, 1870-07-04
THE NEXT LEGIBLATURE HOW
ELECTED. :.

The Chicago Times falls into SOME
strange errors and misconceptions respect
ing the sections and provisions of the new
constitution, relating to the apportionmeut
of The first House OF Representatives, in
case the minority representation section is
adopted. It seems to think that the latter
must 70 into effect forthwith, and
that the election of the next House
Of Representatives must conform to it. But
this is mistaken view of tie matter, Us a
little examination must show.
The amendment specifically provides that
'tthree Representatives shall be elected in
each Senatorial District at the general elcc-
ton in 1879, and every two years thereaf-
ter" The reason for postponing the first
election under this section until 1879 is
found in the fact that the State must first
be apportioned into tfty-one Senatorial
Districts by the General Assembly, which
would necessarily carry the first election
under the new system over to
1872. The schedule provides that
IN case minority representation is
adopted by the people, the amendment
shall be substituted for Sections and Of
the Legislative article. But when shall it
be 80 substiiuted2 The section itself
specifies that the first election under it shall
be the general election in 1872, and every
two years thereafter.
Section of the Legislative article pro-
vides that the General Assembly in 1871
shall apportion the State into dfty-one Sen
atorial Districts, each Of which shall elect
one Senator, whose term Of Office shall be
four years, The Senators elected in hose
districts in 1872 bearing odd numbers
shall vucate their Offices at the end Of two
yearH, aud those bearing even numbers at
the end of four years.
Section IS of the schedule points out
very clearly and distinctly that, Immediately
after the adoption Of the new constitution,
the Governor and Secretary shall proceed
to ascertain and fir the apportionment for
members of the first House under this con-
stitution- This must be done on the basis
Of population,-each county having mem
bers in proportion to its relative number OF
inhabitants, as set forth in Sections and
of the Legis]ative article.
Section IA OF the schedule Directs how
those districts are to be numbered, and
provides that no county shall be num-
bered as mora than one district, except
Cook County, which shall constitute three
districts, each embracing the territory con-
tanned in the now-ensting Representative
districts It also provides that on Tuesday
after the first Monday in November, 1870,
the members of the first House under the
new constitution shall be elected according
to the apportionment fixed and announced
as aforesaid, and shall hold their Offices
two years.
Section Is Of the schedule provides TINT
the Senate to be elected this fall shall con-
sist of fifty members-tw from each Of
the existing districts. Where Senator's
term has expired las in the case OF senator
Ward, of the west district Of this county,)
two new Senators are to be elected; but
where Senator holds over {as in the case
of Senator Dore) only one new Senator
shall be elected IN such district The next
Senate may be called the temporary Senate
under the new constitution, and the
next House the temporary House.
It would be impracticable to put the
minority representation plan in operation
this fall, for the reason that tho .1itzy-one
new Senatorial Districts are not and cannot
be created until after the Legislature to be
elected this fall shall assemble and act in
the pre1nisea.- The way to make the whole
mattat perfectly plain and simple is, first,
to consider that the minority representation