New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-18

Of the State by the Legislature, rs nearly as may
be, according 10 the number OF their respective na5s
tcts The first apporOnment shall be made at the nrst
session Of the Legislature after the adoption Of TINS Con-
stuon. The several Boards Of Supervisors IN such
counties may be entitled to more than one nenDcr,
upon sneh apPSItohment sha a.ot th e' reertjye
counties into Assembly Districts equal 10 the number OF
by such appOronmen and shall to he filed ~ i4e
offices OF the Secretary Of State, and OF the CLERKS OF
Their respective counties. description OF sucD Assem-
bIy Districts specifying the number Of each District
and the population thereof according To the last pr
ceding State enumeration as near as can DE
Each Assembly District shall contanas nearly asmay De
an equal number Of inhabitants, excluding Aliens ana
shall consist OF convenient and contiguous territory;
hui no town shall be divided in the formation of sueh
Districts The Legislature at MS nrst session aller ns
return Of every enumeration, shan ascertain the hupel
OF members of Assembly ana appofIOn lneih "onS "a
several counties OF the state IN me tinoI ~ w.
and the Boards OF Supervisors in sch countries rs DIZZY w
entitled under such reapportlonment 10 more tnn 9
member shall assemble at such tune as sa Se
by law, and divide such counties INTO hSsen,' ~
I'm the manner herein directed; ana nc ,aP,
portiOnment and Districts so 10 ~ in.uo Sh"ii
remain unatered until an0ther ehumcI ,a IL,
be taken under the provisions OF the PIeetns .In
Every county shah be entitled 70 one leInpcr " bil
bly,, except that the counties OF Fulton ana alut1 70 I
elect togeherunl the population OF tc - m ,a,ber
No county shall be erected unless JUS pop'ioh S
entitle II to q member -. ,r, o.;
tuition Of 1871 provided that the Assembly shoI SoSe
OF not less than 10 members and might be increased M
amendments OF 1901 liked the number III lvo' VIZ,
a provision FOR their increase ny a certain Iau'
her nj I1s which has since been unchanged.
The population Of the state in 1850 was 25sss. odd
one OF the great fundamental ideas of American poty Is
that the Legislature should consist OF two bodies one OF
which, being numerous than the Othel, should PIT
mary represent the people, aud the nearer COMES 10
the people and the more directly II emanates rom Ie'
the in accordance IT is with republican ior h
government Snch 4 body stands in the place ana stead
Of the peOple-it theoretically and practically repre-
Der of these Is the first instance, arbitrary bu Ie
larger it the more nearly it represents the people M
number should fairly represent the population, ana sun
not be so large as to prevent or intefig %i'" AS
pnnlaon Increased the number should increase mp to
The limit Of availability. II 1913 was the night number III
S, il sbould bc increased now matter of right un-
& there is some good reason for not doing The only
objection TO it that know of is that larger hhDfr MI
interfere with proper transaction OF business IL ls
time IN fact The House OF Commons, IN Great BrltMn
Is composed OF over 800 members The legislative Douy ~
France was composed OF 267 members prior TO 1853 ana
has $50 members and in Italy 443 Inc hoae OF IVpe
sentotiyes of the United States has pa mebers the
lower House in Massachusetts, 90 Connecticut 257 In
all these eases and others that might be ced tele '
been no difficulty m transactng business. II seems 10
me therefore that we can safely provide for an increase
OF the Assembly graduated ny the increase vi P'l.
on and We can ao wants %th and 1e FEELINGS call for t.
Many consider that larger body wiz he less iaoe 70
| aTy motives All shades OF opinion or interest VIII
| stand better chance of being represented III .
| larger body than in small one Ny idea II 10 ny
down or establish rule OF principle winch VII hhlI ..
