Daily Republican., 1883-03-21

rording to population in Delaware, We
IRE met with objections from intelligent
men Of all parties who tell us that it is
impracticable, that Wilmington for va
tious reasons should not have the same
rate Of representation that the rural
districts have, that the people of Will
ilingtOn should not ask such thing,
NAd that in no State in the Union where
here are large cities is the principle of
representation according to population
carried out or permitted. However
good some of the objections may be to
,rguai representation, the DIRECTORS who
tell us that Pennsylvania has not repre-
ssntation accordingto population both
in the urban and suburban districts are
not well informed. 1t is surprising to
r'e how many intelligent gentlemen
tbor under the impression that phila-
he.phia has not equal representation
With the interior and nearer counties
IN more than one occasion the REPUB-
tLCAN has shown this mistake and yet
5he idea still prevails that Philadelphia
'xscause she is Il large city is, shorn oi
lHr prOportionate share of representa-
lion according t" population, and on
that ground objections are made to Wal
mington having representation accord
ing to population. 1t is only incumbent
',pon us t" presenta few figures touch
ing the leading centres of population
in Pennsylvania to prove our position
Che population of Pennsg lvania in 1856
MAS 4,2S2, S9l. The number of mem
beers in the House of Representatives is
Di. Divide the population by the mum
her of representatives and We have a IA
ito OF q, 307 population to each repre-,
sentative. This is the State ratio The
Constitution provides that each county
hall have at least one representative
40 matter what the population of such
Il county may be. Forrest county with
population of 4,3Sj Cameron with
J.l59. Sullivan with 9,013; Pike with
1865 and others with less than the Stat,
ratio, each have one member. This
wise provision Of the constitution ma
urally increases the ratio IN the less
pDpulouS counties above that Of The
STATE.
Now let lis see what the ratio oirrprr-
sentation III Philadelphia is: Thr.p
ulation of the city In 1880 was 81, 40,
and she has 50 representatives in the
Legislature. Dividing the population
by the number Of members in the Leg
islat,lie We have ratio Of -, 800 to cac
member, only 1913 more than The rat,
f0r the State. Now let us look AT the
ratio of representation in il few Of the
rural counties and compare it V It'll!
Philadelphia.
Delaware County had a population OF
Al, l5l and has only two representatives.
rliis makes her ratio -. 900 per member,
ratio 6,743 per lneInber greater than
Philadelphia. Delaware County had
The misfortune OF having very large
.actiOnal ratio but not quite enough t.
'ntitle her to another representative.
At the next appointment she will get
1T additional member and some other
county in the State will have 10 suffer !,
little i'll consequence. Now Iet lis take
Bucks County, lying Oh the opposite
,ide of Philadelphia. Bucks having Il
little over the fractional ratio got four
representatives, her population being
6S,65& and her ratio Il, lt4 per member
Bucks may have TO suffer 10y the next
tppnrIiOnlnent
We will give the representative ratio
oi few more Counties in detail: AIc-
.hany has Il population Of 10, $50 and
a representatives. Her ratio is ~, 49,.
the ratio is high on account Of til" rapid
Increase Of population in Piuabur.
'ince the last app"rtlonmrn,.
s''s'''''''' l'l"'''''''ii' ''',E1' i'I-
esrnia'ives, Il ratio, 23,24l
BcrkS, population, ~, go; represcn-
:ativrS, q ratio, rs, 1873.
Chester, population, Sj,4Sl; rrpres"ll,
atives, ! ratio, 1850.
York, population, 1881 representa-
'itcr, ratio, 1860.
montgomery, population, 81, i4 rep
rcsenIativeS, D. ratio, lc,ZG
Armstrong, population, 41,G4l: rep.
rr>rn1atives, > ratio, -, SO
Blair, population, J2,74o: representa-.
ti,rs, > ratio, 2G,J,O.
Fl"n the above il will be- seen tina,
Pennsylvania has representation on the
basis OF population, varied only By
fractional margins ~ The Countir,
which gives sOnr tnl!n lr- ilulr repre-
AiitatiOn than others. Representation III
the Senate is based upon til" saline priv.
r'iple, there being 80 Senator, and the
Senatorial ratio being S1,bjl per sen
aIor. The fractional ratio of a Senator
being necessarily larger than for repre-
antaives some Of the Senatorial dis
trirt, have population of over 100,
oON. Nevertheless I'll" principle Of Sen
murial representation according to pop
uiation is strictly carried out. From
what We have shown, il will b" seer
,!iat whatever may be- th" principle ri
approximation III other States in Penn
>ylNaniA the popular and just principle.
NJ representation according TO p"pllia-
ion l>"ngr"tted in til" constitution and
,trjrtjy adhered +" IN rhe Stat" appor-
tiuUmrnt. Why would not the same
4rjn"ivl" be beneficial to Delaware and
all yur her STATE. IN ih, I linuc