The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-10-12
Where the Responsibility Rests.

Some of the partisan Republican
news papers in the state have taken,
exception to the following statement in
the last message OF the governor to as.
scmbly: "On the part of the House of
Representatives it appears that resolu.
tions have been repeatedly sent to the
Senate requesting the appointment of
committees of conference to adjust the
differences existing between the two
houses, which requests the Senate has
refused to grant. Moreover, the House
appears to have passed a number of
new bills, pending the unreconciled dit
ferences upon the old ones, all of which
new measures the Senate has refused to
place upon its calendar. From this it
would appear that one branch of the
legislature is unwilling to make any
further efforts to meet the other for the
purpose of reconciling the differences
existing between them and passing the
legislation required by the Constitu-
tion."
But since then it has become more
and more manifest that the judgment
of the conservative people of the state,
regardless of party, is strictly in accor-
dance with this view Of the matter.
That eminently judicious and moderate
newspaper the Philadelphia Public
Ledger, which never takes partisan
view of any matter, has this to say in a
recent Issue
This subject of apportionment goes
down to the very foundation of just re-
presentation according toproportionate
numbcrs-to the fundamental principal
upon which American representative
government is built To compel con-
tinuauce of the existing apportionment
is violation of the republican princi
Pile of representation in proportion to
numbers as well as defiant refusal to
obey the constitution. Whatever the
existing apportionment bill may have
been when enacted land it was never
fair in one sense), it is grossly unequal
in party sense, but a just apportion
ment, according to population. AS an
illustration of our meaning we refer to
one district, the Twenty-fourth repre-.
sentative district OF Philadelphia.
Under the present law it has one ro-
preventative by the growth of its pop
ulation it is entitled to three on the ex-
isting basis Such growths and shift
ings of population are to be found else
where in the city and throughout the
state, wherever there is district that
has been specially attractive to popu-
lation since the census of 1870. The
disproportion is getting greater in some
places, even since the census of 1880,
only three years ago. The scandalous
and crying injustice is, by neglect or
refusal to obey the constitution to com.
pei the population under the census of
1880 to accept representation according
to the census Of 1870.
That there is danger of so gross an
injustice, so bold violation of the
foundation principle OF representative
government so fragrant defiance of
the state constitution, is an offence
shared by the controlling majorities
in both Houses of the Legislature in
varying degree at the regular session,
but for which the heavy responsibility
is on the Senate majority at this session.
About two months ago the majority in
the Senate gave the majority in
the House to understand that they
must accept the appointments the
Senate expressed willingness to con-
cede, or get no new apportionment at
ALL This is what is frequently referred
to rs the 'ultimatum'-th language of
a sovereign power at war or seeking
pretext for war. The course of the
majority of the Senate has been stead
lily pursued on that line ever since, and
on last Thursday week it was followed
by resolution to meet thereafter but
twice week. Three such semi-week-
ly meetings have been held since-as
sembling on the appointed Thursday
or Friday, doing nothing, and adjourn
ing. The meeting appointed for to-
day is the fourth that for next Friday
will be the fifth, and it should be the
last of that sort.
This is the attitude of the Senate.
1t has been called Revolutionary and
strong as that word is, it is the right
word. Revolution does not always re
quire force of arms. Government can
be overthrown or paralyzed in other
ways than by cannon, rifles and bayo-
nets and refusal to obey the organic
law is one of them. If any one COM
mand of the constitution can be DISC
oeyed with impunity, another and
another can-any and all that contu-
macious branch of the government sees
fit to disregard. This is the serious
and threatening side of their affairs at
Harrisburg, which the people will have
to consider.