The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-03-09
THE TWO AHPORTTONNENT
BILLS.

1HE TWO AHPORIIONMENT
BILLS.
The Republican leaders in the late
Legislature have reason to be ashamed
OF themselves. They delayed the intro
duction of the legislative apportionment
bill and the congressional apportion-
ment bill until the last days of the ses-
sion.
They gerry-mandered the state in the.
Legislative apportionment bill so as to
increase the republican majority about
twenty votes on joint ballot; they crea-
ted democratic districts with eighteen
and twenty thousand population; and
republican districts with five and eight
thousand population; Notwithstanding
the fact that the constitution of the State
declares that representation shall be
equally distributed on the basis of pop
ulation." The bill was referred to the
republican committee on the judiciary,
and was reported back with a statement
that it was clearly unconstitutional! An
attempt was then,made to create a new
apportionment, and here again they
proposed to create democratic districts
with. about twenty thousand population,
and republican districts in the northern
part of the State with about thirteen
thousand. The honest Republicans in
the senate were disguised and rebelled.
and at last, about twelve o'clock at night,
the senate adjourned. We quote the
Pioneer-Press's description Of the scene:
AGENERAL BREAKUP.
The motion to adjourn was put by viva
voce vote, and while Messrs. langdon and
Giltllan were calling for the ayes and noes, as
had been tn. practice all the evening, Mr..
Armstrong, the acting. president announced.
''1he ayes have It, the Senate stands ad-
journed!'
ln.an instant, as if by some grand precon.
certed action, the Senate broke up into con-
fusion. While the republican majority, who
had no more thought Of adjourning than they
and indignation, the democratic majority, who
for some time previously had showed their
teeth rather viciOusly, and had openly threat.
ened that they would see to it that no appor-
tionment bill should get through this winter.
broke out into loud peals Of laughter and al.
iIiosI "cHt !uto sPdctuo w OelIgnt. ABOVE the
din the loud and uncomfortable laughter Of Mr..
Doran reverberated through the chamber: NJ.
Archibald ran around and struggled violently
to suppress his bursting emotions OF iollity.
and tried TO shake hands with everybody be
met. Mr.. Macdonald first laughed spasrnodieal-
ly; and then he danced on his heel and toe
and threw his head back to enable his chest to
give full vent to tbs ebullitions Of ioy that
welled forth; Mr.. Donnelly's fat sides auiv.
cred and he looked as happy and mischievous
as an exaggerated Santa Claus; Mr.. Hill and
Mr.. Mc1overn found comfort in each others'
arms, and all the rest on the south side of the
house looked happier than language can de-
scribe.
But how shall we describe the looks and
feelings Of the outwitted and badly -treated
majority that had welded its twentv-three
votes with force and unity and precision
that won admiration for its silent and majes-
tic poweri As soon as the fact was appreci-
ated in its entirety, Mr.. Yale's smile vanished
and 50 did he; Mr.. Gilfllau. drew his hat down
over his eyes and assumed the position OF
statue Of grief; Mr.. LangdOn stood transfxed
in the aisle Just a. he stood when he had
called for the ayes and noes, and looked very
much as II he would like 70 throw some5ody
out Of the south-side windows; Mr.. Graves
looked like his name, and smiled very much
As II he had > tad case Of cramps; K. Nelson
began to look around for his rubbers, Is il he
wanted to get away from that boisterous and
dis0roer5y scene. The matnrify. however Of
that 0Utgenefalled majority slowly and sadly
wenaed their way 10 the cloak rooms and1stfll
more sadly wendeda their way 70 their little
boarding house beds.
The Congressional aPpogtionment bill
WAS equally unfortunate. Il passed the
senate swimmingly. Il added 1900 Re
publican votes to the ID Congressional
district, 80 - to deprive the Opposition
Of any cAance Of carrying it. But the
men who had il in charge failed to have
| It read the second time on tho lst inst. :.
and hence had 10 ask on the I'd inst, TO-
have the rules suspended to give it two
readings- This required . two-thirds
vote and a. the entire Opposition voted
no, this could not be obtained. The re-
publicans were furious. They threat
ened al one time to step all the appro-
| priatinn bills. but the Opposition were
| ;nflexible and so the bill went the way Of
| all fiesh.
We doubt il there Is another case on
record where political party, with .
clear majority 10 both branches Of the
Legislature. has permitted itself to be
outgeneralled and controlled by the mi-
roritv. on two such important political
measures as the Legislative and congress
s;onal apportionment bills Il is "a good
| joke on Dennis9