Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-06
MONDAY, JULY 6, 1891.
THE HERALD AT THE BEACH.
AN ANOMALY IN REPRESENTATION
NEVADA.

NEVADA.
While there has been a great deal OF
discussion about the advisability of elect
ing United States senators by the peo-
pie, and even as to the expediency OF
abolishing that august body altogether,
there is another aspect from which it
may be criticized with great propr;ety,
particularly since the original cause OF
this anomaly has no longer any force.
We allude to the feature which allows
the state of Nevada as much representa-
tion in the United States senate as the
great commonwealth of New York.
When the constitution of the United
States was formed there were great
many local jealousies amongst the orig
inal thirteen states, and it was very hard
to bring them together. The advant-
ages of union were not apparent to
all of these bodies polite, by any means.
The sentiment of separate sovereignty
was overwhelming. Concessions had to
be made, and the equal representation Of
The states was one OF the points which
was most insisted on. This was strong
argument at that time, and has been
acquiesced in ever since. If there should
be any radical change in the manner Of
electing the United States senators it
would be an excellent idea to base the
representation of the states in what is
called the upper house on population,
precisely as in the case of the house of
representatives. There is no reason
why, if Nevada should have two United
States senators, New York should con-
tent herself with two. The subject is
environed with difficulties, but the pres
ent system is vicious in the extreme.
The last census shows that Nevada s
population has shrunk to 81 900 souls.
During the past decade she has lost
within fraction OF 27 per cent
of her exhibit for 1880. This
is advancing backward at rapid
rate. She has fifty thousand less popu-
lation than the county of Los Angeles,
with Orange county cut off. There are
single wards in the city of New York that
have more than twice as much popula-
ton as Nevada. There was probably
never more corrupt partisan job than
the advancement of the Sage Brush
state to an equality with New York,
Pennsylvania and the mass of the other
commonwealth who are entitled on just
grounds to political recognition. She
was admitted to the union to furnish
Republican votes in the United States
senate, and for no other purpose. We
have no intention to be disrespectful to
Nevadans, whose personal characters
tics we admire, but here we have COM
monwealth that, should Its mining in
terests die out, is sure TO become even
more of pocket borough than she IS
now. The census tells the story of what
is liable to happen decade after decade.
And yet, under our present system, we
have no machinery for remedying
such state OF things. The al
mission to the union of such communi-
ties as North and South Dakota, and
others, may be defended upon the
ground that they are growing communi-
ties, and that they will shortly realize
the brilliant future that is before them.
1t is out OF the question, except on very
sanguine grounds of hope, to look for
anything of the kind from state which
is going steadily backward.
Pocket borough, or rotten borough, as
she undoubtedly is, we doubt very much
IL .toko of Nnuy Vnrlx hos q "
ercised as much influence in the senate
of the United States during the past
fifteen or eighteen years as Nevada.
This has been owing to the circumstance
that, with several notable exceptions
which prove the rule, she has been care
fiil to elect as her senators in congress
men of pre-eminent ability. The two gen.
tlemen who represent her today, Senators
John P. Jones and William M. Stewart,
though nominally Republicans, are en-
lightened men who, on all questions
that involve progress, really national
and patriotic scheme of finance, and, in
general, just Interpretation OF the con-
stitution of the United States, are always
found planted squarely down with the
Democrats in the senate, from the
Force bill to the confirmation of Dem
ocratic officials. They are leaders OF
opinion. In his long senatorial career
John P. Jones has probably welded
more personal influence at Washington
than any other Republican in the
United States, excepting James G..
Blaine, Roscoe Conkling and John sher-
man. Take the senatorial representa-
ton of New York as it stood in the
fifty-frst congress, Evarts and Hiscock,
and place opposite them the names OF
Jones and Stewart; and, in personal
influence, vigor of intellect, responsive
ness to popular demands and far-sighted
statesmanship, the balance has been