New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-11
TO STOP GERRYMANDERING.
SCOPE AND VALUE OF THE BILL INTRO
DUCED IN THE HOUSE BY MR.. MCCOMAS.

DUCED IN THE HOUSE BY MR.. MoCOMAS.
MEASURE THAT GOES IL THE ROOTS OF THE
WHOLE EvI1-ITs APPLICATION TO THE
RECENT MARYLAND AND OHIO GERRY
MANDERs-wHAT IT'S AUTHOR
HOPES FOR IT.
nv TELEGRAPH 10 THE IRrBUNEl
Washington, March 1O.-The recent passage by
bot ,nchcs Of the Ohio Legislature Of partisan
red ting bill has aroused fresh interest hese In
the introduced in the House and Senate to
block this clever Democratic scheme for capturing
majority in the next House of Representatives.
Governor Campbell Of course is expected to approve
the proposed gcrrymander, and the new districts
will accordingly be the only legal ones Ohio until
the Federal law comes in TO reverse the decision Of
the State Legislature. The IIoar and Wicklam bills
were so drawn as to forbid any change Of districts
after the date of their passage by Congress. They
could have no effect, consequently, on the Maryland
or Ohio gerrymanders, which have already been ac-
complislicd and they will both have 10 be dropped
altogether or modified in committee to meet the sua-
ton that has arisen since they were introduced
There is one bill now before Congress, however,
that meets the whole question Of gcrymandering so
completely and successfully that ii will probably BIO
adopted in both the House and the senate. The
measure referred TO Is the drawn about three
week, ago By Mr.. McComas. of Maryla an abstract
OF which was published in The Tribune Of February
%. Mr. McCOmas proposes TO break up the whoo
system of gerrymandering for partisan purposes by
allowing only a single redstricng OF a state to be
made by the first Legislature that meets after new
reapportonmcn This body must make the districts
Of compact well contiguous territory. The
population too In any one district Of state must
not exceed that in any other by more than 1000.
Members Of the Lid Congress to be elected from
the districts those Of the List, and a new
apportionment Is TO be made for the LlId Congress.
TO head of any attempt the part of the ohio
Democrats to choose Congressman from the new dis
tricts, and have the Governor certify them lawfully
elected Representatives the bill provides that the
Clerk Of the IOuse shall accept certificates OF election
from State Canvassing Board only the Board TO be
made up of the Attorney General the Secretary
Of state and the Governor. II the attempt to violate
the law is patent the Clerk may accept the returns
made by county canvassing boards in the various
legally constituted districts. No lOophole Of escape Is
left for the Ohio and Maryland conspirators and, If
the law passes, they will probably not have the
temerty 10 contest il.
Mr. McComas's bill IS not temporary ex
pcdicnt to checkmate the proposed Democratic ont
rage upon the right Of representation in Congress. 1t
goes to the root Of the whole matter and will put a
stop to the abuses of gerrymanderng all over the
country II the bill becomes law, the Congressional
districts in all the states will have to be plotted out
imparallv than ever before. and the inequali-
ties Of approximation of which much complaint ha-
been made will be reduced tn the minimum. No more
effective measure for the repression Of the evils Of
partisan dsricng could well be devised yet, for all
this IL may be doubted whchel-smply because 1t de
prives the Ohio Democrats Of tns present political
advantasc-it will get single Democratic vote In either
/ the House or the senate
Referring to the provisions Of the bill, Mr.. McComas
The trick OF gerrymandcrng state is quickly.
practi,cd by each party when 1t obtain, power: 4.
