Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-01-07

e For the three counties OF Grant, Gree
ey and Kearney, census takers were APP
nointed some months ago, and made |
heir reports, but the organization Of |
these counties is delayed by suits now
pending in the supreme court. The re-
burns of the census takers were as follows:
Grant ..... 1Il6
Greeley ....... .....- 26n
Total 4. ,24S
Adding these figures to the aggregate
population of the fifteen counties organ
iized since the apportionment OF 1886,
makes total OF 81, 212 inhabitants, living
in eighteen counties, who will, practically,
have no vote in the next house of repre-
sentatlveS.
If. however, these eighteen counties
were added to the eighty-seven that are
assigned representatives under the pres
ent apportionment, one hundred and five
of the one hundred and twenty-five repre-
sentatives to which the house is limited
would be absorbed, leaving only twenty
to be distributed, on the basis of popula-
ton, among the more populous counties.
The result of this would be that fully
thirty counties, each having less than six
thousand inhabitants, and an aggregate
population as shown by the census OF
March 1, 1887, of only 107, 1905, would have
an aggregate of thirty representatives,
while twenty-five counties, having an ag-
gregate population of 585, 537, would have
only one representative each, and six
other counties, having an aggregate pop
ALTON of $780, 43, would be reduced to two
representatives each. In other words,
thirty counties, having an aggregate pop
ulation of only. 107 1906, would have thirty
votes in the house, one for every 1916,
inhabitants; while thirty-one other cOun-
ties, having an aggregate population OF
49,, 480, would have only thirty seven
votes, one for every 22,31O inhabitants.
It must be apparent, In view OF these
facts, that no apportioDment that can be
made under the provisions of our present
constitution would correct the inequali-
ties of representation you deplore, and it
is equally apparent that if new appor-
tionment could be made this winter, based
on the census of 1887, these inequalities
would only be made more CONSPICUOUS and
obnoxious.
You may, of course, urge that the legis-
lature could submit to the people for rati-
fcation such amendments to the constitu-
ton as would insure just apportionment
in 1891. But such amendments might
have been submitted during the session
of 1886, when the question of apportion-
ment was under consideration, or duringthe
session of 1887. The defects and Unequal
tiles of our present system were just as
apparent then as they are now. Indeed,
they have been universally acknowledged
during the past six or eight years, and yet
successive sessions of the legislature have
taken no steps to correct them. What as
surance, then, could be afforded that the
legislature, if convened in extra session
this winter, would adopt any measures
for correcting these conceded inequalities?
The fact is that Kansas has outgrown
its organic law, and that it's different
parts cannot be made to fit the great
state of the present. Our constitution
was made for community of loo, 600 peo-
pie; we have to-day at least l,6OO,OOO.
We had not mile of railway within our
borders when the state was admitted into
the union; we have now fully 5000 miles.
Emporia, Salina and Marysville we're then
the frontier towns of the state; now
thriving cities thread every highway of
commerce to the Colorado line. Only
twenty-eight counties we're represented in
our first legislature; during the last ses-
sion ninety-fve were represented by MEM
bers or delegates, and before the next leg
islature convenes 106 counties will be
fully organized. In 1861 we had only five
judicial districts; we have now twenty-nlne.
The legislative article of our organic
law is not the only one that is inadequate
to our present necessities. Our constitu-
ticn should more clearly define and limit
the rights, duties and powers of the great
corporations that have grown up during
the past quarter of century. It should
provide more efficient and comprehen-
sive judicial system. It should embody
more complete provisions concerning our
municipal organizations, and limit their
debt-creating authority as rigidly as that
of the state is now limited. In brief, we
need new constitution. Admirably as
the organic law of 1859 was, and, in many
of its provisions, still is, it does not fit the
great, imperial state of 1887.
It may be true, as you urge, that
many of our laws need revision. This ar
gument might be made, in support OF a
demand for an extra session of the legis-
lature, at any time. I cannot believe,
however, that it would justify an extra
session of the legislature this winter.
Yours very truly,
JNO. A. MARTIN.
The governor of Kansas is a capable,
faithful executive officer. He is more:
He is an editor, and has the faculty of
knowing, not only what he wants to say,
but how to say it. In the communication
to Mr.. Pratt, the governors array of fig
ures is mastery. With his conclusions,
we do not agree entirely. In the organic
law of our state it is provided that each
county shall have at least one
in the legislature. This
provision was clearly the result OF the
opinion of the trainers of the constitution
that each county has, to some extent, dis
finctive interests and that. for this rea-