Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-30
Legislative Apportionment

Editors Of the Kennejee Journal:
In your article of Monday you have
shown with clearness that the senatorial ap-
portionment Of was made up by strictly
sdhefing to the rule that unassigned frsc-
tons should control. The presidents for
he rule run back to 1860 land perhaps
fsrther,) at least it has now become the
fixed legi lstive Interpretation of the con-
s'itusion
The effect Of the rule applied to the cen
sus OF 1890 gives to Kenuebec and Somerset
each new senator, taking them from
Waldo and Oxford. The figures
show that since 1860 Waldo ard Somerset
have both profi'ed by claiming strict appli-
ca'ion of the rule Of the largest fraction,
and always at the expense of either Ken
nebec, Somerset or Knox In 1860 the
fractions were Wsldo s.08i, Somer.et
1891. Oxford 1882, Kennebec, IA 1888,
Knox IL 80 WsIdo and Oxford each
claimed the additional senator. although
Knox with 32,7lG was left with but one,
while SO Cos Oxford "bears" and "bleed
ing Wsldo" with 38,447 had two. Waldo
and Oxford won.
In 1870, the question came up between
Oxford Waldo, Somerset and Kennebec
Their population stood
Oxford 80 4sS
Waldo, "a ,J22
Somerset, "a Gil
Kennebec, 30, 203
The unassigned fractions were:
Oxford, 1859
Waldo, IA 2O3
Somerset, IA ,2J3
kennebec. 1855
The counties of Oxford, Waldo and
Somerset then insisted that the rule of the
largest fractions should prevail and during
the decade following had the same eena
toriaI representation as Kennebec although
Kennebec had fraction of IL, 5G5 unrepre-
scented and the other counties were each
some 6000 short.
In 1888, the fractions were:
Oxford, 1904
Waldo, ljiO
Somerset. II 40
kennebcc, ll,2I2
In the superintendent Waldo and Oxford
insisted on the application of the then well
established rule that the largest fractions
should control. The legislature yielded
10 their claim although the effect Of il was
to give Oxford's Sc ,627 snd Waldo's 80, 4s3
each two senators while Somerset with 49,
333 had 10 content herself with one. and
Kennebec with So 05S had but two.
Certainly Oxford and Waldo must recog
rize the rule that for thirty years has
worked such good results for them.
Your calculations on The representative
apportionment also conform to the pccul-
lar rule OF the constit alton that representa-
tives shall be apportiousd among tie sever
al couuties, not merely according to num-
bers but "having regard to the relative IT,
crease Of population" Your figures show
that Aroostook, Cumberland, Penobscot
and Piscatsq ais should gain one each. to be
taken from Knox, Lincoln. Waldo and
York. The census shows that the largest
percentages Of increase were in Aroostook
ard Piscstsquis, while the largest
percentages of decrease were in Oxford,
Waldo and Lincoln.
The heavr loss. approximating 16 per
cent. in ordAndl5 per cent. in Waldo
show how nsfairly the largest fraction rule
a. to Senators has worked in the last dec
aie for Kennebec has gained some per
cent. and Somerset about /. The unrep-
resented frsction of Kepneeec has every
sesr grown larger. There seems every
reason to believe that Kenpebec and Som
erset vii! gsin heavily in the next decade.
Respectfully,
II. NJ. HEATH.
AUGUSTA, Jan. %, 1891.