The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-26
in TWO DISTRICTS
Talk Of Dividing Federal Court
Plan I'm Kansas.
Wichita Would HarbOr Off
cialS of One Territory.

A bill to divide Kansas into two fed
eral judicial districts on a line running
from west to east and providing for
the necessary judge. marshal court
clerks and assistants is likely to find
it's way into congress at it's next ses-
sion through the hands of Congressman
William Ayres, the Wichita man who
has been selected to represent the
Eighth district when Victor Murdoch
retires. The city of Wichita is behind
the proposed measure on the theory
that if it is passed the court head
quarters will be established there.
While Ayres has made no formal
announcement of his intentions it is
outlined in the belief that the new
Democratic congressman will be able
to get favorable attention with it at
Washington. Wichita has long been
dreaming of the day when it could have
federal court all its own. or chiefly
so, and cease TO be whistling sta
ton on the circuit which the Kansas
judge of the United States district court
makes when he rounds up the Judicial
business of the state. If it's dream
should come true Wichita believes the
court would make that city its official
residence.
From time to time the idea of split
ting the Kansas district comes up for
discussion and the state is theoret-
ically divided in some direction for
the accommodation of two sets of
judicial officers. But the north and
south division has been rejected by
most of the theorists because of the
impOssibility Of moving court from
Salina to Garden City or Wihcita
without coming as far east as Topeka
to make comfortable railroad connec-
tons. That is said to have been Sen
ator William H. Thompson's idea. but
it failed to receive the endorsement of
his Democratic colleagues. They have
held that if there must be division
it should follow the railroad lines.
For Railway Convenience.
Since the only good cross-state rail-
road connections are those to be made
from east to west, 1t follows that one
of the districts would have to embrace
the Rock Island-Union Pacific terri
tory in the north half of Kansas while
the other followed the Santa Fee and
Rock Island lines Of the south half and
extended east to include Fort Scott.
This would mean no economy in mile
age for court business as court liti-
gants, attorneys and witnesses would
! have to travel just as far under such
redistricting as they do now. 1t would
divide the business of the court, which
is very heavy and tighten the load now
carried by John C. Pollock, who is
| UuSy JuuBe
| At present the federal court sits at
Kansas City, Leavenworth, Topeka ard
Fort Scott, and maintains offices in
each place with q clerk and deputy
ma rshal in charge. Under the division
it has been assumed that the northern
division OF Kansas would have court
sessions at Kansas City. Topeka and
| Salina. cutting ont Leavenworth:
while the southern division would hold
court at Fort Scott, Wichita and per-
haps Garden City. The dividing line
would run about midway Of the length
| of the state.
All to Topeka.
| Viewing the matter from a standpoint
| OF strict economy Topeka attorney
characterized the whole idea OF dividing
| kasas as mistaken and took the reverse
position OF proposing that instead of hav-
ing the court and lawyers travel about
could save money by making everybody
bring their business to Topeka. Mileage
allowances TO Witnesses would be about the
| same in any case. the average while
the expense allowances made to cour.
| employees and federal attorneys could be
cut on. BY holding court at the same
place all the year round considerable time
and -rouble in moving court records from
place to place would be saved and there
| would be no interruptions for travel.
But Topeka isn't expecting any such
arrangement to be made said the local
observer ''Tnc rest of the state, and par
ticularly the towns that now have court
sessions wouldn't stand for IT.