Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-04
RAGAN OPPOSES NEW COURT
Adams County Man Vigorously Attacks
Senator Burketts Bill.
URGES CLAIMS OF WESTERN COUNTIES
Measure L. Denounced as "a scheme
for the Good of Lincoln Hotel
keepers-Letter TO SEN
atOr Willard.

HASTINGS. Neh Feb. S-(SpeciaL)-In
a letter to Senator Willard. in response to
the latters request. Hon. John NJ Ragan
Of this city. former commissioner of the
supreme court, urges numerous and vigor-
Gus objections to the Burkett bill for the
creation Of a South Platte federal dis
trict." Mr.. Ragan. as president Of the
Adams County Bar association. is taking
leading part in the opposition TO the
proposed division. II was at his suggestion
that the movement was started for the
public condemnation OF the bill in this
county at a mass meeting two weeks ago.
Mr.. Ragan a few days ago received
letter from Senator Willard asking him 10
outline the objections entertained by the
lawyers here to the Burkett bill These
objections are not confined to the lawyers.
says Mr.. Ragan in his reply. but are the
objections of the business men, professional
men, bankers and voters west of line
drawn north and south through the state.
along the west line Of Clay county
After asserting that two districts are
unnecessary and vouchsafing the opinion
that after the government land fencing
cases are disposed of the present court
would have no difficulty in transactinE all
Of the business In its Jurisdiction. Mr.
Ragan continues:
All for Iinco1n'r BENEFIT.
I'VE are not such a lot Of Reubens in
this state, though living a hundred and
/ fifty miles west Of the Missouri river. but
| that we understand the purpose of Burk-
etts bill viz: TO give some one life
position judge. another a position as
marshal, still another a position as clerk.
and the judge TO be appointed from Lin
coin and do all Of the business of the
southern district in Lincoln. This would
! be good for Lincoln's hotelkeepers. II
| this state is divided now according TO the
| Burkett hill ii will require the western
| part Of the state fifty years to change it,
| whereas IL the district remains as 1t is We
| people in the western part of the state
| may some day have a man in the United
States senate who will pay some attention
| 10 our rights and conveniences and so ar
| range the federal districts that litigant
shall not have TO travel 100 miles and back
| and spend $500 to obtain $50 worth of
Justice
Mr.. Raglan next declares that the grew
ance Of litigants and witnesses in the
western part Of the state will not be
| remedied by the passage Of the measure,
for the reason that under it's terms they
would have to travel practically as far
with the court located in Lincoln as they
! do to the court in Omaha. He asserts that
more than 80 per cent Of the business in
| the Nebraska federal district originates
west Of the west line of Clay county.
Continuing he says:
| Prejudice Against Federal Courts.
| There is in this state a prejudice and a
distrust against the federal courts and
judges, and while you and 1 know that
these are unfounded and that the federal
judges are honest, able and upright men,
and IL there is any place in the state where
one can obtain exact Justice according To
law It is in the federal courts. yet the mass
of the people do not understand this and
the fact that all cases in the federal courts
have TO be tried either in Omaha or Lincoln,
is responsible for much Of this prejudice. a
litigant has the right. and should have the
opportunity of having his case tried in or
somewhere near his domicile. 1t is mon
strous in this age Of the world that a man
living in Trenton or Kimball and sued in
the federal court should be compelled to
travel to Omaha OF Lincoln to make his de-
Tense. To divide Nebraska into two fed
eral districts. with the Platte river for the
dividing line, is to make the two districts
400 miles in length and 100 miles wide. What
statesman can justify such piece OF po'
litico-mandering?"
II more equitable division for the west.
ern part OF the state cannot be secured Mr.
Raglan suggests, provided relief for tht
court is necessary, that another judge
marshal and clerk be appointed for tbs
present district, leaving the opportunity
open for the west TO be heard on the sub
ject in the future.
I'VE are not enemies Of Mr.. Burkett no.
Senator Willard" adds Mr. Ragan, but W,
hate this Burkett bill as the devil hate.
holy water. We love Omaha very much. W,
love Lincoln some, and we have an abidinl
and enthusiastic loyalty and love for tina
part of Nebraska in which are to be found
the golden corn and wheat fields, the al
falfa fields the cattle ranches and sheeI
ranches, and in which will shortly be found
if not a majority. at least a united and en-
ergetic minority OF the almighty voter. II
this matter Senator Burkett is handcappe,
by the wishes Of the locality where he re
sides But you Senator Willard. are no
compelled TO a support of this Burket
measure by the wishes OF your fellow citi
zens Of Omaha. You are free TO give th
, matter a calm. dispassionate and careful
inquiry"
Sues for Possession of once.
KEARNFY Neh Feb 2-(SDecial Tale