New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-25
REAPPORTIONSiENT.

REAPPOI.llONSlENI.
| THE RESOLUTION CALLED UP INsTRUCUNG THE
| COMMITTEE on APPoRTIoNMENT TO REPORT
WITHIN THIRTY DAYs-TIE OPINION OF The
| ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUESTED AS TO TIE
| POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
IRON A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUEE.I
ALBANY, Jan. 81 The power Of the cities
IN the Legislature has been increasing for years
II natural that the farmers of the State should be re-
uctant surrender any Of their present great power 10
shape legislation to their liking; but the Constu
ton of the State expressly provides that census o. the
State shall be taken every ten years. and that upon the
result the there shall be rcapportionment OF
the Senate aad Assembly Dstrcts-and the greater rate
OF increase population in the cities he's hitherto given
them at each reapporonment greater number OF rep
resentaves in the Legislature. The last census was
taken in 1915 and the Legislature OF 1870 ought 10 nave
reapportoncd the Legislative districts But II Jailed 10
do so the bill being los ~ the Assembly for the lack OF
one vote The Legislature of 1877 failed to do its
work. Last year the Apportionment Committees
were OF both Houses very diiatory IN Set
ting to wOrk,-inleed the Assembly Commit
tee did not meet till the last week OF the session
and then held only one meeting. Meantime tho clerks
AMI messengers OF these committees had drawn thelr
pay-amouutiug 20 over $1,000
The present As,..nbiy is evidently IN different mood
about this 'ur, dgng from Its acton to-day con-
oeIning IT, Brooks several days ago proheied
resolution ms net the Committee on Apportlonment
to report an aIpOr Unmont bill within Thirty days To-
day he called p TINS resolution and earnestly urged lis
adoption by tie assembly. lie read the commands OF
the Constitution respecting appointment and de-
| scribcd the omissions Of provons Legislatures Mr.
fish at the CONCLUSION OF Mr. Brooks's speech offered
the following subotuie for the atter's resolution:
whereas rac 4la section % ne Sd Article of the Con-
sfitntion c ih- state contains tne following language:
al enumeration ii tie inhabitants OF tho sato shall be
taken unicr tie rcci'ou OF the Legislature IN The
year -, and G end Of every ten years thereafter
and Inc aid disri, - ,l Dr also altered by tGc Legis
alnro The inst a'cT the return Of oNoly emu
| mclatO !" ana
HHerecs the Legislature neglected. TO slter the dis
ricts at tie tine mentil in ne Constitution; aud
CfcJeag, great difference opinion exists ~ go The
rg1t present Legislature 30 aPPorton the state;
Il, ,irti That ,he Attorney h. respectfully
req stca furnish to TINS Assembly his opinion as TO
ne ght D! Tie present L'-AiaIue 10 apuOFu0h TIE
MI Alvord said that he hal grave doubts whether the
present legislature had the power to make opporon
mcnt TIE Constitution must DC Interpreted literally ;
II was dangerous to leave that path Ii SAID that Tie
appol onnent must Re made cat the first session after
the return OF every cndue-atIOn." He had no Io-
Utjcal feeling regarding the matter lie would
assure Mr. Brooks that after the opinion
of Attorney General schoonmaker was obtaiueG II
thai opinion declared the Legislature had the power
TO mako al spport iOEnent the Committee on Appoft"n-
men, would report within thirty days lie dd think
IL pruIrr ,Aiug for tho Assembly ~ nstfuct com
rnittee rs 20 it. duties lie would move that bodi n
solution and substitute DO tabled; and that would
move the previous question. The voting tacI began
MI Grady Democrat. when hs called, said
that laying the matter on bo table would surely not
hiring line onni,n OF the Attorney General whicn DR.
Alvord Prof sse 20 acHtly desire Tie Legislature
mos, assurcdly lad the sLt to make an appogolnent
and did not need the opinion OF the Attorney General
H. would vote mo"
NJ Hepburn Republican, said re hrm'y believed that
the present Legislature had tho power to ma~o ah ap
porlionment II. best would serve the Republican party
who would do Wat vas right he "oui therefore, No'e
no"
ar shea1d Il publican said thAt he was new mem
her ard desired iht on question. Tnblng both sub
stute and alton did not let N the hight lie would
therefore, vote NO"
Mr. skinner Republican, said that he believed it to be
the right aud day OF the Legislature 10 make hn appo-
tionment lie would vote " No.
Mr. Beard LABOR re .OFmor sid that he did not know
how The apportounent was going TO affect BIS party II
II would incrrzSc the numbers Of his party In the next
Lcdsa. ure H. was ccrtsnly in favor ~ rca?porton
,ncut H. .hoad vote NJ" on >Ir. Alyoris notion.
MI Daly, Aut,-rammany Democrat said the sense OF
tie nouartsau voters Of TIE state was Ia favor OF ~
amor onnca 1t the sw0in duty Of the members
Of this Leg sl4ture to make 4 reipportoIment Equity
and the sense Of iairply demanded that the Lpgisln
lure should make .eaPYOrtionncnt.
M4ssfs GILBERT Dsry and Rowland. all Republicans.
90 n I'D voi.d I'm favor Of Mr. A.,ord'5 motion table,
changed hclr votes to the negative bcfor" II was M
nourcrd The motion rejected by vote OF - ayes
Nj Broofs then said that he would make his s0lu-
ION leg, harsh bg substituting Tie word request" in
stead OF iustiuct the committee TO report within
thirty dave. to refer the matter 10 tho
, ATTORNEY Ut neral.
Mr. Fish said he surprised at Mr. 6fooks's oppos
ton 10 reference VI the matter To the Attorney Sen
rrnl member Of TIE AppOrtOumcnt Crnlittee he
desired such an opinion before beginning work Perhaps
Mr. Brooks would noe Ike the AgpOrjiOnment Bill when
| IL was reported.
sir Brooks then sad that he would accept Mr Iis's
substitute.
ur Avnri said that lie had grave doubts last year
whether Legislature had the po"er u mar, an APP
por.Ionment. The present AttOrney-GenCra, Wien a
ncnbr OF the Senate, had RiB ana again declared that
the mower make reBppOrtonIuent had passed away
from the egIsature with the Legislature II 1879. lie
proposed give the Ne pie Of the state an aipOrtion
| .eIt bill at early part OF the ecssion
Mr Fish moved the previous question, when his
subsute and nr. BrOVkss resolution were passed "
liIInu