The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-22
WHITE Is AGAINST
 PROPOSED COURT Thinks Alabama Should Not Be Divided in Formation
 of New Circuit

Washington, September 21.-(Specal.) After close analysis and study of Senator Shields bill for the creation of a new federal judicial circuit. to be known as the tenth circuit. Senator White today expressed strong opposition to it's provi- sions. and offered suggestions for it's amendment, if such a court ultimately should be considered a necessity. The bill provides that the new circuit should be formed of territory composed of Ten nessee and Arkansas and the northern districts of Alabama and Mississippi, with headquarters at Memphis
 AS a matter of fact said Senator White. T do not now see the necessity for the creation of this proposed court; but, if there really be such necessity it should be created by adding Tennessee to the fifth circuit and taking Arkansas from the eighth and to it add Louisiana, Texas and probably Oklahoma and with them forming the new circuit"
 Going, then, more into detail, he added:
 T do not like the idea of dividing the territory of states, as Mississippi and Alabama would be divided in this bill. In the formation of such circuits. the states should be dealt with in their en- tirety, as has been the general rule in the formation of circuits, and this rule should not be abrogated in this instance. Nor would the division of Alabama be sat isfactory to my more immediate constitu- ents. as the northern district of Alabama constitutes what is generally known as North Alabama. This would include the territory as far south Tuscaloosa. and while 1t might be convenient for the people in few counties in extreme north Alabama to attend the new court, it would greatly inconvenience all the other people embraced in the proposed district.
 As it is now, all appeals from the va rious courts of the northern district of Alabama are heard at Montgomery. which would be very much more convenient to those interested in appeals from Tusca- loosa, Anniston, Birmingham. Jasper and Gadsden than Memphis would be. In fact, it would be a great inconvenience to them, and would entail very considerable expense, to attend the court at Memphis. While it might be convenient to hear appeals from Huntsville and Florence at Memphis as it would be at Montgomery, still it probaly would inconvenience peo- pie even there to some extent, as they could not attend to any other court busi- ness at Memphis while attending court there, whereas they could look after their supreme court business while attending court in Montgomery
 ''I do not believe that even those in extreme north Alabama would be willing thus to be separated from the balance of the state.
 great many lawyers attend the dis trict courts held at Tuscaloosa, Birming- ham. Gadsden and Anniston. who really are in the middle and southern districts of Ala bama. It would inconvenience them greatly to have their appeals heard in Memphis instead of Montgomery.
 ''l am sure the people of Alabama gem eraly would be opposed to having the northern district thus taken out and sep arated from the balance of the state. am sure the people of Montgomery would oppose the change. Therefore. I feel con- strained to oppose the passage of the bill"
 With tremendous pressure of other business on its hands, it hardly is likely that the Senate will reach this measure for a long time to come.