/ expansion that the Constitution IN that ItSpe.t'
| viii not need remOdciEg every decade. a run u
preferred TO fixed number inasnuch ~ IL VIII do justice
10 future increase and follows the precedent OF me Con
stuton Of the United states, as Wen as o9 taei 1
stitutions The ratio Of to 10000 representative pOpua
tion commends itself by its adaptation 10 te s1 t
counties, aud it will produce gradual increase ll, .ne
present number. This ratio will give now q. memDsIs
ana in 1875 about 200, but think the numbers should
never exceed 250 Members OF the AsstlHpi9 S"""i1 "
| elected by single districts as now, because; - d.
| l. No change has been called for in that respect
by the people or s needed by the necessities OF the
| times Prior to 1916 the people had elected Dy
counties, as now pIolosea ever sg g co,yinc"S
the experience Of seventy Years bh con, tIS' i
them OF the necessity OF single districts IN order 10 attain
an 1d Se Sre & ARE ogeher the
aud divided is the feeling Of responsibility the less
Q The people are more nearly represented, their feel
ings and views more exactly expressed whether law.
are local or general each locality may have us ptcnne
views, be peculiarly Affected, ana they nave isht
have ~ direct expression of their views - possible
OF the representation OF mlnores - an lmortah 1e
aud attracting universal attention. AZ WI, d'
it, prOpriety and justice IN Il representative iuil "
government II is not partisan question: hismu'h ~
the party in the majority tis year may ne III INC iio,
that will be practical in lis operations ana understood
by and accep able 10 the people me lnheno.s 'hSVe
system than u His fear ut Tie tyranny o ma
ioities has not much foundation IN iact WIN Us stl y
Is our duty To afford every facility possible Tor tho proper
cIen. Tl" nropofon that any one rece wing certain
nunlber Of votot Wherever in the state they may he
east is intended 10 accomplish tins result hut VIII
il do this +! II the people act spontaneously. mat
! Is without concert or agreement in the select;
| ion OF their candidates, Their number VIII
undoubtedly be large and but few Of the more known on
popular win get the required number or votes Ana
Then In determining which of those receiving less num-
ber shall 20 to III up the necessary number OF the egs
otyc BODY as much Injustice may be done 10 minores
rs would De i'm any other system II, 10 aV0h TINS, ph
H erm1cd ON It's Would lead inevitably 10 the Comfy
state invention. which should N or nominate the can
ddates for the several localities TINS result wou9 NOT
Imagine be satisfactory ITS evils would overbalanee
any good that might arise rom p. by me
| cumulative system, recommended by Ar. MIL any
! eector, in case more than ONE member was
10 be elected in the district, instead OF putting on
10 his ticket several names might vote fOf one h NJ
that IL would count for him as many as thee were mem
beers to be elected aud thus cumuate the vote OF ms IA
vone candidate. This, Of course, would allow arge
minority to choose OF the members, and would to
that extent be beneficial Taking into account however
the habits of our people II is doubtful whether an hno
walton of this kind would be advisable II the eHd can be
| approximately reached by any other way As mat
ter OF fact, IninOues, as whole, have always been
fairly repre- sented in the lower House, much mere 80
than In the Senate resulting entirely rom the less SIZE
OF the districts. Retain the feature OF single districts
together with the privilege any district OF choosing
citizen living in any portion OF the state ana mink aS
much will be accomplished toward representing mluofl'
| ties as would be by any other plan. ,,
Another advantage OF single districts Is that nonna
zeal reeences In every large county its political cen
ter there party power that would in great measure
control Nominations IL made at one time ana pace LOT
| the whole county This is not right 10 the mass OF
| the people, especially in electing the mere nu-
se1tS tbem u Il no answer to this to say
| If true (Which deny, that better men might or
would be usually chosen The same principle might leave
il TO State convention, or TO an Albany or New YORK re-
gency TO choose all our officers Inc question u.s. now
press their ownAYiews by themselves and not through
any sclfapp0nted guardians or political managers NE
is more important in view OF the ac that the senate by
the plan proposed is placed farther from the peoPe
and will be more conservative and independent body
We should not retrograde in This mater me lnel.
renee OF the people be safely trusted Improper
nominations are made the remedy OF dsregardng them
can be more eectualy applied and better men be more
All OF which is respectfully submitted
" NJ II. MERwIN.
Mr. DEvELIN Dem, New-iorD called up the resoll-
ton offered by him yesterday calling upon the Controller
OF the CITY OF New York for information concerning mon
eys donated by the city to religious and charitable mst
tutiOns from is47 10 the present time.
Mr. GREELEY desired information as to tho cost OF
such inquiry; since he had been informed that there were
A number OF bills for similar inquiries already sent IN 10