!, sin against representative government q" P,',s
rcdistrictns to depend upon tine fortunes oi every
local election, upon tn capree Of ese.S ,ns
| Of Representative, upon shifting sands. Oom
munitc, long allied IN representation are suddenly
| torn apart. NeiSlDorho1ds are scpdl1leu' 'o'' !,
mlniti,, remote from each other are suddenly United
in representations In territory districts uc loi. ,
| l.frl,iln- /. oouirlvcd 10 make one voter u TIE
majority party equal TO three voters Of the minority
Tho biz have introduced provides that Con, Con
sre--ional districts shall have, a, nearly a. p,a'
ucabic. an equal number Of nhabltants me nP,'
populou, district In any state not to have l2.Oo9 IN
itan in excess Of The population of Of Inc lea ess
| lie contiguous. adjacent and compact. TO prevent
| state under each deccnnial ccnsus OF popnlatioA'
| there shall be one apportlonment OF Kepr~eniaNe,
iy Congress, and redistrcung Hereunder by eacll
state and that the legislature m each state. cleo tea
nest after apportionmcnt by 'on-fe,, under new,
census, shall rcdstrct each state into districts. equal
IN population and compact IN territory ana mat 10
!
,,tnr uufil another census.
Tlc result Of the present census will be ascertaned
m time 20 enable the state, H. rcc,ili, for the Llld
Congress. Just the NLllld touEr~s NJ, eler tel
.udcr a new apportoament. aud the NLIld wa held
under an old apporpnmcnt. 80 now the Lllld VIII bc
nh, nr. Congress which can be rcdistrcted pursuant
| fo the XltA census and the Apportlonmcnt law by
congress, My bill the principle Of which Is that dis
trots shall not De disturbed for ten year. a'I 'I-
been marked ont under each new census. Justly pro
vida, that until the next app'ruohment oi hP'.
-rntative- shall be made - 'osr-s. '"iV'l'tnN 20
the Kiln Census Their" >hall be- no chang "i nouNda,
u any OF the Congressional district, III any ola'e
but That Representative, OF the Liza 'ohsr''' s Dn
elected from the districts a, they were I'D thc LIZ
Congress. rendering nusaory any e,er5 10 teal''i1
states only ninety days before the Nih sn'"S' !,
also directs Legislatures how to meet lunu'r ne"
spport.onmcnt following The Mn .esu S.t.cr az,
| Increase or decrease In the Limitation 10 states 81
" II nav happen that The state Leg -laturcs may
or the state officials lca,c to declare results Loyalty
70 the Federal Government tn, MN se' r OF my
bin Is intended 10 meet THIS contingency ~, pow'r
| In the Constitutions IN the fourth section OF The hISi
| article which declares that the time place "h man
ner II holding election, for Representatives shal b.
prescribed in each state BY The Legislatures thereof
but the Concrc,, At any time make or alter sncl'
ss meant 70 1--WE the National Legislature the
power not only t. alter the PROVISIONS Of The state
tau or refuse altogether elliott Debates. io3l
The fifth section Of my bin provide that IN addI
ton 10 matter, and fact, required 10 he certified
thc certifying Boards OF each state shall further Ger
tfv that the Representatives IN congress nave hrn
duly elected To represent districts 'or,,Nu'rn ".r
composed Of territory in conformity with 'h' act
and that such districts. In rfspec; Of territory and
rourh,rrs have not been constituted or ut red lN
any statute of such state enacted before or a'i"r tho
uas,ag. Of hi, act i violation 81 or IN conflict WIN
I'M. act and only such certificates shall he received
lv the House of Representatives ~ proper certificates
in making M tn roll Of the next succeeding House
If Representa- Vc-. - 49,.
| Nv bin further provides that II he proper Ger
tliyng Eoaid IN any state ia' To- 90 ~ uu'> y, '
regard by giving tho certificate Of election TO Rep~
sentative the Clerk of the House may receive the
return, OF the local cauVd--ing board~ or officers a.
sufficient ccrtiGcltiOn Of the election OF Representative
| IN Congress.
\ncr recent decisions OF the supreme Court. one
| should doubt the power OF Congress over TINS sun
cc. In the Ian -uaec Of the court IA "N paitc sci
| hold 100 Tficl states 81. II may be exercised Is
and vh IA Congress III t. exercise. When rN'f
ci-cd the action of Congress- fr a. ~ extends ana
conflict with the rrculailn> of the state. necessarily
! .uurr,edc, them. This /, implied ina the power 10
make or alter And ON PAGE SD the " paramount
character # those made by COngrc>, has the effect TO