Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-31

III.
of passage by that body, should not
receive the signature of Governor
Cummins. 1t is a proposition which
all of the judges and lawyers of the
second district and all of the people,
who are familiar with the proposition.
oppose and with the exception of the
immediate supporters of the plan in
the first judicial district, has practical
~ no supporters in the other counties
affected.
| Briefly stated the proposition is to
take, from the second judicial district
the counties of Jefferson and Van Bu-
rem, Washington county from the sixth
and combine them with Lee county,
the first district and Des Moines, Hen
ry and Louisa counties of the twenti-
eth, to form one large republican jul
dicial district. The plan is one which
originated in Lee county and has been
pushed with all possible vigor by Rep
resentative Kennedy of that county
during the present session of the leg
1slature. The passage OF this measure
| has been the one thing sought for by
Mr.. Kennedy. Being of little import
ance to the people of the northern and
western part of the state, Mr.. Kennedy
found ample opportunity to make ex-
changes of votes with these men in
favor OF his measure the result being
thati1t passed the house recently by a
vote of 81 to 81 There is now a
chance for the opponents of the bill
to secure it's defeat in the senate and
it is imperative that the people of the
second judicial district should make
known to their senators their opinions
on this matter.
There are abundant reasons why
the people of the second judicial dis
trict should vigorously oppose this bill
and it will be the purpose of the Cour.
Ter at this time to mention a few OF
the most important thereof.
The Kennedy bill proposes to take
from the second judicial district, com.
| posed of the counties of Lucas, Mon.
| roe, Appanoose, Davis, Wapello Jeffer.
son and Van Buren,, the two last coun
| ties. This proposition is Objectionable
because it would take from the bench
one of our Oldest and most competent
| judges, Robert Sloan of Keosauqua
leaving but three judges to take care OF
the court business of the remaining five
| counties. Under the present arrange
ment the court business is far enough
| in arrears and with one judge taken
from the district it could only be ex.
pected that the court work would be
even farther delayed. Such condi.
ton Of affairs would be detriment to
the interests of the people of the sec
ond district.
Judges, lawyers and citizens con-
nected with the courts are practically
unanimous in their opposition to the
proposed change. They see in it a
means of seriously Gripping the judici-
airy of the second district. Their
| wishes in this matter should unques-
tionably receive due consideration. In
accordance with the wishes of his con-
stituents, Representative Buchanan
vigorously opposed the measure in the
house and was successful in mater
[ tally reducing the majority by which
1t was passed and under the leadership
of Senator Harper the people of Wapel-
10 county should make a strong fight
against it in the senate.
With the exception of Lee county
much opposition has arisen in each of
the other counties affected. One of
the chief grounds is that by the Ken
needy scheme the first judicial district
would have the same boundaries as
the first congressional district and
would hopelessly confuse COMPRESSION
al and judicial politics. This would
make possible all kinds Of combina-
tons and would give opportunity to a
congressional aSpirant to placate fac
lions in other counties by giving them
a Judge. This, it is evident, would not
conduce to the best interests of JUS
tice.
1t is time for action and the people
of each of the counties affected should
make known to their senators just
where they stand on this proposition.
Second district residents should make
vigorous protest against the consum-
nation of the scheme.