San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-22
LEGISLATIVE FRAUDS.
Some Peculiar statistics Showing
How 1ms Counties are Fa-
vored while others have

How Soms Counties are Fa-
Vored while others have
their Distractions.
1t is often remarked that western
Texas has no power or influence In
our state legislature, and can get no
favorable legislation to her interests.
And unfortunately such is the fact,
but the true cause does not seem to be
generally known and properly appre-
ciated. The facts are due TO the in
equality and fraud in our last appor-
tionment law, and 1t may not be amlss
to show up this fraud, for it cannot be
called oversight or even mistake.
Our apportionment law is based
upon the United States census OF 1880,
and was enacted on May Sd, 1882.
Our federal census of 1880 gives
Texas population of 1851. 749 souls;
and our state constitution fixes our
senators at thirty-one (3D. Now
when we divide 1851 ,749 by 81, we
have 81, 346 as the ratio for each sena-
tor.
Now take Harrison county, in east
ern Texas, which we find composes
the third senatorial district, and
we find it ontains only 25, III souls,
all told-not one-half the senatorial
ratio. Next take two counties III
northern Texas, Collin and Denton,
which compose the 18th senatorial
district, and we find that Collin has
-. 1888, and Denton IS, l43 souls, or the
sum total of A, l26, or 1920 below the
ratio.
Now take the counties of the
3Oth senatorial district in northern
Texas, to-wit: Palo Pinto, $685.;
Hood, 6,l25; Somervell, 2,649; Erath,
IL, 796; and Bosque, l1,2l7; total, 81 ,672,
or l3, GA, below the ratio.
Now take take district west of the
Brazos river, the 18th, containing
Washington county, population, p,
$50; Fort Bend, 9,243; Burleson, $3.50;
Waller, 9,024; Austin, II, 420; total,
69.64l, or Il, 295 in excess of the ratio.
Take another district in the west,
the 18th, containing the counties OF
Bexar, population, 3O,470, Medina,
/, 1872, Bandera, 2,l5S, Kerr. ,, l6S, Ed
wards. 266, Gillespie, 5,S%22, Mason, p
655, Kimble, 1913, Menard, l,239,
Crockett, l27, Tom Green, 3,6l5, Pre-
sidio. 2,S73, Eli Paso, ssh PecOs, ,S0I;
total, 81, 456, or 9,ll0 in excess Of the
ratio.
Take the most western district, the
9th, embracing the counties of Cam
eron, population, 1859, Hidalg0, H.
81, Starr, S.30+, Zapata. 1896, Enci-
nal, 1902, Duval, 5,742, Nueces, 1878,
Webb, 5,273, LaSalle, $50, Dimmitt,
6G5. FriO, 2,l3O, Zavalla, 40, Uvalde,
2,541, Maverick, 1867, Kinney, 4,4S7;
total IS ,S25, or II ,479 in excess Of the
ratio. and so on over the west.
Now, is not this expose burning
shame upon tree people.
According to these figures which no
one can gainsay, it takes 1922 souls III
western Texas TO elect three senators,
whilst Jog, 975 is enough to elect three
senators from north and east Texas.
These figures are startling and must
challenge the attention from every
fair mind. Who is responsible for
this thing? Surprising that our local
Senator \. w Houston, and Repre-
sentatives Thompson and Wurzbach
done their full duty to resist this
outrage, then who is to blame? Have
these men ever taken the floor and..eX-
planned? Has Governor Ireland, the
champion of West Texas, ever been
heard from in the matter? If not is ii
too late gentlemen, Houston, Thomp-
son, WurZbach and Ireland, rise and
explain.