The sun., 1891-03-27
The Redistricting of New Jersey.

Under the new apportionment Now Jersey
will have eight Congressman instead OF
seven. The Legislature which adjourned
last Friday passed law redistricting the
State to accommodate this increased repre-
sentation. The provisions OF this important
law interest every voter in New jersey and
mako radical changes in the existing politl-
cal geography of the State.
The First district remains as at present.
1t includes the counties on Delaware Bay
and the Delaware River. as for up as Phila-
delphia, namely, Cape May. Cumberland,
Salem Gloucester, and Camden. This is Re-
publican district. although the plurality has
steadily decreased In recent years. In 1888
the Republican plurality was 5,466 for Con-
gressman. in 1889 it was 1884 for Governor,
and In 1890 it was 2,71O for Congressman.
1t Is likewise by far tho strongest Prohibi-
ZIONIST county in the State. Tho immediate
prospects OF q Democratic Congressman
from the coccyx district Of New jersey are
not bright.
The Second district also remains as now
constituted. 1t takes in the belt OF four
counties across the State from the Delaware
at Trenton and Burlington to the ocean at
Barnegat and Atlantic City. The counties
are Mercer, Burlington. Ocean, and Atlantic.
This is also q Republican district with q
drift toward Democracy. In 1883 the Repub-
lican plurality for Congressman was 3,so3;
in 1889, for Governor, 1854; and last year, for
Congressman. only 1,lG3 A change of six
hundred votes in tho Second district at the
next election would send from New Jersey
another Democratic Representative to the
Fifty-third Congress.
The two Republican districts already con-
sidered cover the southern half of New Jer-
sey. roughly speaking. The more populous
northern half of tho State now includes five
districts, all Democratic, and under tho new
apportionmenr 1t will include six districts,
all Democratic.
The Third district, now composed Of Mid
dlesex, Monmouth, and Union, the three
counties of tho group around Rarltan Bay.
is changed by the law Of 1891. Union is cut
off and made past OF the new Eighth dis
trict, while Somerset Is added. The political
effect Of this change will be to reduce the
Democratic plurality. but to keep 1t safe.
The district gave 451s Democratic plurality
last November for GEIssENuAINER over
CLARK. II it had then been constituted ns
under the new arrangement the Democratic
plurality would hnve been 1904.
The Fourth district Is now composed OF
the counties along the upper Delaware
Hunterdon. Warren, and Sussex. together
with Somerset. In the north middle interior.
1t now loses Somerset to the Third, and
takes In place of 1t Morris and seven town.
ships OF Essex county. namely Belleviue,
Bloomfield Caldwell East Orange, Frank
aI,,;, ;,,;,
townships have hitherto voted with the city
OF Newark rs part OF the old Sixth district,
which includes tho whole OF Essex county
The effect OF tho change can DO de-
duced from the returns OF tho election Of
1889 for Governor. ABBLTrs plurality
In the Old Fourth was AGO. Tho seven
townships now transferred from Essex gave
GRUBB 1851 plurality. Morris is very
nearly an offset for Somerset. According o
tho figures Of 1859, therefore. the change
will reduce tho Democratic plurality in the
Fourth from 1860 to about 5000, a perfectly
safe margin while unlimbering tho Demo-
cratic vote in tho city OF Newark from the
Republican or doubtful vote in tho neigh
boring townships. This Is. perhaps, the
most Important Democratic advantage
gained By the lew scheme OF districts.
The Fifth has been composed OF Bergen,
Morris and Passalc. Now 1t will include
Bergen. Passaic, together with tho rural
part of Hudson, which is Democratic more
than two to one. Last year the Democratic
plurality In the Fifth was 1856. At the cleo
tion for Governor in 1889 there was a Re-
publican plurality of 0l0. Tho Fifth dis
trict as now to DO constituted would have
~ n nnplnprptiP
Here is another important Democratic gain
by the redistricting.
The Sixth district was undivided Essex.
As already remarked. the Republican town.
ships lying beyond the limits Of the city Of
Newark have sometimes balanced the Dem
ocratic majority in Newark. and have made
the result doubtful. Tho new Sixth district
Ia tn" city OF Newark rlunc, whcro ABsErr's
maj rIty over GDl DB was about l.&0 In