The Worthington advance., 1885-11-05

1S@EAS882E-E1-
EXTRA SESSION TALK
There has been considerable effort
pnt forth in the north part Of the state,
and particularly at Duluth. to induce
Gov. Hubbard to call III extra session
of the legislature this winter, for the
ostensible purpose of reapportioning
the state into senatorial and represent
ative districts, claiming that the census
jnst taken shows a great inequality in
the representation Of the districts as at
present constituted. The fact that the
voters Of the state only few years ago
decided that they did not want annual
sessions Of the legislature, should not
be lightly disregar'led, and an extra ses-
sion should not be called unless the
governor is satisfied that there is urgent
necessity for it.
In u growing state like Minnesota
there always will he more or less ine-
quality in representation. After divid.
Ing tho state into legislative districts
containing the same number Of inhab-
itants AS near rs possible, one section
gains little faster in population than
another, and at once 4 demand is made
for readjustment of district bounda-
ries. Indeed, some would not be salts
fled with redistricting of the state
every year. This incessant change is Il
useless piece Of business. We lave
only just got accustomed to our district
boundaries, and they had better not lie
ripped up just yet to please few wire
pulling politicians, for they are the ones
who are shouting themselves hearse in
the matter. The Taxpayers of the
state at large are opposed to calling an
extra session, realizing the additional
burdens such a proceeding would i'm
pose upon them. Tie legislature at its
regular session last winter appropriated
all the money likely to coue into the
state treasury for the ensuing two years,
and if an extra session is called AL ad-
diti"nal half mill 1T least must lie added
to the tax levy to pay tor the expensive
luxury.
If any section were suffering griev-
Gus wrong Of bearing crushing burdens
from which relief could come only
through All extra session of The lcgisla
tue. there would then he Il UNSUITABLE
cause for calling one. But 1T present
such an emergency does Not exist.
Is Duluth, for example, in need Of leg
ISlati"n that her present representation
il the Legislature cannot secure, and, if
So, would she be any better situated III
that regard if her representation should
l'e doubled. rs she claims it would be
under new apportiOEmcnt? Ability
to secure desired legislation is all there
is Of practical value in rcpresentation-
all else is mere sentiment or clap. trap
Then, too, Du)uth's greatest, and, we
might say, only, rivals are st. Paul and
Minneapolis, and they would each gain
far more by reaprortionment than
Duluth, and, consequently, would lave
more power to throw obstacles in her
way.
1t is said that the Farmers Alliance
IS WORKING to secure All extra session
in order that II change may he made in
the grain inspection laws passed last
winter. Would it not be well to give
the present law a further trial before
tinkering it? Another years expert
ence will show its merits and defects
so clearly that such changes as time
show to be desirable can be made un-
derstandingly. The law in question
has hardly had fair trial as yet. The
greatest bane of our legislation is the
constant tinkering of laws before they
have fair trial.
1t is believed that the Seventh sena-
torial district, composed of the coun-
ties Of Mobiles, Murray, Pipestone and
Rock, would not he changed in the
event Of a reapportionment. Indeed,
II is difficu't to conceive of more com.
pact aud convenient senatorial district
than this, with Mobiles and Murray
counties forming one representative
district. and Rock and Pipestone coun-
ties another.
1t is safe to say that the people gen.
orally, and especially the heaviest tax
payers, of southwestern Minnesota are
opposed to an extra session of the leg
tslature the coming winter, and if Gov.
Hubbard will consult their interests he
will disregard the clammor raised by
those desiring the same in order to fur.
their their political designs, aud decline
to call one.
Hon. William NJ. Campbell, of Litcli.
field, has been appointed United States