The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-04

< D. C.: ' < Montgomery and all Ala ( < bama deeply interested in Hoar ' < bill establishing headquarters ' < Sixth Judicial Circuit at Mont ' < gomery. ' < We await your advice as to < < our action. Desire to make < < strong fight. L. L. Gilbert, ' < Secretary Commercial and In- < 4 dustrial Association. ' >< < < < < < < < < < < < . Atlanta will be its ofYicial center. The question comes up as the result of the consideration by the Senate. of several propositions to divide the country into new judicial circuits. The present division has existed for some time and in several circuits there is both too much territory and too much business.
 There are at present nlne circuits. The largest of these in point of territory is Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri. Arkansas, Kansas. Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming. Colorado and Utah. with the territories of New Mexico. Okla homa and Indian Territory added. Since this circuit was created, these states have increased very greatly in population and wealth and naturally the business of the courts has increased in proportion. In some other circuits the increase has been practically as great. Illinois. for instance Is now in a circuit with Wisconsin and Indiana, whereas there is sufficient busi- ness in Illinois alone to warrant the State being made a circuit unto itself. The same Is true of Ohio. The second largest circuit in the coun- try is the fifth, which includes Georgia, Florida. Alabama. Mississippi. Louisiana and Texas.
 Provisions of Hoar's Bill.
 Senator Hoar has prepared a bill which provides for the division of the country Into fifteen circuits, 1t being his view that no less number will bring about the equitable distribution Of business which is desired. The Hoar plan is based large ly upon population. . study of the work of the courts in different parts of the country having proven that the business of the circuit courts is about In propor- ton to the population.
 Senator Hoar's bill proposes to divide the judicial districts of the country into the following circuits:
 First-The districts of Maine, New Hampshire. Vermont. Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
 Second--The districts of Connecticut and New York.
 Third-The districts of Pennsylvania.
 Fourth--The districts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia.
 Fifth-The districts of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina
 Sixth-The districts of Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
 Seventh-The districts of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
 Eighth--The districts of Ohio.
 Ninth-The districts of Michigan and Indiana.
 Tenth-The districts of Kentucky and Tennessee.
 Eleventh-The districts of Illinois.
 Twelfth-The districts of Missouri and Arkansas.
 Thirteenth-The districts of Minnesota Wisconsin and Iowa.
 Fourteenth-The districts of North Da- kota. South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming. Colorado and Utah.
 Fifteenth-The districts of California, Oregon. Nevada. Idaho, Montana and Washington.
 The bill provides that a term shall be held annually by the circuit court of ap- peals in these several judicial circuits at the following places:
 First circuit Boston. second circuit New York; third circuit, Philadelphia fourth circuit. Baltimore: fifth circuit Richmond; sixth circuit. Montgomery seventh circuit, New Orleans; eighth cir cuit Cincinnati; ninth circuit. Indianapo- lis: tenth circuit Nashville: eleventh cir cult Chicago; twelfth crcuit: St. Louis thirteenth circuit. St. Paul: fourteenth circuit. Denver; fifteenth circuit, San Francisco.
 This bill of Senator Hoar's divides the present 6fth circuit into two making the new sixth to consist of Georgia, Alabama and Florida, and a new seventh circuit to include Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas New Orleans. which is the headquarters If this is the proper term-of the present fifth circuit, remains the headquarters for the new seventh circuit.
 ohl Picks Flaws in Bill.
 Continuing his story to The Constitution Mir. Ohl says:
 "The feature of the bill to which the lawyers of the South. who practice in the federal courts. will take greatest excep- tion is that one providing that the head quarters of the new sixth circuit shall be at Montgomery instead of Atlanta. As have said. there is every reason to be- ieve that this will be changed
 Upon investigation l have ascertained that Senator Hoar had no special purpose III naming montgomery ana that tnls was done without any particular knowledge of the relative importance of the different cities and that he has no special interest in Montgomery. He will. I am assured> make no particular objection to this being changed in favor of Atlanta. It may be advisable for the attorneys of Georgia and Florida, who are especially interested in the location of the court at Atlanta to send to the committee such data as will be valuable should the question of location be seriously discussed. I have no doubt that many of the attortneys of Alabama would prefer to have the circuit court headquarters at Atlanta. I am sure that there Is every argument in At-