Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-27
MINORITY REPORT
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The undersigned, minority Of the Joint
special committee on ,ne appoi ..".....-...
Of Senators and Delegates, respectfully re-
port that in their opinion the bill reported
BY majority Of the committee, being Sen.
ate Bill No. 22O, "a bill apportioning rep.
rcsentation in the Senate and House Of
Delegates" ought not to pass.
We think the bill ought not to pass be-
cause we believe its provisions violate the
constitution in several particulars, because
the proposed increase in the number OF
Delegates is inexpedicnt, and because the
apportiOnment OF Senators and Delegates,
and the arrangement Of districts In some
instances does marked injustice.
/. The constitution does not warrant any
increase in the number OF Senators or Del.
egates. A msjority Of the committee upon
two votes, one taken q year after
the other. have declared their opinion that
an increase in the number OF Senators Is
unconstitutional, and the copmittee d.
rected that opinion to be expressed in It's
report. These votes are here mehuoheuu'
Us the majority OF the committee nave iaii'
ed to report them. ,, ,ord.
inc W tba nroyisions Of sections 2, 8, =, D,
& 10 and II or article VI. OF the constitu'
tion. These section, are as follows:
2. The senate shall b. composed OF TWEEN.
ty.four- and the House OF l.eiesa'fs e.sa.d .. ia
ty.four members, subject 10 ~ .a;n. N,
according TO the provisions be-. A'
3. Senators shall be elected for the term
OF four years, and Delegates for the term
OF two years. The Senator's first elected
shall divide themselves into two classes,
one Senator from every district being 40.
signed to each class; and Of these classes,
the frst to be designated by lot in such
manner as the Senate may determine,
Shall Hold Their Seats
for two years; and the second. for four
years, so that after the first election. one.
half OF the Senators shall be elected bi-an.
nually.
A. For the election OF Senators. the state
shall be divided into twelve Senatorial dis
tricts, which number shall not be dimin.
ished, but may be increased as hereinafter
provided. Every district shall elect two
Senators, but where the district Is CON-
posed OF more than one country, both
Shall not be chosen from the
same county. The districts shall
be compact, formed OF contiguous territory.
bounded by county lines, and as nearly ~
practicable, equal in population. TO be n.
certained by the census OF the United
States. After every such census. the legis-'
lature shall alter the territorial districts, 30
far as may be necessary 70 make them con-
form to the foregoing provision.
8. For the election OF delegates, every
county containing population Of less than
thres.fifths OF the ratio OF representa-
ton for the House OF Delegates. shall at
each apportionment, be attached 70
some contiguous county or counties, TO
form q Delegate District =.
Z. After every census the Delegates shall
be apportfoned rs follows: The ratios Of
Representation for the House Of Delegates,
shall he sscertained by dividing the whole
population OF the STATE, by the number OF
which the House Is ID. consist, and reject.
from suclf division. Dividing the popuis.
tion of every Delegate District, and
of every county not included In o
Delegate District, by the ratio thus ascef.
tained. there shall be assigned 70 each .
number Of Delegates equal 70 the quonent
obtained by this division, excluding the
fractional remainder. The additional Del.
egstes necessary to make up the number OF
which the House II TO consist, shall then
be assigned TO those Delegate Ustricts- and
counties not included In . Delegate Dis
trict. which would otherwise have
TIE LarEess Fractions UsreDsssesss4.
But every Delegate District and county not
| included in a Delegate District shall b
entitled 10 at least one Delegate.
1 10. The arrangement Of the benstoS1al
and Delegate District, and apportionmcai
| Of Delegates, shall hereafter be declared By
| law, a soon a. possible aftsr each soc
ceeding census taken by authority Of tha
| United States. When 20 declared thsy
shall apply TO the first general election fol
/ ,,.,ry,sx ~ ths I>~islSfure 10 BE there
after held, and shall continue IN torce nm
chsased until such district shall b. alteret
and delegatss apportioned under the sue
cee6ihg census.
IL Additional tsFlitory may b sdmitt.t
into and become pert Of this ssass. wio -
OF the quaii6si votsss of the eoats yett1
On the question. And In such ea1es ps1
vision shall b nads b las. foe ~ ssPss
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