The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-04-28
Would Make Court Real,

A draft of a measure which, If enact
ed in law by congress, would make
federal court at Norfolk a reality in.
ed to Congressman Latta at Washing.
ton by NJ. F. Harrington of O'Neill
and the people of Norfolk, as we'll as
those in the territory affected, will
be vitality interested in the bills pro-
gresS Mr.. Harrington thinks that the
people OF Norfolk should organize to
help push the bill through congress
and the Norfolk Commercial club will
probably take up the matter. Follow
ing is the text of Mr.. Harrington's
letter explaining the bill, as well as
the full text of the bill itself:
Means Much to Norfolk.
ONeiil, Neb.. April 21.-Hon. W. y.
close you copy of bill which | am
sending 10 Hon. James p. Latta for
introduction.
Norfolk should be interested in this
measure because it is affected more
than any other part Of the state by the
bill AT the present time there Is only
out regular term VI lGuel d. tOuIl at
Norfolk. and the delay is so long that
the tendency of lawyers is to settle
everything and get it out Of the way
or change the same to the Omaha
division, where they have plenty of
court.
This bill provides for two regular
terms instead of one at Norfolk. In
addition to this. it puts more counties
in the Norfolk division. For example:
The way the thing is now lined up,
Platte county which adjoins Madison
on the south, is connected with Oma-
ha for federal court. The absurdity of
this is plain. OF course, it was done
as matter of favoritism and on re-
quest of Senator Miller who was then
in the senate. Boone county which is
Immediately west OF Madison. has
to go clear through to Omaha to
court. Wheeler which is still west of
Boone, has to go to Omaha. Cunning
has to go to Omaha, etc. have tried
TO arrange the new divisions fair to
all. The only thing that the proposed
bill takes away from the Lincoln dis
trict, is Hamilton county. That coun'
| ty adjoinS Hail. where there Is q
federal court. The only reason why
the people of Hamilton county Are re-
quired TO go to Lincoln to court is
because Senator Burkett wanted IL so
| in the bill and it was done accordingly
With the exception OF taking this one
county away from Lincoln and taking
several counties away from Omaha
and giving them to Norfolk, no other
change is made in the boundaries OF
the different divisions of the state
am sure that the boundaries as
fixed by this bill will meet the ap
proval OF any fair minded man who
simply desires no favoritism for any
citizen, but that the courts shall be
arranged for the convenience of the
people and not the people placed for
the convenience of some courts.
Yours truly,
| M. F. Harrington.
| The Text Of the Law.
| And this is the text OF the bill:
A BILL FOR AN ACT to provide the
judicial district OF Nebraska into
divisions and to fix the time for the
holding of the terms of court In said
divisions.
Be it enacted by the congress of the
United States:
Section /. That for the purpose OF
holding terms OF the circuit and dis
,trict courts in said district Of Ne
braska, said district shall be- divided
into eight divisions, known as the
Omaha division, the Norfolk division
the Grand Island division. the North
Platte division. the Chadron division
the Lincoln division, the Hastings di
vision and the McCook division. Tht
territory comprising the counties o.
Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, Dodge
Burt and Thnraknn ahnll cnnctitntr