Seward daily gateway., 1923-11-24
WILL THE COURT HOUSE BE RE
 MOVED?

The Anchorage Times of November 20, states that that city has formally launched a fight to have the court house removed from Valdez to the City of Brotherly Love Despite it's protestations of recent date, the mem- bers of the chamber of commerce be- lieve that Anchorage should have the court house for several reasons, among which is quoted the loss of pop nlation at Valdez, the expense of hold ing court at Valdez, the increase in business to the merchants of Anchor age by the removal. and last the ex- pense involved in transporting wit nesses and jurors to Valdez, instead of holding a court term where the cases originate, or at the nearest place.
 To the first two indictments, the Gateway believes that it is a matter oi guesswork and not facts. It is true that Valdez has lost population, but it is not certain at this time that An chorage, Seward, or any other town in the Third division will hold its pres ent population long, unless the gov. ernment adopts a policy of develop nent that can be depended upon for longer than month at a time.
 The Gateway cannot see where it would be any cheaper to hold court in Anchorage than it would to hold court in Valdez or Seward or Cordova, un- less the court officials resided there It is merely a matter of the mountain going to Mohamet in either case
 In the third bill of particulars the Times is partly right. While it might not mean the vast sum stated, to have court headquarters in Anchorage, ii would increase her payroll.
 The fourth plea for removal is the one farthest removed from the facts and yet one having the most truth 1T it, paradoxical as thIs may sound The larger part of the cases being tried al Valdez at the present time, are cases emanating from the westward which should have been tried at Seward, ii tried any other place than court head quarters. The three murder cases and the rioting and murder case from KO diak would undoubtedly have beer tried at Seward, had the grand jury Sit at any other place than Valdez. Il it is expensive to go to Vaiuez to court why not move headquarters to Seward A person coming in by boat could transact their business and leave on the same boat, without taking 200 mile railway trip to tie Interior. IT. case railway headquarters are brought back to Seward or the railroad goes down in winter, what chance would court officials have of getting in and out to tidewater.
 Seward has first class Feeder al building large enough to accommo- date all Federal officials. |, is much larger than the present building at Valdez, but has slightly smaller court room. It is three stories in height and a fine structure.
 The court officials themselves are partly to blame for the present agita- ton for removal We believe and have always believed that a term of court should be held in each of the four principal towns of the Third division, with grand jury term in rotation. It is the only fair and equitable way to hold court term. as business men would not be put to the loss of attend ing court at some out of the way town where he is out of touch with his per- sonal affairs. Court headquarters can remain a Valdez, and probably will re- mair. at Valdez, unless the town goes peluk, which improbable. But a court term at each place would cement the friendship of one town for another, as cit ems would not feel they were be- in abbed by being called away from their affairs for weeks at time.