Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-17

1t was apparent early in the debate in the House
upon the subject of app0TtonInent that the bill
reported from the census committee was doomed
o. defeat The main objection to 1t was that its
method OF superintendent was unfair and unjust
It deprived the smaller and weaker states OF rep
resentlti0n 10 which they are entitled under the
method OF app0rtlonment that has always OBJ
tanned in this country. ami unduly Increased that
of the larger, more populous and more powerful
states AS an Offset TO this Inequality, 1t was
urged in favor OF the committees bill that the
small states are made equal with the large ones in
the Senate, and that they ought to submit TO some
dsprOport0n in the other house: but this argu-
ment had no effect, and the committees bill was
rejected The Old-flShiOned plan of finding
basis of representation by dividing
the aggregate population OF the states
by the figures representing the men,
bership of the HOUSE; OF then giving to each
state the representation it is entitled to upon this
basis, and of dividing the number left. after this
apportionmeRt, as equtaby as possible among the
larger fractions OF population in the states, was
adopted The Anderson substitute fixes the men,
bership of the Honse at 3a5 number that admits
of fair superintendent The apfortionment is the
same as that Of the bill passed by the democratic
House last year, except that the pending measure
provides for six more members than that. In the
new bin the south is given the Increase Of repre-
sent1ti0n TO which she is entitled under the last
census. II wit, IS. The bill might have been i'm
proves by the incorporation Of provision, offered
a an amendment, fOTbitting the division OF coun-
ues and parishes in making up Congressional dis
uictS- The object Of this amendment was to pre-
vent as far as possible. the practice Of gerryman-
dprng in the formation OF districts; but both
parties too partial II that system to assent to
legislation against it. The suPpo5itOn Is that the
Senate VIII assent TO the House measure, as the
matter OF superintendent is ole which affects only
the popular branch OF Congress The fact that
political power in the House IS nearly equally df-
Vided, perhaps contributed somewhat to the fair
ness o. an appCrti5nIacnt bill
Judge Smell expresses the opinion that 1.-THE
people OF Washington should b. ashamed OF them
selves for not going to Congress and having laws
enacted by which the courts can give To criminals
the punishment that they deserve" Perhaps
they should be ashamed, and perhaps they are.
Any way, We feel sure that the majority of them
are very sorry that things are as they are We
Deg 10 submit. however. that the JUDGES of our
courts, police and others, and the District and
other prose 'uting attorneys are as much '.people
OF Washington" As any body. No person knows
SO well as they wherein the present laws are de
1ectVe, and nobody knows so well as they how the
needed remedies can BE- applied. Furthermore,
the representations OF no person or boiy OF per-
sons would have so much weight in the premises
with the law-makfng powers as theirs. Suppose
now, that this well-pO5ted and weu-paid boly of
Officials should constitute themselves for a little
while into sort Of committee Of public safety,
and draft the kind OF law they think ought to
De passed, and then send It to Congress with such
excellent and eloquent reasons as they can give
for Its speedy passage. We fancy that proceeding
would have considerable weight with the MEM
bers OF both Houses and feel certain that In no
other way can those who execute the laws so well
serve the public. We respectfully suggest, there
fore, that Judge Smell, who knows so well what is
needed, shall call little meeting Of his brother
judges and attorneys, and put the thing through.
They can do ii IL they VIII only try.
A census OF voters OF the city of Baltimore re-
Gently taken by the police OF that city, shows the
proportion OF voters TO the whole population to b.,
unusually large. The average estimate is that the
voters VIII number one 10 every five OF population
The last United States census puts the population
OF Baltimore at 332,I90, which would, ut the COM
mon estimate give that city 60 AS voters: but the
police CENSUS returns So 49,, upwards OF Il 0OD In
excess OF what is admitted to h. the general Dro-
portion The robust voting capacity OF Baltimore
city has always been a matter OF surprise tn the
country part OF Maryland. and the new police CEN
sus OF that city Is calculated to still further aston
iSh the rurai population
me letter OF Mrs ScOyllle to Irs. Garfeld Is as
much out OF place as WAS the IlI-tiJned and nm
founded arr.ignmCnt OF certain prorntn mt men Of
the country by her husband during the trial OF the
assassin Mrs. Garfield has no more power to help
GUlteau or to save nInI from the gaIoyys than any
other Lldy in the land. Even if she were TO inter
pose plea in his behalf il could not have aDy
eject Therefore the appeal OF Mrs ScoyiIe ONLY
ADDS 10 the weight OF trouble upon an already
o'er-aricted lacy without the possibility OF doing
any good IL looks like an attempt To make the
family OF the murdered President feel that they
viii De partially responsible for the execution of
the assassin.
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bill has been introduced in the New yor:,
legislature prohibiting, especially the so-c,ua,
pigeon shooting tourna ments, and generally Two
trap shooting or any Kind OF bird or live animal
~ l. 10 DE hoped that IL will be passed, and that
It's passage viii be followed BY the adoption Of n
Ike law In all the states and territories Tbess
disgusting exhibitions have been mere wan,o,
oesuuctlon or animal life, without a single re-
ueenlng feature. The only wonder IL that any
one considering himself gentleman would engage
In them 80
Inc OH Tor The suppression of polysamy passed
Dy the Senate yesterday afternoon, Is rte-o-ops
enough In its provisions TO pIaase the ,,oS,
1npiaeabie Mormon-hater. 1t Is admitted On all
hanos that this question o. polygamy is one
winch me government should take hold of with
out delay; that the practice should not be oer
mltted u extend itself; but IL Is a subject that
demands careful consideration and wise states
manship- To enact a law SO excessively rigorous
as 70 oyer-reach itself and be annullej bv the
courts, would not facilitate the object I'm view.
neaith authorities all through the country are
urging systematic vaccination or reylcetnatfo,
Tie experience Of the present winter has shown
secn an unusual susceptibility both u tie small
Po4 poison and 10 the ssccine y,r, that II - NOT
pfodent 10 rely on an Old vaccination. 20 n tier
low typical the scar m23 &c.