Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-08-18
The Harrisburg Deadlock. q.


the Republicans rejected one more par
liamentary and constitutional expedient
which the Democrats had resOrted to in
order to get an honest, just and true ap-
pOrtionment and to have the Legislature
obey the fundamental law of the land
The Democrats had proposed that there
should be a committee Of three from
each side of the House to draft bill
expressive of Its sense of proper sena
torial apportionment of the state. The
Republicans could not we'll reject this
eminently fair measure, and at first
were inclined to accept it, especially as
it was conceded that they might pick
out tEeir own members of the commit
tee. But State Chairman Cooper,
who saw that by this means an ap
portionment might be facilitated,
and who is exerting all his energies to
obstruct any change of the present vii
lainous gerrymander, bulldozed his party
in the House into rejection of this fair
offer, and that conclusion of the Repub
lican caucus was communicated to TIT
House yesterday; whereupoL the Demo
Gratis passed the proposition, neverth7
less, and Speaker Faunce appointed
Jamison, Amerman and EckleS, Demo
Gratis, and Colborn, Sterrett and A. II
Morgan, Republicans. He said he had Il
S.alwart, an Independent and Re,
former to represent all the Republican
interests. Of these members neither Nor
gan nor Sterrett has been at Harrisburg
for some time the committee cannot be
got together for several days, and
from the opposition shown by the
Republicans, first to the commit;
tees appointment and then to the
organization of it, it is not likely
that any result reached by it will be ac
ceptable to The Republicans in the
House, or that. if even passed by the
House, it will be approved by the Sen
ate and this last offer by the Demo-
Gratis, rejected by the opposition, will
bring the Legislature no nearer an ap
portionment than it was before.
What other offers and concessions the
Democrats in the House may have in re-
serve we have no means of knowing.
All that they have thus far made have
been peremptorily and unqualifedly re
jected. 1t is certain that they cannot
consistently and without a surrender of
of their constituents rights go any
further in this direction. In this view
of the case the Philadelphia Chronicle
Herald, the only Democratic daily, in
that city, thus presents the issue. Its
opinion comedies with that of the
Wilkesbarre Unaon Leader and other
leading Democratic journals of the state:
It would be wrong for the Democrats to
make any further concession then the have
already done, when their opponents per
sistently and emphatically refuse to make
any; H., ,.;,. ohm. , ,.,,;,. ,,,. - s..,
lock. The Democrats should not give in
the Republicans will not give in. There is
NO prospect that they will do so. They
have obstinately put forth their ultimatum.
They have determined to stick to it. They
wish to prevent any apportionment if they
cannot have their own. Their position is,
therefore, purely negative ono. They
have only to sit in their seats and listen to
and reject Democratic propositions as fast
As they are made.
If We could perceive a likelihood that
the Democrats might soon be able, in the
face of this disadvantage, to accomplish
their purpose, We should insist upon their
remaining at their posts. But it is diff
cult to see what they can gain by indefi-
nitely protracting q deadlock where the
chances that their antagonists will sue
cumb seem to us to be overwhelmingly
against them. It this condition of things
could be allowed to 60 on at no expense
to the state, there would then be no parti.
cular reason why the legistors should not
remain at the capitol for tho rest of their
terms in trying to weary one another into |
unanimous action. But all the time the |
deadlock is going on an enormous waste of
money is entailed on the people, and the
people are inclined to be very practical in
asking "What return do We get for it alp" |
The Democrats have complied with the |
constitution in doing their best to bring /
about an apportionment they have made
reasonable demands for representation /;
they have been willing to make concess-
ions on their demands; they have sub
mitted to their opponents three or four
bills Of apportionment; they have re-