Smyrna times., 1883-01-31

THE QUESTION OF INCREASED REP
REsENTATIoN.-The question of in
creased representation for New Castle
county on what she claims as the
basis of representation according to
population came up in the Legisla-
ture on Friday, when George H. Bates,
Esq, offered bill increasing the num-
Der of members in the House from 21
to 80, giving the.increase of the 9 new
members to the city of Wilmington,
leaving the three counties each as at
present, and in the Senate increasing
New Castles representation to Eve,
and Kent and Sussex to four each.
This is said to be Mr.. Bates individual
bill, matured and presented without
advising with the members of the COM
mittee or consultation with the dele
gates of Kent and Sussex counties. He
supported it in a speech intended to
tickle the ears of the citizens of Will
mington. Mr.. B. had previously got
GSu WucISdS anu IOSOlu6lOu
through the Legislature asking the
Judges and Chancellor for their opinion
as to whether the Legislature had the
right, according to the Constitution to
pass the proposed enactment, and
there was some surprise that he should
forestall them. But Chancellor Sauls-
bury showed an equal haste, for on
f Monday he sent in his opinion without
a conference with the other judges
and adverse to the wishes of the Viii.
, mington members. The gist of the
, opinion is that the Legislature has the
f power TO increase its membership, but
such increase must be apportioned
equally among the counties. 1t ha!
f not the right to apportion increase un
q equally hence in answer to the sec
t ond question it has no right to maxi
+ members elective from districts, bu
they must be elected on general count!
tickets. .H
This opinion, while not decisive, a
least suspends action until the othe
:, judges car be heard from. But MI
: Bates must be man of wonderful
assurance, If he were not proceeding o.
the policy Of asking one hundred pc
" cent when he expected to get onl
twenty-five. ."a "
Is The general sentiment of the Stat
e had conceded the right of New Castl
'r county to increased representation, bu
- it did not enter the peoples mind
q . that they would ask as much for Nev
a Castle county as both the other con
of bined, less one. Mr.. Bates may cor
Is slider this " fair and equitable repr,
% sentation, but in legislation it will |
We equivalent to conceding about all.
to 1t would be manifestly unjust to pl
ne the floating population of WilmingtC
Z that can be numbered by thousand
ne there one month and possibly
another State the next month, on
IN, par with the fixed citizens of the 81
ge in the lower counties. The farm
of with a thousand acres may represent
is much of permanent interest as the ia
nd tory proprietor who employs 500 me
AT the formation of the constitute
Sussex had more population than NJ
,rv Castle county, but it did not occur
Of her to ask alarger representation. Z
IN. the disproportion is now very mu
or. greater, and New Castle county shot
on have an increase of representation,
for let the equity " be in fact and not
i've word. Nine representatives from
ste. few acres covered by the city of "
his mington las much as either of the t
sh- lower counties. Wesuppose Mr.. Ba
lta- blushed little when his eye fell on
tile members on the opposite side Of
,itv Hall. If he really wants to succe
nds let him reduce his figures to SO
hor thing like following proportions: n
Castle IS, Kent 9, Sussex @; will
nv Senators from each county. Wilmi
ton could then have a Senator
u, ! three Representatives, or if the cou
eA' was willing to concede it, four. II
M w we would have a respectable legi
W tive body and equitable" repre-,
Ia. tation. aa u - en nplf