The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-22
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

| Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington, ID. c., Feb. 2l.--A hear
ing on Congressman Connell's bill cre-
ating an additional judicial district to
be called the Middle district of Penn
| sylvania, and which passed the house
| recently without opposition, was held
before "a Subcommittee in the senate
| judiciary committee room this MORN
| ing.
1t had been expected that there
| would be some opposition to the bill.
, Judge Burlington, of Pittsburg. and
Attorney Rawle. of Philadelphia, had
both written Senator Hoar, chairman
OF the committee, saying that they ex-
pected to be present to make argument
| in opposition to the bill, but they did
not materialze, and there was no op-
| position to the bill.
| In anticipation of the above named
| gentlemen being present to speak
against the bill. Mr.. Connell had wired
several Scranton attorneys TO be on
hand and be prepared 20 make argu-
ments In favor OF the bill. and in re-
sponse TO his request Major Everett
Warren, James H. Torrey and Major
| T. +. Penman came here last evening
i
morning well equipped with strong ar
guments and data in favor Of the pass
age of the bill. Mr.. Torrey was the
| first speaker.
| He displayed a large map of the state
and had the present district outlined,
as we'll as the proposed, with red ana
blue pencil. The committee was very
| favorably impressed with the manner
in which Mr.. Torrey presented the
matter. He spoke as follows:
| Mr.. ToRREY's ADDRESS
This bill is the demand OF nearly two millions
| Of people in Central and Northeastern Pennsyl.
| vnnia who feel that they are entitled as a
| matter OF right to better federal court iacili
| les. But it does not stop there; IL is also
| designed to materially benefit the government by
a saving in the mileage OF Jurors. prisoners and
| witnesses which will fully meet the additional
| expense Of the court, while it will at the same
time necessarily result also in the better eniorce-
| mcnt of the Law.
| The division OF Pennsylvania az it now stands
| is absurd, and u glance at the map is all that
| is needed 20 show IT, This is particularly true
| oi the western district which covers over two.
| thirds of the state and virtually compCls the
| whole northeastern part OF it to go three hun.
| drcd miles TO Pittsburg for its federal records
made seyenty.>ix years ago tSec Act Goth May.
| 1924, Statutes at Large, p 81. chap l7O) since
| which time the whole northeast section by the
| development Of its anthracite coal industry has
| changed from wilderness to one of the most
| populous, active and thriving communities in the
| commonwealth. The vast extent of this district
| has compelled the provision, from time 10 time,
| for sessions OF the federal court at three other
| places outside OF PttSburg, to wit: At vii.
| ~ Fri. MI pt I,,t
| is still and always will be the center around
| which the whole district l. compelled 10 rcvolve
| and from which it is and will he controlled, the
rest being Disseminated against in its interest.
| There are kept the permanent records OF the
| courts, with their clerks marshall and judges,
and where these arc there of necessity is the
court itself. Neither judges officers, however,
desirous OF doing their duty, can make il other
else. Nor can any iudge-it may be added-with
any satisfaction 10 himself or to the public,
hold court in four different places so widely
separated. The demand that lie shall. however.
serves TO show the needs nt the district, at
the same time that it demonstrates it, IN.
| wieldy and oycrgrOwn character.
SOME COMPARISONS
Comparison with other sections of the third
circuit, Of which we a part empnatically
proves this Delaware has district Judge,
| Judge Bradford, aud now recently = circuit
Judge, Judge Gray. rhilsdclphia has Judge Dal.
| las for the circuit and Judge Mcpherson for
| the district court, neither OF whom 20 one step
| outside Of that city. That leaves Judge Achcson,
| Of Pittsburg, 10 take care OF The sessions OF
| the circuit court at the four different points
| mentioned in the western district, as well ~ at
! Trenton, in the state Of New Jersey; at the
| same time that, as senior circuit Judge, he is
| called upon TO do duty in the circuit court oi
| appeals tor the whole circuit, sitting twice a
| year at Philadelphia. hS result Of this we
| have not seen Judge Achcson at the last two
yearly sessions Of the circuit court in scranton.
| The proposed middle district is made mn Of
the central and northeastern parts of Peunsyl.
| yanS, the main portion OF it coming from the
| western district, but eleven counties being also
| taken from the eastern.
| \ comparison Of the population OF the state
| and ts federal districts at the time the present
| division was made in ls2G, with the present pop.
| ulation, as shown by the census OF 1900. will in.
| dicate how strong the present demand Tor a
| division is. IN 1875 by dividing the increase
from the census OF $50 TO the census OF 1850
| proportonatcly the population Of the western
| district was about $1,000; ot the eastern dis-
| tri"t, GS3300 the total for the state about
| 1000 900. BY the census Of 1900 the nopulation
| oi the western district was 3,3Gi.79i and the
eastern district, 2,937,32l; total for the state,
4 o,3O2 ll5, The proposed change will take from
| the eastern district counties containing a popu.
| luton of l,a>S,ll2. Under the new apportion.
mcnt, as effected by the pending bin, tho popi.
| lation OF the three districts, by the census Of
| 1900. will hc d, follows:
Eastern district .,..............,4,2Og,Sll
| Western district ................2,215,ts9
Middle district l.Nl66l5
| Total ..,.,........ ......,.,...G,SO2, ms
1t viii thu, appear that each OF the three