Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16
rFRox A srAEF CORRESPONDENT.

rFRoA STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, March 15.-When the
fact became fully established that the people
OF Ohio had elected Democratic Legisla-
ture with a working majority in both
branches, it at once became apparent that
the State was 10 be subjected once more TO
one OF those redistricting schemes when
periodically disturbed the equanimity OF
politicians of either party. -Four times
since 1876 has the State been gerryman-
dered-twice at The hands of the Democrats
and twice by the RePublicans-and now 1t
is the Democratic turn again.
The bill which was finally adopted by the
legislative caucus and which has since be-
come a law so redistricted the State that it
provides for Is Democrats in the next
Congressional delegation against six Repub-
Iicans. The thoroughness of the change
proposed can perhaps better be appreciated
bv comparing this distribution of districts
with the one adopted by the Republicans
the last time and which has given 16
seats in the present Congress to Republicans
and only five to the Democrats.
REPUBLICAN CLAIM.
Naturally, this political turnover has
created great alarm among the Republicans
not only of Ohio, but of the whole country.
Ii meant to them apparently the loss of the
next national House of Representatives.
Here in Washington the situation was dis
cussed with great interest, and more than
one meeting ot the Ohio members of Con-
gress was held to discuss ways and means
whereby to offset the action of the Demo-
cratic Legislature
Several bills were prepared, but the one
introduced by Mr.. McComas, of Maryland,
was arranged bv some of the brightest men
in the party, and is the one which is now
attracting attention. The bill is as follows:
Belt enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of Amer
lea. in Congress assembled, that in each State
entitled under an apportionment of Represen-
tatives in Congress TO more than one Represen-
tative. the number of Representatives to which
such State may be entitled in the Fifty
third and each subsequent Con-
gress shall be elected by districts
which have as nearly as practicable an equal
number of inhabitants, so that the most popu-
lous district in such State shall not have more
than 5000 inhabitants in excess of the popula-
tion Of the least populous district They shall be
composed of territory contiguous, adjacent and
compact They shall be equal in number to the
number of Representatives to which such State
may be entitled in Congress, and no one dis
trict shall elect more than one Representative,
and the number of districts shall be equal to
the number of Representatives to which such
State may be entitled.
Section 2-After each national decennial
census of population shall have been completed
Congress snail determine the number of Repre-
sentatives in Congress and reapportion the
same among the several States as entitled, and
the Legislature of each State elected next after
such apDortionment by Congress- shall redis-
1rict each State under the restrictions and reg
ulations as to population and territory herein
before provided: and such redistricting when
made by such State Legislature shall not be
altered by any succeeding Legislature during
the term of ten years, nor until, under the next
succeeding decennlal census, Congress shall
make a new appOrtionment. so that hereafter
in each State there shall be one apportionmeut
of representatives by Congress, and one redis-
ITicting only hereunder by each State in con-
1ormity with each decennial census of popula-
ton.
APPLIES TO OHIO.
Section 3-That until the next apportion.
ment of Representatives shall be made by
there shall be no change of boundaries of any
of the Congressional districts in any State to
alter the same as they existed when the Rep
resentatives of the Fifty-first Congress were
elected, and the Representatives to the Fifty-
second Congress shall be elected from the
same districts, composed of the same territory
and having the same boundaries as those from
which the Representatives in the Fifty-first
Congress were elected. any law of any State
heretofore or hereafter passed to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
Section THAT in any State where no IeOis. |
lature is elected subsequent to the reappor- |
tionment by Congress and prior to the election |
of Representatives in Congress under such new |
in case of a decrease in the |
number of Representatives TO which any State |
may be entitled under any such apportionment |
by Congress. the Legislature of such State then |
in session or IN session next after such amor |
tionment by Congress, shall and may redistrict |
such State under the restrictions and regula- /
tiors as to population and territory hereinbe-
lore provided; and in case of an increase in the
number OF Representatives which may be given |
70 any State under any such apportionment by
Congress, such additional Representative or
Representatives may be elected by the State at
large and the other Representatives by and
from the districts prescribed by law until the
Legislature of such State, elected next after
such apportonment in the manner hereinbe-
fore prescribed, shall redistrict such State.
COVERS ALMOST EVERYTHING.
Section 5-That the certifying boards of each
State authorized and required by the laws of |
such State to canvass and declare the result of |
the election of Representatives in Congress
from each district In such State, in addition to
the matters and facts now required by the |
statutes of the United States to be set ont in |
the certificates of election of Representative |
IN Congress. shall further certify that such Rem
resentatIves have been duly elected to renresent |
districts constituted ana composed of territory /
in conformity with this act and that such |
districts{ in respect of territory and boupdaries
have not been constituted or altered bv anv
statute of such State enacted before or after
the passage Of this act in violation of or in
conflict with this act; and such certifcates
only, when duly attested, shall be received bv
the clerk of the House of REPRESENTATIVES, as
proper ceruncates IN making up the roll of the
next succeeding House of Representatives and
in case of a failure or refusal of the proper
certificate board in any State to sign or forward
to the clerk OF the House of Representatives
the certificate Of election of any Representative
in Congress, as authorized and required by the
laws OF such State, the clerk of the House of /
in making the roll of the next
,eive the returns of the local canvassing boards /
Or officers properly certified according to the
laws of such Stale, as sufficient certihcation of |
the election of a representative in Congress 1
clerk of the House of Representatives.
The second clause calls for a new appor-
.ionment by Congress of the number of |
members each State shall be entitled to after
each census and for redistricting by the |
in accordance with this appor-
which shall not be changed until
the next decennial census.
ONE OF THE POINTS.
1t also provides that the Legislature to do
Ibis redistricting shall be the one elected
next alter the new apportionment, the pur-
pose being to prevent the possibility of the
present Ohio Democratic Legislature making
the new gerrymander. Section three pro-