The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-31
Last Nights Dispatches.
gpringer's Apportionment Plan
Times Special Telegram.
THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION

Times Special Telegram
THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
WAsHIsGFoS Dec. 20. 9.-Superintendei
Walker of the census bureau. says tn
he will be ready by the last of this wee
to give TO the press a complete stateme'
OF the census of all the states. III
Springer will then prepare an apportioi
ment bill on the basis OF 293 members
the house. the same number now provide
by law. The ratio of representation wi
be obtained by diyiding the whole popula
tion of the United States by 293. Fac
state will be entitled to the number {
members whish will result from dividin
the population of the state by the quotieu
thus obtained. States having the larges
fractions will be entitled to an additions
mem ber until the whole number Of 393 i
reached. Mr.. Springer says it is possibi
that
SOME DIFFICULTY
may be found IN arriving at the numbe
which shall compose the house of repre-
sentatives during the next decade. If
when the total of 293 shall have beel
reached. two, three, or four large state
have fractions nearly emitting them to a,
additional mem Der, such states may com
bine in favor OF an increase of the number
OF representatives What will be the con
dition can only be determined after the
population OF all the states is ascertained
Mr.. Springer says he will also embrace il
his bill provision to secure
| MINORITY REPRESENTATION.
My plan,' Mr.. Springer said, will re.
quire states to be divided into districts in
| each of which three members will be
elected. as far as possible. States having
| one and two members must elect them
upon the old plan. Using this diyisor
| of three in all states entitled to more
then seven members, where fraction OF
two is found there will be one district
that will elect Ave members. Where
there is fraction of one there will be one
district in which one member only will be
elected. On the present plan, where
three members are to be elected each
voter will be entitled to cast but two votes
or vote for but two candidates. In dis
tricts of FIVE, three candidates will be
voted for by each elector. This will secure
ln districts of three one, and in districts of
five two members who will be elected by
the largest minority party in the district. +"
Why not adopt
THE CUMULATIVE SYSTEM
which is now in operation in Illinois, giving
three votes to each elector in a distriet?'
was asked.
Il admit" Mr. Springer replied. that
theeumalRtive system approximates most
nearly to perfect minority representation,
but at the same time it is eutiect to some
very serious objections Then temptation
to corrupt voters where three votes can be
obtained by one purchase is much greater
in the cumulative system. and it is almost
impossible for votos to be divided between
candidates on the same ticket. This OBJ
lection has come under my observation
several times in this way: Two capdi
dates are nominated by each of the politi-
cal parties in closely divided district.
Pumping VOTES
for local interest on one of the candidates
freqently makes such disparity between
candidates on the same ticket that the
elects both its candidates. Thus. In many
instances, by an unequal division
of votes of the majority. the minority
succeeds in elec,ing a majority of the
This, think. is very
grave objection, ard it has frequently
happened within my observation, What [
desire to accomplish is majority represen-
tation. and not an uncertain cumulation
and scattering Of votes, which frequently
permits minority rule with msjority re-
The cumulative system
would be
IMPRACTICALE.
10 districts where five members are to be
elected In such districts every system
should provide for the election of a ma
iority of members TO represent the ms
iority party. La districts of FIVE the ma
lority party would desire TO vote fer three
mem bers. but how scould Eve votes be
equally divided between three members
and the ticket SO printed as to give each
candidate his proportion of votes? It
would be impossible to do this; hence, |
should the cumulative system be adopted. |
there could be NO district except thoss in
which three members should be elected. |
1t has been. however, proposed that in
large districts each elector should have as
many votes as they were mem bers TO elect
and that smaller minorities could thus be
repre- sented: but it seems to- me. that this
would throw the whole matter into great
confusion, Oue of the greatest benefits |
anticipate from adoption of the minority
system in the election of representatives
in congress is that which resulted from the
system in Illinois-namely.
DESTRUCTION OF sEcTIoNALIsM,
Nothing would so tend TO aiiay seelpDal
anmosities or prtjudices between the
north and south as would the election OF
twenty or forty Republican membe from
the southern states, and increase of the
Democratic representation from northern
states to that extent. Tiere are many
who advocate the breaking up of the
solid north. Minority representation will
most assuredly effect that result
"Will you succeed in passing your
measure?"
Il can not say that | am sauguine of
the success of the measure at this time.
but look to the future for that enlightened
public sentiment which will secure to
minorities in both national and state
legislatures just representation"
TIE EFFECT IN ILLINOIS.
''How would your system affect
Illinois2"
''lf Illinois should be entitled to eigh-
teen members under the new apportion-
ment. the state would be divided into six
districts, and, as Republican legislature
would make the districts. the probabilities
are that four of the districts would be
Republican and two Democratic. In the
four Republican districts the Republicans