The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-16
TO DIVIDE DISTRICT
EFFORT TO GIVE VALDosTA A
UNITED STATES COURT.
BILL PENDING IN CONGRESS.
IF 1T PASSES, WILL CUT OFF SA-
VANNAH'S JUDICIAL TERRITORY.

/ Congressman BrantIey Introduced
Taking Counties From the Savan-
nah Division of the Southern Dis
/ trfct, One From the Western Di-
vision and Two From the North
ern Dfstrfct-Judge Speer Has
Been Asked by Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee to Give His
Opinion as to the Necessity for
the Proposed New DivisiOn-This
Opinion Is Adverse.
An effort is afoot to create a new
subdivision of the United States Court
of the Southern District of Georgia In
formation reached Savannah from
Washington yesterday that
bill has been introduced in Congress to
establish a new division. This bill is
now receiving the consideration of the
judiciary Committee of the House, to
which it was referred.
The bill, which was introduced by
Congressman Brantley purposes TAX
ing the counties of Decatur, Thomas.
Brooks, Ware, Echols, Coffee, Berrien,
Lowndes, Pierce, Clinch, and, in fact,
all the southwest counties, which the
last census shows have grown so rap
idly in population and in wealth. and
putting them in a new division to be
known as the Southwestern division of
the Southern district of Georgia, with
court headquarters at ValdOsta. Early
and Miller counties, if the bill passes,
ars to be taken from the Northern dis
trict, and Dougherty county is to be
taken from the Western division of the
Southern district.
1t is conceded that the passage of
the bill would prove another serious
blow at the Eastern Division, of
which Savannah is the court head
| quarters. 1t has been only few years
since Augusta and nearly all the coun-
ties which now comprise the North
eastern division of the Southern Dis
trict of Georgia were taken away from
| the Savannah division. This has been
| very injurious to the Savannah bar,
because cases now tried in Augusta
were formerly tried here. Previously
to that time the Western division was
created, with headquarters at Macon,
and several counties were taken
| from Savannah and made trfbu-
] tory to Macon.
If the new movement succeeds, 1t
will withdraw a number of very i'm
| portant counties from the Savannah
| division. There is nothing in the ext
| gencies of the public service, 1t is de-
| clared, which requires this new divis-
ion. Valdosta is very thrifty and
! energetic community, but it is an even
| question, it is said, if a court should
! be created in that portion of the state,
! if Thomasville would not have equal
| claims with Valdosta.
AS the Savannah division is organ
lied now, Judge Speer has no difficulty
| in disposing of all the litigation in the
| United States court in a month or six
weeks of each year at Savannah. Lit
igation of this division is by no means
heavy and several counties have never
furnished single case, either criminal
or civil. for trial in the courts here.
Lawyers contend that if there were
more places of holding court this would
| encourage litigation and produce more
! cases, but there is doubt as to wheth-
| er this would benefit the general pub
! lie.
This is the second effort on the part
| of Valdosta to secure legislation, Great
| ing new division of the Southern
district. Several other towns desire
! United States courts. Among these are
Brunswick, Cordele, Americas and
! Albany.
1t has been learned that the chair
! man of the Judiciary Commit
tee, Congressman Ray of New
York, has called on Judge Speer
! for an expression of his opinion
as to the propriety and necessity Of
the new division. 1t is also generally
understood that, while Judge Speer has
| great regard for the people of VAL
dosta. he has been obliged to report
that there exists no actual necessity
| whatever for this new division He
has, however. suggested that, if Con-
gress should provide a handsome pub
! lie building. suitable for the postof-
| flee and other governmental offices at
Valdosta, it would meet all the real
requirements of that city.