St. Paul daily globe., 1885-12-01
THE GOVERNOR SAYS NO.
Reasons why GOV. Hubbard Will
Call Nm Extra Session

Reasons why Gov. Hubbard Will
Call No Extra Session.
There will be no extra session OF the
legislature this winter. Gov. Hubbard SET
tied the question yesterday by giving out
n reply to the Duluth village council, which
had asked for one. Gov. Hubbard says
that while there are some matters, as tor
instance the reapportionment, that may
need the attention of the legislature, still
there are not enough grounds to warrant
the expense that would necessarily attend
the session. Moreover, the request for
session has not been made very unanimous
and even were it more so he could not, III
view of the condition of the states funds,
call It, Below is the governors statement:
State of Minnesota, Executive Department,
st. Paul, Nov. 2S-To the Village Council of
Duluth Minn.-Gentlemen: l am in receipt
of the resolutions passed by you on Oct 20,
1885, requesting that the legislature be con-
vened in extra session for the purpose or
making reapportionment of the state Tor
the legislature before the next election.
Copies of said resolutions were, in accord
ance with one of them, sent to the common
councils of the various cities and villages
likely to be interested therein, with the lnVl-
tation of your body to join in your request.
same grounds have been circulated for the
signature of individuals. The subject had
been much discussed before you, and the Du-
luth chamber of commerce took proper
MEANS as before mentioned, to ascertain pub
lie Opinion | have delayed answering the
resolutions because was unwilling that my
conclusion should seem to forestall expression
Of epublic wish, and more because although
on the suficiency of the reasons urged in
your resolutions my opinion has not wavered,
there were other contingencies which might
force different conclusion. If experience
showed definite and serious defects in the
laws relating to the inspection, weighing and
handling of grain, or for the regulation of
railroad companies, or if the railroad and
warehouse commissioners found their powers
insufficient for the successful discharge of
their duties, 1 should consider the prompt
amendment of these laws desirable, perhaps
at the cost of an extra session. But it is yet
too soon to determine what amendments are
essential.
The facts alleged as the grounds of your
request are undeniable. The population of
the state has
INCREASED VERY UNEQUALLY
since $780, so that the apportionment upon
the census of that year is no longer just and
equal. The inequality may be expressed by
saying that eleven districts have now each
one representative more than their population
entities them to, three have each two more
representatives and one has one senator in
excess. On the other hand, three districts
should each have one representative, one
should have etworepresentatives one senator
and two representatives, one two senators
and five representatives, and one three SEN
ators and two representatives more than they
respectively have at present. This takes no
account Of minor inequalities which re-
! apportionment could remove by uniting
counties now separate. This inequality ought
to cease at the first opportunity. Absolute
equality of representation is impracticable,
but the right to representation equalized as
nearly and as frequently as practicable is un-
doubted. Should make practicable oppor-
tunity at the expense of an extra session?
The constitution of the state authorizes the
governor to convene the legislature in extra
session on ''extraordinary occasi ons." The
constitution itself anticipates unequal in
crease of population with resulting inequality
in the existing apportionment, and authorizes
the taking of census to ascertain the fact
and reapportionmente every i've years at the
next session after the census, if found proper.
In fact inequality in representation in the
legislature has been found to exist after every
census, as was from the first ex-
pected. Can that be called an ''extra-
ordinary, OCCASION which occurs ac-
cording to habit and expectation?
An extraordinary reason for a called session
has been found in an assumed probability
that the next legislature will not reapportion
The next is the one Of which that work is con-
stitutionally expected. 1t is not presumed
that any legislature will neglect its duty, but
if any disinclination does not exist for this
particular duty, to call the present legislature
together would furnish each an excuse for
neglecting it as being the duty Of the other.
Your resolutions speak of practical dis
enfranchisement of portions of the state till
1883, unless reapportionment be made before
the next election. They will only wait for
their full representation through one session
of the legislature, which the people in their
constitution have not deemed intolerable.
might find an extraordinary reason next year,
if any fear was entertained that the counties
now unrepresented
WOULD SUFFER IN ANY RESPECT
by awaiting the usual time. 1t has not been
observed that the new or weak counties have
hitherto been neglected or oppressed. A good
lest is the distribution of the internal i'm
provement fund. The legislature disposes of
that fund at its pleasure. The present legis-
lature distributed about SS0,000 belonging to
that fund at its last session. OF this amount
twelve districts, having forty-five members
of the legislature, took nothing at all; twelve
other districts, all over-represented and hav-
ing fifty members, obtained less than $40, 900;
the five country districts now under
represented, having thirteen MEM
bers, were voted more than $685. COO.
The sentiment of the people even in those
parts of the state where population is now
most disproportionate to representation, ap-
pears to be that the advantage to them of
Immediately increased representation is not
worth the cost 1t is not surprising that
those parts which will gain nothing are op-
posed to the expense. 1t is not strange that
the financial representatives of the great
cities which must pay so great share of the
cost should fail to approve. / am advised
that the city council Of st. Paul has adopted
the resolutions of your body. The city coun-
Gil of Fergus Falls has passed similar ones.
Several editors through their newspapers
have asked for an extra session. A petition
of the strongest character by thirty-three
representative men of Otter Tail county, and
other petitions bearing 224 signatures have
been presented to me. These form the total
demand, the weakness or which is doubtless
due to the abstract and ideal nature of the
advantage to be realized. But if the favor
able expression had been more general 1
could not have justified to myself the action
you request. You will remember that 1 was
obliged at the end of last session to protect
the credit of the state by vetoing appropria-
tions amounting to STA, 900, which there was
reason to believe the treasury would not be
In q condition to pay. 1t is not yet certain
that too much was not, after all. allowed to
pass. 1t is certain that the expenses of an
extra session could not be paid without
another state loan. L. F. HUBBARD,
Governor.
ANXIOUS FOR THE REPORT.