The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-08-19
1T COST THE PEOPLE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR
DEMOCRAT GERRYMANDERS.
Republican Fairness Alone Saved the state
From Greater Expense---The Greed of
the Democratic squawbueks Receives
Well-Merited Rebuke.


people. 1t resulted in an unnecessary
expenditure of funds that ought to be
still lying in the treasury of the state.
1t cost the state $5,377.6S for pay and
mileage of members, while the cost OF
printing laws, journals, bills and maps
of new districts will swell the grand
total to SIS, 900. This is the latest item
of the waste imposed upon the state by
"a Democratic administration.
The call of the session was made to
pass laws that should have been passed
at the regular session, and which would
have been passed then had the ''squaw-
buck' legislature had in view the in
terests of the people instead of the in
terests of the Democratic party.
Dressed in little brief authority"
the Democratic legislature attempted
to steal the state, United States Sena-
tor and all. The gross injustice and
fragrant unconstitutionality of the ap-
portionment acts of 1891 were too much
for the Supreme Court to sanction. AS
well might the honorable tribunal
have been asked to protect the thief
caught carrying off his ill-gotten booty,
as to justify the apportionment acts of
1891. Those acts were swept aside as
too outrageous to be allowed longer to
disgrace the statute books of Michigan.
Justice Morse, whose loyalty to
Democracy is unchallenged, said of the
House apportionment: "The appor-
tionment act of 1891 is void, because it
undertook to dismember Houghton
county and because the constitution
was also violated in giving Demo-
cratic counties two representatives,
having less population than Re-
publican] counties which were &C
corded but one'' The words in
brackets have been inserted to show
the facts and to indicate how the con-
stitution was violated in the interests
of Democracy. The unlawful dis
memberment of Houghton county was
made for the same purpose. Justice
McGrath, the other Democratic men,
Der of the Supreme Court, does not
hesitate to stigmatize the ''squawbuck
grasp at unlawful dominion in Michi-
gan as usurpation. Speaking of the
senatorial Encouragement of 1891, he
says: 1.-THE purpose of the con-
stitutional enactment is to secure as
nearly as possible equality of repre-
sentation. Any apportionment that
defeats that purpose is vicious, con-
trary not only to the letter but to the
spirit of our institutions and subver-
sive of popular government. POWER
SECURED OR PERPETUATED BY UNCoN-
sTITUTIONAL METHODS is POWER
UsURPED and usurpation of power is a
menace to free institutions" For
theseureasons the apportionment acts
of 1891 were wiped out. What was the
result? The state government was
left sadly crippled in one of it's de-
partments-all on account of Demo-
cratic misrule. An extra session was
made necessary to repair the mischief
done by Democratic legislature, at
the behest of the Democratic bosses,
who desired to elect one of their num-
Der to the United States Senate.
The session was called by the Gov
ernor and then, as the Lansing Repub-
lican graphically describes it:
Every employee who was foxy enough to
get there, cuspidor artists, clerks, janitors,
doorkeepers, pages and a raft of others, all
come in on the s3 per diem rule and mile
age grab. The services rendered to the
state have been in the line OF loafng and
lounging about and keeping on the shady
side of the capitol building. The clamor
for pay orders on Saturday aftern Don was
deafening.
And so the expense was piled up.
The state has paid dearly for its ex-
perience with Democracy.
That the session was not any longer
and more expensive to the taxpayers OF
the state is due entirely to the wise and
patriotic stand of the Republican mi.
nority. Before the converting of the
two houses, the Republican State Cen.
trail Committee, not in any way dictat
ing action, but acting as an advisory
council, suggested to the Republican
members an offer of cooperation with
the Democrats in the formulation of
fair bills, which both parties could sup.
port. In accordance with this sugges.
ton the following offer mas made by
the Republican senatorial caucus:
"To the Chairman Of the Democrat sena-
torial caucus: Slr-Assuming that your
self and those associated with you are
equally solicitOus with us for the early en-
actment of reapportionment bills In con-
formity with the opinion and instructions
OF the Supreme Court to the end that meas.
ures which shall be recognized as fair and
just. by all the citizens of Michigan, may
be formulated and that the taxpayers be
spared the burden of expense attendant
upon . prolonged session of the legislature,
We are authorised by the Republican mem
proposition, viz; That committee fairly
constituted to represent the Republican.
Democrat and Peoples parties shall be
named by their respective caucuses who
shall be charged with the duty of formu-
lating bills to be presented for approval of
the said caucuses, and upon an agreement
being reached. to be presented for action In
the legislature.
(Signed) "a Mines, W. III. Wilmington,
JOS. M. Weiss, II L Taylor, A o Wheeler
The Democrats in the Senate, after
vainly trying for half day to rally
their forces for the passage of partisan
measures and finding that they could
not use the party whip with success Oh
members enough to pass a bill, finally
made a virtue of necessity and agreed
to compromise measures. The credit
of shortening the session and of secur.
ing measurably fair appointments be-
longs to the Republican minority in
the Legislature.