The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06
That Gerrymander.

THURSDAY MARCH Q, 1890.
That Gerrymandsr. |
As expected. the DEBORAH Republic
can comes to the defence Of the re-
publican gerrymander Of the repre-
sentative districts OF Iowa. which Il
strictly in keeping with its avowal
hitherto that any means by which
republican ascendency could be main
tanned il justifiable.
We had expected to see newspa-
pers OF its elastic conscience quote
the paragraph in the constitution OF
Iowa that it did.
Section 80 Of the constitution pro-
yides for an enumeration OF the peo-
pie Of the state in the years 1850, 1863,
1866. 1861. 1860 and 1875: and sections
81 and 81 require the apportionment
to be made upon the basis Of these
enumerations.
Thus the basis OF representation
might have been changed at each APP
portionment from 1859 to 1875, but
from that time until the census Of the
state. or OF the United States each
alternate years is completed the
apportionment is il legally and con-
stitutionally made, based upon the
total inhabitants found at the last
state or federal census as the case
may be.
The last state census was that OF
1885, the population of the state was
1.7j3. 900, this divided by 100, the
number of representatives makes the
ratio 1880, and upon this basis How
ard county having more than half
the constitutional requirement would
be entitled to representative. But
such an apportionment would have
given democratic counties with 3d.
600 inhabitants two representatives,
while the unc unconstitutional apportion-
ment of 1885, and the one subsequent
gave them but one. The constitu-
ton would have been no worse vio-
lated in making Howard and Mitchell
one district than in giving them two
upon an apportionment expressly
made for the purpose Of depriving
other counties of their just repre-.
sentation.
Governor Boies in his inaugural
message on this topic says:
THE constitution OF our state pro-
yides that the Legislature at each
regular session thereof shall fix the
ratio Of representation and form in
to representative districts those coun-
ties which are not entitled singly to
a representative, SO as to apportion
the members of the legislature among
the several counties and representa-
tive districts according to the num-
Der of inhabitants therein.
The census of 1886, upon which the
present ratio of representation was
established, showed the population
of the state to be in round numbers
1,753, 600 which should have made the
actual ratio for 100 members 1850.
Instead of adopting this number
the legislator in 1886 enacted that "a,
600 should be the ratio of representa-.
ton, and thereupon divided the state
into assembly districts. The consti.
tuition also provides that any county
or district having one-half the mum.
Der of inhabitants fixed as the ratio
of representation shall be entitled te
one member, and any county hav-
ing one-half more than that number
shall be entitled to two. No less than
sixteen Of the districts as then form.
ed contained less than $4,000 inhabi.
tants, and some having but one mem
Der had more than $4,000. The last
general assembly re-enacted this APP
portionment and division without
change.
l cannot help believing great er
ror was committed both in the ap
portionment and division of the state
SO made. To justify an apportion
ment upon basis Of $4,000 to a dis
trict required a population Of 2,4OO,
600 inhabitants. This was GOO, 600 il
excess of our actual population. In
dividing the state into districts this
error grew into actual wrong. So fal
as the sixteen districts containing
less than half the population fixed by
the ratio of representation are con
cerned, their establishment, in the
judgment of many of our people, wa.
violation of the fundamental law oil
our state. while the inhabitants Of
those containing the greater number
are certainly deprived Of a fair ant
equal representation in the legisla
ture.
No one can rightfully maintain
that one person in one part of the
state is entitled to the same repre-
sentation in the legislature that il
accorded to four in other localities
and yet the difference is even greater
than this between some of the dis
tricts.
Without reference to party aff1li
atoms, We can not too stoutly main
tain the necessity for unqualified
obedience to the constitution OF oul
state and impartial recognition Of
the political rights of every one Of
her citizens. 1t will be the duty oi
the present legislature to establish Q
new ratio Of representation and re
district the state. This will undoubt
eddy be SO done US to avoid just criti
cism i'm the future"
From one census period to another
there is but one legitimate means Of
changing the apportionment, viz
changing the number Of representa-
tives to be chosen.