Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-09
Civil Service Commission be made adequate to
the increased work of the next fiscal year.
Protection for Railroad Employees.

iof employees.
have twice before urgently called the atten-
ton of Congress to the necessity Of legislation
for the protection Of the lives of railroad en-
ployes, but nothing has yet been done. During
the year ending June 30, 1880. 800 brakemen
were killed and 7.S41 manned while engaged in
coupling cars. The total number of railroad
employees killed during the year was 2.45l and
the number injured 22.3SO. This is a cruel and
largely q needless sacrifice. The Governments
l. spending nearly one million dollars annually
to save the lives Of shipwrecked seamen; every
steam vessel is rigidly inspected and required
TO adopt the most approved safety appliances
All this is good; but how shall we excuse the
lack of interest and ort in behalf of this army
Of brave young men who in our land COM
merce are being sacrificed every year by the
continued use OF antiquated and dangerous APP
pliances? A law requiring of every railroad
engaged in interstate commerce the equipment
each year of gwen per cent OF It's freight cars
with automatic eouplers and air brakes would
compel an agreement between the roads as TO
the kind of brakes and couplers TO be used and
would very soon and very greatly reduce the
present fearful death rate among railroad en-
ployes-
The appointment of Presidential Electors.
The method of appointment by the States of
electors OF President and Vice President has
recently attracted renewed interest by reason
of a departure by the State of Michigan from
the method which had become uniform ia all
the States Prior to 1892 various methods had
been used by the different States and even by
the same State In some the choice was made
by the legislature; III others electors we're
chosen By districts, but more generally by the
voters of the whole State upon a general ticket
The movement towards the adoption OF the
last-named method had an early beginning and
went steadily forward among the States, until
1882 there remained but single State. South
Carolina. that had not adopted II. That State,
fhaC ryli WAY a.
tors BY u vote of tine Legislature. but after the
war changed its method and conformed to the
practice Of tie other States. For nearly sixty
wears all the States save one have appointed
their electors by popular vote upon a general
ticket. and for nearly thirty years this method
was universal
After full test of other methods. without
important division or dissent In any State and
without any purpose of party advantage, as we
must believe. but solely upon the considerations
that uniformity desirable and that gem
eral election in territorial divisions not subject
to change was most consistent with the pOpu-
lar character OF our institutions, best preserved
the equality OF the yOteTs, and perfectly re-
moved the choice OF President from the Dane-
full influence of the ''gerrymander, the prac-
tice OF all the States was brought into harmony.
That this concurrence should now be broken Is,
think, an unfortunate and even a threatening
episode, and one that may well suggest whether
the States that still give their approval TO the
old and prevailing method ought not to secure,
by a constitutional amendment, practice
which has had the approval OF all. The recent
Michigan legislation provides for choosing
what are popularity known as the Congressional
electors Tor President by Congressional dis
tricts. and the two Senatorial electors by dis
tricts created for that purpose. This legisI-
tlon was. Of course. accompanied by new
Congressional appOrtionment and the two
statutes bring the electoral vote of the State
under the influence OF the ''Serrymauter."
INSTANCES OF GEERrMASDERIN6.
These serrymanders Tor Congressional pur-
poses are in most cases buttressed by a gerry
mandsr OF the legislative districts, thus moking
It impossible Tor a majority of the legal voters
of the State to correct the apportionment and
equaiize tine Congressional districts. 4 minor
ity rule is established that only political con-
vulsion can overthrow. 1 have recently been
advised that in one county of certain state
three districts for the election of members OF
the legislature are constituted as follows: One
has 65,0OO population; one. 1900. and one
1000; While In another county. detached. non
contiguous sections have been united to make
Legislative district. These methods have al
ready found effective application to the choice
of Senators and Representatives in Congress,
and now an evil start has been made lii the
direction OF applying them to the choice BIZ
the States OF electors Of President and Vice
President II this Is accomplished. We shall
then have the three great departments of the
Government il the grasp of the gerry
mander. the legislative and executive directly
and the Judiciary Indirectly through the power
Of appointment
An election implies a body of electors having
prescribed qualifications each one OF whom
has an equal value and influence in deterniin-
ing the result SO when the Constitution pro-
vides that each State shall appoint (elect)
IN such manner as the legislature thereo; may
direct. number OF electors. etc. an unre-
stT3eted power was not given 70 the legislatures
in the selection of the meth DDS TO be used "a
republican form Of government is guaranteed
By the Constitution to each State and the
power given BY the same instrument to the
legislatures Of the States 10 prescribe methods
for the choice. by the State. of electors must be
exercised under that limitation. The essential
features VI such = government are the right of
the people 10 choose their own officers and the
nearest practicable equality of value in the suf-
frages given In determining that choice.
Ii will nos be claimed that the power given
to the legislature would support IA law prOvid-
ing that The persons receiving the smallest
vote should he the electors or law that all the
electors should be chosen by the voters of a
single Congressional district. The State is TO
choose, and. under the pretense OF regulating
methods. the legislature can neither vest tie
right Of choice elsewhere nor adopt methods
not contormable TO republican institutions 1t
Is not my purpose here TO discuss the question
whether a choice by the legislature or By the
voters Of equal single districts Is a choice by
the state, hut only TO recommend such regyI-
Iston OF this matter by constitutional amend
ment as will secure uniformity and prevent
that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which
such "a liberty OF choice, If il exists offers a
temptation
OUR CHIEF NATIONAL DANGER.
Nothing just now IL more important than to
provide every guaranty for the absolutely fair
and free choice by an equal suffrage, within the
respective States, of all the officers of the Ma
tional GovernInen Mt. whether that suffrage is
applied directly, as in the choice Of Members
OF the House Of Representatives. or indirectly,
as IN the choice of Senators and electors of
President Respect for public officers and
Obedience 10 Jaw will not Cease TO be the char
acteris.ics OF our people until our elections
Cease 10 declare tie will of maioritiss fairly
sscer,iined. without fraud. suppression or
gerrymander. II were called upon to declare
wherein our chief national danger lies ! should
say. without hesitation. IN the overthrow Of
majority control by the suppression or per-
version OF the popular suffrage. That there Is
real danger here all must agree. but the
energies OF those who see il have been chiefly
expended IN trying to fix sponsibiiitv upon
the opposite party. rather than in efforts TO
make such practices possible by either party
Is II not possible now to adjourn that inter
minable and Inconclusive debate while We take
by consent. one step in the direction Of reform
by eliminating the gerry nIander, which has
been denounced by all parties, as an influence