The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-05-26
LEGISLATIVE APPORTIoNMENT.


sentation that the Territory shall be reap
portioned. The county of Silver Bow ha
10 representation, and as q matter of fac
has not had any legally since the Division
Bill took effect. There are also eastern
communities entitled to representation In
the Legislature which now have none, ant
under the provisions of the latest act o
Congress there is revision necessary In thu
old counties. The rapid shifting of popula
ton In new States and the Territories, ant
especially where mining industries are promi
nent, renders frequent changes necessary
and probably la none other Is this so evident
as In Montana. The last Legislature ad
journed without an apportionment having
been made. There Is some clamor about
this fact. Had II been made then fairly
the representation would not have been faiI
now. There has been demand from some
quarters for an extra session to apportion, OF
ali apportionment by Congress. Both de-
mands are absurd. The members from Flor
ida, Texas and Maine, are not likely we'll
informed as to the facts to be considered and
an extra session Of our Legislature, three of
which failed to apportion, involves great eb-
stacles II not impossibilities - the prior
appropriation Of sufficient money to pay the
expenses, the call by the Governor previous
ly approved by the President, the assembling
of Legislators from part of the TIE: ritory at a
busy season, aud agreement on an appotion-
ment measure. Instead of this how much
better TO vest the duty In board of local
officers responsible to the people, as well as
to the Government, and empower them to
establish temporary county organizations
where needed IN advance Of the January
Session.
This 10 the effect of the bill introduced by
Delegate Maginuis. Its cost will be merely
nominal; its work will be quick and it will
occupy the time Of but few men, and there
is no reason why II should not be as fair as
that Of the Legislature. There will not,
probably, be tenth of the difficulty in Sc
curing the enactment of this measure, that
there would be in securing an immediate
appropriation for an extra session, and we
do not think there will be any at all. The
fact Is, this bill should have been introduced
long ago. 1t Is several weeks since we learn
ed that the draft of such a bill had been
sent 10 Delegate Maginnis, except that it
constituted board offve persons,a majority
Of whom were Republicans. Our Delegate
has laid that aside and presented another,
practically the same as the Territory was
apportioned under two years ago, except
that the duties of the Board are enlarged,
to enable the establishment of new county
in the eastern part of the Territory. We
presume Delegate Maginnis thought 1t might
impeach his record as straight ouS Demo-
crst to recommend Board of which the
majority were Republicans, and as this is
about the only partizan measure we recol-
lect Of his presenting, we are inclined to
commend his political discretion.
We are not apprehensive that the Board
as constituted will Gerymander the Terri
tory, and think, anyhow, that issues other
than political will enter largely into the
Legislative campaign this year. There is
one thing, however, We wish 10 protest
against In adyance--the apportionment Of
the Council In such large Districts. If 1t is
technically within the letter of the law, it is
certainly not within lis spirit. An examin-
alton Of the figures of population two years
since, showed the distribution as made by
judicial Districts to be approximately equit-
able In that respect and 1t simplified . prob
lem but 1t did not give that representation
of counties In the Council that they should
have had, even at the sacrifice of fractional
surplusage by larger counties and combine
tions for joint councilmen. Every county,
where it is possible, should have a represent
tative in the council. 1t is not his vote
alone, or even primarily, that is needed
there; 1t is his presence and influence in the
consideration Of questions in which the in
terests of his constituency are involved, and
analogous assemblages show that principle
is recognized and kept in view. The small
est State in the Union has the same repre-
sentation In the Senate of the United States
as the largest, and every Territory is repre-
scented ia the House by Delegate, even If
not permitted TO vote. If the number of
counties and the discrepancies in the popula-
ton are such as not to permit an apportion-
ment on this basis In Montana under the law
IL should approximate as nearly thereto as
possible, and in no instance should more
counties than absolutely necessary, and these
with as nearly identical interests as possible,
be joined together in Council districts. 1t
will impose upon the Board more arduous
duties than the preceding one had, for they
worked under an Immediately preceding CEN
sus, while this will have to estimate popula-
tion before apportioning. Doubtless there
will be some "kicking" under any apportion-
ment made.
We suggest, In conclusion, that the Board
of County Commissioners Of each County,
at their regular June meeting certify over
their signatures their estimate Of the popu-
lation Of their respective counties, and trans
NIT the same to the Governor to be presented
to the Board on its assembling. This will
serve as more reliable basis, for starting
point at least, than the Board can obtain
after its assembling and within ten days
thereafter. 1t is true the bill introduced has
not yet passed, but after it has passed the
action Of the board will necessarily be
prompt, and the Commissioners may not |
,gain have opportunity to estimate. Doour
deem this good suggestion
% the Commissioners /?
A TELEGRAM from Louisville, KY, last
saturday night, says four attempts were
made that night TO destroy the World news