Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-02-06
For the Demo
For the Democrat
OXFORD COUNTY APPoR rIONMENT
Mr.. Editor:


Oxford County members OF the Legislature,
Ia which were detailed the features Of an
Apportionment Bill, so far as 1t relates to
our County. An invitation was extended
to any one interested To make his wants
aud wishes known with reference TO
il; and as the Bill is apparently the same
ago, we will accept the invitation in en-
deavoriug 10 show, not only that it
ought not 10 be adopted, but that Governor
Robes predecessor did just right In exer.
cising his constitutional prerogative OF
disApproyal, the effect OF which prevented
it from becoming law.
With the Senatorial branch OF the Bill
We take no exception.
II is not exactly cheerfully conceded that
OF the one hundred aud filty-oue members
OF the lower House we are only justly en-
titled TO seven. In 1871 the ratio for the
b isis OF representation was, one Represent
alive TO about 4.I5O Inhabitants oxford
County, with a population OF SO, 500, was
then certainly entitled 10 eight, with very
slight excess too small 10 notice, howev-
er. Now, its population still remains At
- 600, and the ratio only goes up TO 1890,
a. the gain OF the entire State during the
decade WAS but $4,000. (we deal with
round numbers, only With eight mem.
Oers, oxford will have deficiency OF but
about LEO, while with seven members
there will exist the large fractional excess
OF over 500 people who, in sense, will
be uureprcsented. But, that clause in the
States Constitution" having regard 10
the relative increase OF populatiou,"-
looms up. and not doubling there are other
c Iunties with al equal IL not larger pro-
p ,rtlonal excess. present or prospective,
W. waive all claims 10 eight. and will be
Obliged 10 content ourselves with the lesser
number.
How shall these seven be apportloned,
/. the proposed plan OF spPortionment
among the towns aud plantations OF OK
ford C)unty the best that can De deyisedl
/, the plan a constitutional one: Is there
Mt trace OF gerrym iaderiug visible
in IT.
WIKI seven Representatives, the ratio OF
p rpulatiOa will be 600 or course, the
: .yeral districts cannot be constituted by
aly possible manner or meaus so as 10 con-
ta,u lust that number. We can only at best
10 IL Now, the Constitution
very pitiuly says, in speaking OF tue APP
. IrIiOum.ut or the X representatives., that
9 tOwus aud plantations duly organized
L. - 81 Al be clissed, n conveniently as
may DE. iut) districts, aui each sucd dis
trict may elect one X .presentative." Ia our
{ buaty, We have No siusle iowa or city
with population sui ;ieutly large TO allow
It alone 10 choose Il Representative; hence,
each town ami plantation must be CON-
D ued with one or mlre or the others into
a district for that purpose.
la the DENocRAr OF Jan. %, there was
e htorial IN .ntion OF this subj set, with
tt0ulAr statement OF the proposed districts
aud their populations. With map or the
c ,unty. aud the census, let Us scan their
N ,ke-up aud see IL there eau be aay i'm
provement. Taxing them ia the order 10
" lica they are given in your columns, we
will glance at the First, or RumGori Dis
trict. composed OF AnlOver, RImford, By.
ron. R1xbury, Mexico, Dixheld aud Peru.
The form uiOn OF this district seems unob-
j-ctiOnaD!c, being compact; the populatlos.
200. airly apprONinates the ratio; and
people living in the valleys OF the Ellis and
swift rivers, which converge in the larger
on- OF the Androscoggin, eau easily meet
AZ some common centre for the transaction
OF political business. The interests OF
the several towns would seem u o. nearly
ideatical, and good judgment was shown
py the author OF that part OF the proposed
plan. Ia the Second, or Bethel District,
sc shall also De spsriug in criticism. Bethel
! the business centre of nearly every town
possibly quite, unless We except Stone
ham. IL seems 10 Us a. though Stoneham
would feel better satisfied 10 be classei
with towns south OF 10. With that town
deducted. the population of the district
would still DC aOou, 400. la the Tnird,
Or Canton District, We think Greenwood
should have no place. Both that towa and
Woo istock are on Que line or railroad,
while the remainder OF the towns 10 the
district are served Oy another. Deductiug
Greenwood, with its SIS people, aud the
pooul alton Is still over 900; taking away
"A al RQCk-
{. Ia, which has the same interests In com
mon a. Canton, Hartford aud Sumner, be-
IN, GA .he same railroad that serves those
towns. aud the district is better formed,
with a population neacer the required av-
-rase The Fourth, or Paris District,
Composed OF Paris aud Buckheld, and Mil
JOu Plantation, CONS As near the ratio As
Any, and SO far as the two towns are con-
crrued We have little reason 70 complain.
But, a. already stated, il seems much more
reasonable 10 suppose that Buckfield nat
orally belongs 10 another district, while
W1Odstock aud PARIS are more nearly tden :
tlhed. or AZ least equally so. Assuredly,
The citizens OF Paris anu the balance OF the
district will DC glad " avail themselves or
the kindly offices aud cooperation OF the
good people OF Milton, but IL strikes Us
Lnat the Milton folks would prefer not 10
DC clAssed with toweS which are separated
from them oy Intervening towns belonging
10 anOtaer district. But little fault can
DC found with the Fifth, or Oxford District,
composed OF Norway. Oxford and Hebron.
# there We're To DC no changes In the 9th
ers. But, Really, Heoroa belongs with
Bucktield 10 the Canton District, or Buck
aeld District As 1t 1t might in that event be
called. The Sixth, or Fryeourg District,
also, in case no changes are made, Is COM
piratiyely free from adverse criticism,
though it will exist At the expense OF some
| OF tue neighOoriug towns, and will number
nearly 900 above the ratio OF representa-
ttou. But the composition or the Seventh,
or" Griudstone District as We will term
IL, for there is q big hole in its middle,-
| ,.,f,liv and WON, ierrully made uD. In