The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-15
SdA1U SdHH
Nj. NJ. MURDOCH Editor.
TWO DISTRICTS FOR KANSAS.

Attorney General McKenna has re-
Turned to Senator Baker the bill and
papers submitted to him with reference
10 the proposed division of Kansas into
two federal districts, with the report
that he finds that Kansas is doing more
business with its one court than many
of the states having two judges and
several courts The subcommittee Of
the house having the matter in charge,
of which Judge Broderick is the chair
man, unanimously recommended there
upon the passage of the bill The at
torney General suggests that Judge
Foster might be retired on full pay and
a young and vigorous man appointed
who might possibly discharge the du-
ties of the position by covering the
entire district and probably keep the
dockets of the four courts clear.
The people of Southern Kansas are
not going to protest against the retire
znent of Judge Foster on full pay, prob
ably, but they do protest against any
such whipping the devil around the
stump as is contemplated in the propo-
sition that a young man of Vigor can
do all the work. That proposition
means full pay for two judges with
only one judge to do the work. Besides
young men are not appointed federal
judges. He must be a man Of age and
Of judicial experience. Even if a young
Judge could be found equal to the task
that would not compensate for the ex-
ira travel of lawyers, litigants and wit
nesses from forty or fifty counties.
There seems to be many political and
personal interests intervening in the
matter which concerns the people of an
entire state, and in which is ivolved
the rights, the prerogatives, and which,
If not granted, entail extra expense on
one-half of those in the state having
business in the federal courts.
But for the personal interests of poll
ticians, Of congressman and of other
officials Of Kansas the state would
have been divided into two federal ju-
diciaI districts years ago. The fixing
of terms of the federal court at Wich-
tia and Fort Scott were forced by ne
ressity, and to bridge over the demand
Of an additional district. But the add
ed courts did not add to the ability Of
the one Judge to hear and determine
eases. They only necessitated more
travel and the consuming of more time.
There has been, practically, for two
years past, two judges. To increase
the number of courts to a dozen with
but a single judge would but compli-
cate he situation and prove more on
erous to the sitting judge without af-
fordlug him or the people any relief.
In all this the bar of Southern Kansas
has repeatedly been heard through pc
titions and addresses to the attorney
general and to the judiciary commit
tees of the house and senate.
What is wanted, what is demanded,
is two districts, with the appointment
of a capable and active man for the
bench of the new district without any
reference to the retirement or non-re-
tirement of Judge Foster. Judge Fos-
ter will have all he can do to admins
ter the affairs of the courts in Northern
Kansas, all that he or any other man
can successfully and satisfactorily
manage. In short, the necessities of
the situation demand the full time and
all the talents of two vigorous judges.