The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-10
They Carry the Fight Be:
 fore President
 Roosevelt. FAVORED ONLY
 BY BIRMINGHAM President Harrison Sends in a |, Strong Protest. Tn Considering the BilI President Roosevelt Will Have Before Him Many Protests Against theS

A storm of protests from al parts of the State has been raised by the pas sage last week of the Underwood Fed eral Court bill. In almost every com munity from Mobile to the extreme northern limits of Alabama. except from the favored Birmingham district, the bar has expressed opposition to the measure. In nearly every large city the local associations are meeting and passing resolutions advocating the veto of the bill, which are being for warded to President Roosevelt in the hope that he will recognize the force of the appeal and refuse to sign the bill which was passed through Con- gress last week.
 Since the passage of the bill was reported, the action taken by the va rious bar associations have bespoken an unanimity of opinion which gives to the movement the effect of definite campaign against the measure. Thus far, except from those who are direct ly benefited by the measure, the ex- pression of opinion has been adverse to the bill, as a law which would mean discrimination in favor of Birmingham to the detriment of the other cities in the northern and middle districts.
 That the opposition to the Under wood measure Is not of purely local
  tests which have already been raised by cities in different parts of the state. All the cities in which the Fed eral Court has been held in the middle and northern districts heretofore, are similarly affected by the bill, and the opinion of all has been to the same effect-that the bill provides for dis elimination of the most pronounced character in favor of Birmingham. and iua "a tn 0adv the trouble which has for considera- ble period existed in Alabama.
 To date. the bar associations of four cities have made protests to the President, and have taken steps to bring all possible influence to bear to prevent his signing the bill. At a meeting of the bar at Tuscaloosa yes- terday, a resolution was passed. ob- jecting vigorously to the measure, and this resolution was sent by telegraph direct to the White House.
 At another meeting in Anniston, the lawyers of that section of the State al- so expressed their objections to the Un- derwood measure. and wired resolu- ton opposing 1t to the President. A similar measure was taken by the Huntsville bar several days ago.
 In Mobile. the legal fraternity of that city has raised its voice In oppo- SlLlOn, ana Has IclutStCo thO ANSPtS sentative from that district, the Hon. C.. W. Taylor, to call upon President Roosevelt, and to protest against the measure. W. W. Callahan of Decatur, has taken the matter up with the chief executive by wire, and will call upon Congressman William Richardson to take up the matter with the President by a personal call. From the expres- sions that have come to Montgomery from Selma and Gadsden, 1t is expected that the bar associations of these two cities will take action within a day or two, seconding the protest against the injustice of the measure to the remain der of the State.
 Supporting these unofficial protests of the local associations. came yesterday the announcement that an official pro test had been forwarded to President Roosevelt in Washington, in the form of letter from General George liar rison, President of the Alabama State Rar Association. This letter, which bears the date of April T, was mado public here for the first time yesterday. In 1t, the head of the State organiza- ton goes clearly over the ground or contention, presenting the difficulties of the legal situation in the Northern and Middle Districts, and pointing out in strong and conclusive terms the detrimental effects which the under wood measure would have upon the Eederal administration of justice upon every city In Alabama except Hrmine- ham.
 In laying before the President the enormous amount of work which accu- mulates in the ordinary year Tn the courts of the Northern and Middle DIS tricts of Alabama. the writer states that the total number of cases which came under federal Jurisdiction last year in these districts was Z'lss' UT these there were 358 law cases, sI equi- ty cases. 53O criminal cases. and 1,2ls petitions in bankruptcy. This amount of litigation, he af1rms, provides work which would require 1000 days of judi cial labor to adjudicate
 Considering only the law. equity and criminal business" he says, ana leaving out of the calculation bank ruptcy matters. and also the business of the Southern Division of the North ern Distract. which would como from although the judge be ao- sent from that place, 1t is safe to say 1t would require 4Q0 days of court at Montgomery Tuscaloosa. Anniston and Huntsville to give them the service with their needs"
 The provision in the Underwood bill requiring that six months court be held in Birmingham every year, ne uecldres' ia uniust to the other cities in which the Federal Court is required to be held by law. .,.
 President Harrison also claims that +ba House bill was reported upon fa' vorahly by the committee before law vers and others interested had an op- nortunity to be heard. and that the Senate biIl came into the House and was passed over the protests of both inc judges of the United States Courts and many of the members of the diff ferent bars
 "The only proposition whfch seems to have been considered ne states ..yvas whether Birmingham needed court