Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-26
IN EXTRA SESSION
Proceedings of the New York
 Legislature.
GOVERNOR FLOWERS MESSAGE.
ReappOrtiOnmsnt Bills Presented in Sen a. 1Szs ate and Assembly. ..~~'


 LsgislatiOn During the Session, Claim ing 1t iS an UncOnstitutIOnal one-some of the Changes that che Hills Provide EOr-Nsw York to Get SI AssembIymen and Kings 19.
 ALBANY, N. r., April 28--When the gavel fell at e:30 p. m. Lieut. Governor Sheehan ordered the reading, of the Gov ernor's proclamation, and then Senator Cantor offered a resolution, which was adopted, that the regular employees of the Senate be retained. Resolutions were adopted to notify the Governor that the Legislature was ready for busi- ness and like committee to notify the Assembly. Senator Erwin then offered the following, which was laid on the table:
 ''Ths undersigned hereby protest against any Legislation during this so- called extraordinary session, for the req son that the same is not valid or con stitutional one. The Governors procla- nation does not recommend any sub ject for consideration. The call is not such as authorized and cannot be con- strued into an extraordinary session. We therefore protest"
 
 can Senators.
 The Governors proclamation was then read as follows:
 ALBANY, April 25. 1899. To THE LEGISLATURE:
 You have been convened in extraordi. nary session pursuant to the power vested in me by article w., section V. of the Cons titution. commend for your consideration the subject for Q re- apportionment of members of Assembly among the several counties of the State and an alteration of Senate districts, in conformity with the Constitution.
 The organic law of the State, recog- nizing the right of the people to fair representation in the Legislature, pro- videS for an enumeration of the inhRbi- tants at the end of every ten years, and directs that a reapporrionment of Senate and Assembly shall be made tat the first session after the return of every enumeration" St
 Such an enumeration, although nc glected in defiance of Constitutional ob- ligation for seven years, has at last been taken, and the return thereof was made to the Legislature at its recent session. It is now the duty of the law7making power to apportion members of the As sembly among the counties in propor- tion to the number of their respective inhabitants, excluding aliens, and to so alter the existing Senate districts that each will contain as nearly as may be an equal number of inhabitants.
 The performance of that duty in a manner satisfactory to the people of the State is not without difficulty, but per sonal and political considerations should be subOrdinated as much as possible to the purpose of securing for each locality fits fair proportion of the representation. The task is rendered the more difficult by reason of the fact that the existing apportionment was not only unfair at | the time of its enactment, but has be- come more and more unfair with the changes of population. Under . fair division of members of the Assembly, therefore, some counties must make sac rifces and suffer . reduction in their | representation. But such sacrifices should be made willingly, and trust the Legislature will approach its task with conciliatory disposition, determined 1 to dischargo it's duty impartially and to heed the demand of the people for assfairaE 1 system of Legislative repreSentati on. ROSWELL P. FLOWER. l The Senate then took recess until Il | o'clock.
 At the hour appointed for the Senate | caucus the Democrats met in the Lieut.. { Governors room, but Senators Parker and Walker refused to go in. The clerk of the Senate was sent to interview MT. | Walker, and later Senator Cantor came out and had long talk with him. MT. Parker finally went in, having been as sured he could have four Assemblymen, but MT. Walker sat among the minority member, and refused to be appsased.
 It was 1:4S when the caucus adjourn ed, and Senator Cantor immediately of fered the bill which apportions the dis tricts. The Senate then adjourned til II a. m.
 Assembly.
 The Assembly. had not been called tt order when Q committee of the Senate arrived to announce that that body had convened and was ready for business The proclamation of the Governor issued last week was read, the Senate Commit tee was received, the roll was called showing 113 members present, and thu House was ready for work. Messrs Guenther and VArney were sent as committee to the Governor, and Messrs Webster and Husted to wait upon tn Senate. On motion of MT. Bush tn clerks and employees of the regular session were retained.
 wuuu tne committees had reported Col Williams, private secretary of the Gov ernor, brought in the Governors mes sage, which was read by the clerk. MT Bush moved that the message be printed and referred to Q committee of the whol House. The resolution was adopted al ter much discussion, and recess wa taken until Il o'clock.
 It was 11:40 before the gavel fell Then Mir. Bush offered the Apportion 5 ment bill, which was ordered printe and referred to the Committee of tn Whole House. An adjournment wa then taken till Il Q. m. to-day.