The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-13
Representation In Legislatures.


branch of the Legislature. We have urged
that the number should be considerably in
creased. Below we give statement of the
number Of the senators and representatives in
every State Legislature in the Union, by way
of showing the practice in these different
States.
Congress, under the Articles of Confedera-
ton, was composed of delegates chosen from
each State, not less than two nor more than
seven in number, every State having, however,
but one vote.
The Congress of the Constitution is COM
posed of a Senate consisting of two senators
chosen by the Legislature of each State and Of
a House of Representatives, to consist of such
a number as may be fixed by statute. The re-
preventative number was fixed at first at
thirty thousand, but was enlarged as the
population increased, until 1850, when the
law was passed to fix the number of Tepresen-
tatives at two hundred and thirty-three, with
the addition of representatives from States
newly admitted
In New York the Constitution of l777 pro-
vided for a Legislature, to consist of an Assem-
bly, of at least seventy members, to be chosen
by freeholders worth twenty pounds each, and
taX-paying householders; and of a Senate OF
twenty-four freehoders to be elected by free
holders owning freeholds ofone hundred pounds
each. 1t was further provided that an enume-
ration should be made once in every seven
years, after which there should be a new ap
pointment, adding to or diminishing the num-
Der of senators or members of Assembly when
ever the number of inhabitants would warrant
it. and the number of senators was restricted to
one hundred and of members of Assembly to
three hundred. The Convention of 1901 fixed
the number of senators at thirty-twO and
made the Assembly to consist of one hundred,
which might be increased, as the population
would warrant to one hundred and fifty.
The Constitutions of 1921 and 1916 fixed the
number of senators at thirty-two and of mem
bers of-Assembly at one hundred and twenty
eight. Thus it will be seen that we have
gone backwards from early times.
In Alabama the General Assembly consisted
of House of Representatives, chosen bien-
nially, one hundred in number apportioned
on the basis of white population, and of a
Senate comprising not less than One-fOurth
nor more than one-third the number of repre-
sentatives, holding Office four years, half to 60
out every second year.
In Arkansas the General Assembly consisted
of a House of Representatives,, elected every
year, and to number not less than twenty-five
nor more than one hundred, as determined by
apportionment of white population; and of a
Senate composed of members to be chosen
every four years, to consist of not less than
seventeen nor more than thirty y-three mem
bers, as determined by apportionment of white
population, half to go out of office every
second year.
In California the Constitution provides that
members of Assembly shall not number loss
than twenty-four nor more than thirty-siX
until the number of inhabitants amounts to
one hundred thousand, when they are to be
apportioned so that the whole number shall
never be less than thirty nor more than
Tho OuDobar of Senators must not be
less than one-third nor more than one-hali
| that of members of Assembly.
In Connecticut the Senate has not less than
eighteen nor more than twenty-four members,
chosen annually; and the House of Represen
tatives has two hundred and thirty-seven
members, chosen by towns, every town having
| one, and the larger towns two or more.
In Delaware the Senate is chosen for foul
years, three from each county, and the House
of Representatives is elected biennially, an0
has seven members for each county, regard
less of population. There are three counties
and Newcastle has as large population a;
both the others.
In Florida the Senate numbers twenty mine
and the House ffty-nine members.
Georgia has tOrty-tour Senators and ont
hundred and sixty nine members in the House
elected biennially.
In Illinois the Senate has twenty-five mem
bers, and the House seventy five, elected bien
nially, by districts.
In Indiana the Senate is not to exceed fifty
and the House one hundred, elected and meet
ing biennially.
In Iowa the Senate must not exceed fifty
nor the House one hundred, appOTtiOnet
among the counties; no representative distric
to contain more than four counties; and ever.
county or district having more than half tn
number required for a representative to b
entitled to one additional
In Kansas the House has seventy-fve mem
bers, chosen for one year, and the Senate hfty
five, elected biennially.
In Kentucky the House is chosen biennially
and has one hundred members, and the Senat
has thirty-eight members, holding for tou
years.
In Louisiana the House has one hundre
} and eighteen members chosen biennially, ant
the Senate thirty-siX, holding for four years.
In Maine the House has one hundred an
fty-one members, chosen annually; and tn
Senate not less than twenty nor more tha
: thirty-one.
} In Maryland the House has at present eight
, members, and the Senate has one member 70
each county, and three for Baltimore, twenty
} four in all.
In Massachusetts, the Senate is composed q
, forty members, and the House two hundre
and forty, chosen annually.
In Michigan the Senate has thirty-two mem
0 bers, chosen bennially, and the House has nc
less than siXty-tour nor more than one hun
5 dred, chosen biennially by single districts
i Minnesota has one senator for five thousan
inhabitants and one representative for ever
: TWO thousand The present number is thirty
seven senators and eighty representatives.
In Mississippi each county has represents