The daily gazette., 1883-02-19
nrgalNrEn rRoM SATURDAY
1NOnEAsnD REPRESENTATION.
Opinions og the ssDelawareani and mid-
dietown aTranscript."

tDelawarean.l
Tfitls absolutely necessary that New Castle
county, and especially Wilmington city,
should have the large increase which the
advocates for increased representation claim,
ana II the increase is to be made on the basis
Of representation according to population,
and no other apportionmeut will be salts
factory, it seems 10 us that there is but one
thing left for the Legislature TO do and that
is divide the county. County division is
advocated by many now living south Of the
Clristiana creek, and that mode Of grant
ing increased representation would, we
believe, meet with favor in the General
Assembly. By this mode-county division
Wilmington city would. then have that
increase which she is loudly asking for, and
that territory now composing New Castle
county would by division have a represen-
fation in the General Assembly equal to that
OF Kent and Sussex combined. We do not
wish TO Misunderstood as favoring or advo-
eating county division. We are, as we de-
clared some months ago, in favor of grant
Ing fair, just and reasonable increase in
the manner that lie desired by New Castle
county. Representation on the basis ofpop-
ulation we don't believe will be granted,
for in State as small in area as Delaware it
would be unjust to the two lower counties.
A fair and reasonable bill presented by the
members from New Castle, asking an in
crease by Constitutional Amendment,
we believe will pass and If
that apportionment which by the lower
county members is considered fair and just
Ia not satisfactory to the citizens of New
Castle county, then let the other mode we
have pointed out-namely, county division
--be asked for, representation on the base
of population will be had and as we said
before, the territory north of the Kent line
4.
Assembly as the counties of Kent and
Sussex.
The latter mode will give Wilmington city
representation according to population,
divide the balance of power, and we believe,
be q satisfactory solution of the increased
representation question.
lMlddletown Transcript
1t Is the candid opinion of the Transcript
plainly expressed, that the Introduction o
the Bates bill for increased representation
for New Castle county was a mistake
While the bill may not ask for more thar
New Castle county is entitled to, If popula
tIon be made the basis of representation, Il
asks for more than she could hope to re
ceive. And further, the people of the rura
sections OF New Castle county have no sym
pathy for a movement to give the city o
Wilmington nine Representatives and tn
remainder of the county only seven. Ant
still further, many persons, even in New
Castle county, doubt the advisability o.
changing the representation OF any Of ou
counties expect by constitutional amend
ment or convention. If we go about it il
the right way we have little doubt but tina
Kent and Sussex will do the fair thing b.
New Castle In this matter Of representation
but we need not expect to gain anything b
making faces at them and calling them har
names, because they have the power to out
vote us. Let our New Castle members dro
the Bates bill and move for fair increas
of representation by constitutional amend
ment. And let us have an election for
constitutional convention also. We believ
that large majority of the people OF Della
ware are are in favor Of new Constitutio
out and out