The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-02-12

discretion in making the apportionment,
since The constitution makes it impera-
tive that it shall be made on the basis OF
the last census A certified copy OF the
last enumeration has been obtained from
the United States Marshal, and has been
strictly adhered to in making the appor-
tionment as represented in the accom-
panying bill |
The census taken under the authority |
of the United States, for this State, as
certified by the United States Marshal
and the Secretary Of State, the authority
ON which ne have acted, makes the total
population Of the State seven hundred
and twenty eight thousand eight hum
<lrcd and sixty. '''' -
Article twenty-one of the constitution
require that "a representative number
sl,sll be fixed, md each parish and repre-
sentative shall have as n,any Representa-
4iyes az the number Of its total popula-
ton win entitle it to have, and an addi-
tiond Representative for any portion ex-
cceting ohe-hnlf the representative num-
ber." This article nlso provides that the
number Of Representatives shall never
exceed one hundred and twenty, nor less
than ninety" .'' 90 '''
At the time the constitution Of 1868
was adopted, there were forty-eight par
isles in this State. and the constitution
apportioned one hundred and one Repre-
sentatives to these parishes. Since then
there have been Eve new parishes created
and organized, and under article twenty
each parish is entitled to ut least one Re
preventative, and those new parishes are
now represented in the General Assem-
bly, although under article twenty-five
Of the constitution II il very doubtful
whether they can legally be 80 repsesen-
ted until an apportionmcnt is made. 80
there is at present one hundred and six
Representatives in the Houce Of Repre-
aaptat;ves. .sf.il no H
Our first object was to decide on a re-
preventative number that would fix the
number Of Representatives Mt some NUM-
her between ninety and one hundred and
twenty, that, in our Judgment, would
cause the people to be as equally repre-
scented as possible; as exact equality in
this respect is not possible under the
constitution, it can only be approxims-
tive. +.
Il vas thought Tint the number Of Re
representatives. should be fixed at one hun
ana fifteen, and representative number
should be fixed to attain this point. 4
exactly equal representation under tho
oosastitution was possible. this number
suuad be fixed by dividing the total pc
pulation, seven hundred and twenty-eigh'
thousand eight hundred and sixty. b.
ono hundred and fifteen, which woult
make the representative number; but in
ssmuch as fifteen parishes would have I
srasller number of population than thi
and each parish being entitled to ut lens
one Representative, it il obvious tina
this rep. o entat;ve number, when we tax
unto consideration that any fraction owe
one-haN thereof would ontitle parish h
m additional Representative. that TIN
representative number would produce
greater number Of Representatives thal
would be Indicated by the quotient q
the total population divided by this mum
ber.lt.Ina .pEei .tt aIiis lt
Your Committee thought it best {
adopt the number 1000 rs the repres
cntatives number. which will produce On
hu,,ilretland fifteen Representatives whe
divided as contemplated by the constitu
tion.Io0 uo 81.i) 3ai 81
We submit herewith statement OF on
calculations on the subject. ID L
SENATORIAL DIsTRICra
Article twonty -nine Of the constitutiO
fxed the number Of Senators ct thirty
six, and article thirty provides that Il
all apportionments Of the Senate til
total popuiation Of the State shall b
divided by the number thirty-six, and Ii
result produced by the division shall +
the senatorial ratio, emitting senator's
district to o Senator" This article ar
provides that single or contiguor
parishes shall be formed into distric