The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-02
The Copy Of a Bill to Be Introduced
in Congress.
IT WILL GIVE A BRANCH FOR HOUSTON
It Makes a Very Slight Disturbance Of
the Districts as They Now Exist.
OF Importance to Houston.

the Uistricts as they NOW EXIST.
Of Importance to Houston.
representative of The Post was made
aware of the fact yesterday that a united
and strenuous effort was being made to
secure for Houston a Federal court.
Every one who has had occasion to in
vestigate the matter knows the necessity
for such court in Houston.
'As matters now stand all cases arising
in this city that have an issue pertaining
to Federal law arc tried in Galveston. This
entails the necessity of witnesses, jurors
and attorneys. as well as iitigants max
ing stated pilgrimages to the Island city to
attend court. The trip would not be alto
gether Objectionable if it were possible to
determine when the questions in which
the parties interested would conc up for
adjudication or disposition, but the docket
of that overtaxcd court is so laden with
causes that it is impossible to tell even
when case is set whether it will be
reached in one day or TWO weeks. This
makes a matter of Federal litigation a
very serious question aud operates often
to defeat the ends of justice
This is what may be termed an an
omalous condition, especially so when the
fact is considered that Houston. il her
territorial limits were stretched to equal
those of some OF her pretentous neigh
bors, is by. 5 per cent the largest city in
Texas. Ihat her people should be forced
20 go TO Galveston to transact that part OF
their legal business that has a Federal
character is preposterous. and will un-
doubtedly he remcdied as soon as the mat
ter is properly brought to the attention Of
congress.
Besides the public and almost univer-
sal convenience that will follow the es-
Establishment of Federal court in this city
will be the erection OF a public building
it is true that Houston has one now, but
il is an antiquated establishment. There
is probably not city of the size Of Hous-
ton in the United States especially ono
doing an equal volume of postal busness)
that has as insignificant posto1ice build
ing as has Houston 1t will hardly meet
a single specification OF the existing law
concerning the territory To- be occupied.
the contiguty OF other buildings or the
accommodations Tor the public The es-
Establishment OF Federal court here would
bring with it building commensurate
with the necessities OF a city like this.
Recognizing the condition OF affairs. the
enterprsng and energetic members OF the
local bar have taken up The matter and do
not propose 10 cease their efforts until
something tangible has been accomplished.
The necessity for new division of the
State into Federal judicial districts has
long been agitated, and bill TO accom-
plish that end was introduced at the last
congress, but more important matters
pressed it aside, Now, however. Il has
grown until, so far as Texas is concerned
there is hardly subject in which there is
more universal interest For the public
convenience something must be done. As
the courts arc now organized there is nc
way 10 anticipate when a case that ha.
been once docketed will reach final trial
This is as much OF an annoyance to tn,
government as il is 10 the public aud il i
certain that congress will cure it as sooI
as the members thereof can he made Il
view the Situation as it really exists"
In the manner as above related Hon
Frank Andrews spoke 10 a Post reportc
in his Office yesterday evening He sal,
further We, that is and my family. ar,
faithful believers in the doctrine that tn,
Lord helps those who help themselves anC
we q mean various members OF the lega
profession in Houston) have prepared
bill to divide the State into new Fedora
judicial districts. Copies of it have beer
sent 70 Congressman Ball and Senator
Culberson and Bailey, and it will be intro
duced as soon as the congress reconvene
after the holidays. | will give you cop
OF it for publication. so that those VIII
are interested may inform themselves a
10 its provisions. 1t will be observed tina
the present location of no court is dis
turbed. The new Southern district, o
which Houston is to be the headquarter.
takes from the Beaumont court the coun
ties of San Jacinto, Polk and Liberty, an
from the Waco court Brazos county. TIL
balance of the counties TO be made re
turnable to Houston are at present dane
ing attendance at Galveston. The Victori
court will have the coast counties no,
made returnable to San Antonio. In in
vestigating the matter we found that Their
were great many counties left out en-
tirely, and as no case has arisen in such
county it is an undetermined question a
10 what court they are or would be ae
tually returnahle to or to what distric
they belong. In the preparation OF the hi
which have handed to you we have use
our utmost endeavors TO remedy such de
feets. At the same time we have mad
-