collector Penman, Fred w. Ileitz, Geo.
NJ. Watson and James II. TorrCy were on
hand at an early hour to argue upon the
merits of the bill.
BY mutual arrangement Judge Arch
paid led the advance. After presenting
a copy of his brief to each member of the
special committee, as required by the
chairman, he began his argument ON the
necessity for the establishment of the
new district, pointing out with great
clearness and force how the government
suffered financial loss through the extra
expense incurred in the way of mileage
Tor Jurors, witnesses, suitors, marshals
deputy marshals, transportation of pris-
Oners. etc, under the present system; as
well as the inconvenience which the peo-
pie within the radius of a hundred miles
or Scranton having legal business with
the FEDERAL courts, are obliged to endure
by reason of the great distance they have
to travel to reach Pittsburg where the
federal court Is at present located, all of
which could be obviated by the Cstab-
llshment Of new judicial district with
headquarters at Scranton and sessions of
the court at both Williansport and Har-
risburg,
George NJ Watson, esq, followed Judge
Archibald in a comprehensive statement
in detail, amplifying many Of the points
brought out by the judge. Mr.. Watson
exhibited large post-route map of Penn
sylvania, illustrating thereby hy means
OF heavy red and blue lines outlining the
shape of the contemplated new district,
with the designation Of each place where
court is now held I'm every county en-
braced within the new district, and it's dis
tance flom both Pittsburg ana Scranton.
which was considered by all as a strong
point in favor of the bill. lie also show
ed that the salvage that would accrue
from the fees received would more than
compensate the government for. the
equipment of the new court, another
strong point,
James III. Torrey, esq, followed Mr.
watson in n compact summary of the
case, dwelling particularly on the great
growth of population i'm recent years
throughout the anthracite coal district.
the hardshiDs imposed on the people of
this section i'm the administration of ius-
tice, TO be compelled to so to Pittsburg
for every little detail connected with liti-
CATION before the federal court the proba-
BILE increase of business through the op-
Grafton of the new bankruptcy law In case
the pending act becomes a law; the trih-
ing expense on the part of the govern
ment to start the new court i'm operation,
ana many other strong points along these
lines. His argument was especially CO.
gent.
Congressman Olmstead, of Harrisburg
closed, by courtesy of the committee, Gt
being the hour of twelve, noon, when the
committee, under the rules, usually rises).
and made strong argument i'm favor OF
the bill from personal and congressional
standpoint, I'm which he claimed that the
new district had a Federal court build
Ing In Scranton, Williamsport and Har-
risburg each, all equipped for court pur-
poses, but without the court. MIR. Ohm
stead's remarks made a good Impression
on the committee as his entire congress
sional district Is within the contemplated
new district
Taking It altogether the city of Scran-