The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-24
SENATORIAL APPoRr1oNMENT.


The democratic minority at Springfield
are strong in their denunciation of the SEN
atorial apportionment proposed by the re-
publican caucus and are fighting it to the
bitter end. They aver, and truly, that the
apportionment will be made in the interests
of the state machine and for the purpose
of increasing the power of John A. Logan.
Friday, Merritt, of Marion, opposed the bill
in the following able speech He said:
To this bill a greater interest is attached
than to any other that could be introduced,
as it is for the purpose of giving party
power in the Legislature of the state. This
is a bill that gerrymanders the state into
districts, not for the peoples interest but
in the interest of politicians. For that rea-
son the minority ought to be heard. 1t is
a question in which all the taxpayers are
interested. 1t is measure to defeat the
people by circuitous routes, cutting out
favorite political ring to be put in power
regardless of the popular voice expressed
four and even two years ago. There is an
aspect in which this bill is not political in
that it concerns neither the republican,
democratic greenback, nor Independent
party. 1t maps off certain territories into
districts entitled to senators and represent
atives who will operate in the next general
assembly and pass the appropriation bills
required by the state. This is why the ma
jority in this body sees fit to combine
against the minority to disfranchise large
portions of the state. uniting counties or
dividing them to accomplish the end in
view. You may say you have a right to
do it, and YOU may claim that because you
were elected by the republican party you
ran ma af he hJ1f I
contend that the republican party in this
country since 1880 has never fairly
represented the country, and the republi-
can party as national party has for
wears been in q minority. Again, your
boosted majority here in Illinois is section
al But, whatever majority you have had,
your action on this bill shows that you are
afraid to trust the people in the future.
They ask why the state taxes have been
constantly increasing since 1860. Says
republican in my county: 'tOur Governor
told US that the Illinois Central railroad
fund, now that the state debt was paid,
was alone sufficient to carry on the state
government. and were told that the state
tax would no longer be a burden" In the
message sent to this bodyb the Governor
at the opening of the regular session, he
said the expenditures of the several depart
ments for the various items of expense
| would be So, 646. 900. There are those
who in their simplicity believe it. I be-
live that was enough, and all that ought to
be appropriated. What did you do? Why,
you sat here the whole winter through, and
appropriated So, $780, 600 Three millions
asked for, and 80 200, 900 given away, and
here you are to-day, and by this bill at
tempting to wither the hand that casts the
popular ballot, and that would speedily
rectify such mistakes as that by electing
| in all your senatorial districts men who
would take better care of the interests of
the people than you have donei Oh you
may laugh; you may smile as il you felt
secure, but when you seek your quiet homes
you will meet your constituents with a
cringe of the slave before his master. and
deny the part you played. While the Gov
ernor claimed that the state tax
would be but a trifie, he said there
was balance of the Illinois Central
railroad fund amounting to $110, 900, which
would be carried to the general revenue
fund; that there was already $13s, 900
overplus of sinking fund, but as there were
some things to be provided for, this $11O,-
600 would GO in to makeup. the $4,000
600 of appropriations. Yes. that was the
sweet morsel that the governor chucked
under the tongues Of the poor voting
devils throughout the state, persuading us
that our state tax was to be reduced. In
1s78the state tax on 500 was just SO 8
cents; in 1879 it was p cents; in 1880,
when some of you were chosen, and when
your governor was elected, it was 36 cents
on 800; but in 1881 we notice the state
tax has jumped up to 48 cents on 500,
being IL per cent more than it was four
years before. I say that it is shame that
the interests of the people should be so
neglected. / mean to denounce no mem
Der of this body, but have in view those
sneaking hypoerites who worship God on
one day and rob the widows and orphans
the other Ska class of men that despise
They come to the halls of this legislature
whining about public charities and great
moral and social reform. Sometimes
they talk temperance, but. while
temperance is on their lips, |
money in what they mean. They are
close listed crew, these hypocrites who
would never. themselves make drunkards !!
because they are too mean TO buy the wIis-
ky, and If they ever do get drunk it would
have to be at somebody e1se's expense. You
want to .electa United States senator here
under this bin to go on and help to confirm
the presidents appointments; and what sort
of appointments are they? Men who fed
the country at the close of Grants second
term; men who shook in their shoes with
judgements over them for defrauding the
public treasury Since Garfield fell and
your stalwart took his place, that base
horde are sneaking forth from their retreats
to take the highest places in the gift Of the