Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-03-17
The Apportionment Objection Consid
cred

cred.
Among all the objections urged by
the writer's in response to the Union's
questions in regard to the constitution
adoption for Washington, only one
seems to us to have any real force, to-
wit: The apportionment for tho first
legislature under the new state, as not
adapted to the present distribution of
population. Delegate Brents has also
called attention to this in a letter to
US which we publish to-day. This OBJ
lection, though made only to the
schedule of the constitution and not
the body of that instrument needs
consideration. We cannot fully &C
cord with the views of Mr.. Brents as
to the force this objection would have
in defeating the admission of the state
provided the people Of the section to
DO admitted prefer to come in under
the apportionment and rely upon the
first legislature making one that will
conform more to the distribution of
population at the time that legislature
meets, than to hazard a delay and the
expense of new convention and re-
submission to the vote of the people.
It is not to be presumed that any leg
islature under the present apportion-
ment will choose two senators from
either the east or west side of the
Cascades, but will chose one from each
Neither is it to be presumed judging
from tho increased republican vote for
delegate at the last election, that leg
islature will he chosen that will be
more favorable to the choice of dem
ocratic senator than it is at the pres
emit time. Hence the question of the
senatorship for the first term would
not be materially changed by new
apportionment. But the question of
senatorship as to who shall among all
our competent men fill the position is
not Of so much moment to the people of
the territory as the question of early adj
mission with the North Idaho hounda-
ries included, and not of so much mo-
mont to the people generally as it may
be to the new who may be aspirants
for these positions. But we appre-
bend that If the state is early adj
mitted under the present constitution
even with this defect of apportion-
ment in the schedule, the people will
ace to it that legislature be chosen
who will not do the people injustice in
the choice Of senator's, nor will they do
tho people any serious injustice in any
other respect before u new legislature
will Be elected. Mr.. Brents expresses
himself as standing pat on the includ-
ing Of North Idaho in the boundaries
OF the state in any event, whether nm
der the present constitution or in an
enabling act for new one. In this
respect we might rest content were
there not other influences at work in
Idaho and elsewhere over which Mr..
Brents might not have control, that
might defeat North Idaho's wish were
there delay and new constitution
framed by convention, some of whose
members might be against us. We
have had little experience among
these constitution makers, and found
that among them were to be met men
Of much ingenuity in trying to shape
things to suit their personal ambition
regardless Of the rial demands of the
people. We had rather take the pres
ent constitution as it is with all the
faults in the apportienment and rel J
upon tho FIRST legislature to make It
conform to the population then exist.
ing, than to hazard the chances of de
teating the state with the N-rth Ida
DO boundaries. In saying this we bu,
echo the sentiment Of nearly all tho
North Idaho population, and while VIZ
10 not assume to speak for the people
ct Washington. yet from all we ear
gather OF the sentiment of the people
We are inclined to believe that NOR,