New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-26

LEWIS W. EMERSON.
THOMAS NTER
JOSEPH ASllNALL,
JOUN g. SMITH.

H. + [AEsQHSf; j2nN = ; PvXt3 oRDER
Senator Cantor moved that the protest be
tabled 81 ask that it he put upon the minutes,
said Senator Erwin i repeat my motion TO
lay it upon the table, said Cantor.
Senator Cogccshall attempted 70 speak in eX-
pana,ion Of tie protest, when he was interrupted
by Shcchan with tie remark: If any gentle
man objects. you cannot speak
Il object said Cantor thus prompted.
Il am amazed at gag rule in dealing with such
an important matter as Arranging the legislative
districts of the State" s.id Mr.. Cosgeshall, in
dignantly.
"We ought to have rules" said Senator Erwin.
land l move that the rules OF the Senate Of
1892 he adopted
But the Democrats would not permit this. THE
minority said Cantor, cannot make the rules
Of this body You will have sufficient rules
hy-and-by TO sltisfy YOU
Senator Erwin's motion TO adopt rules was
re cctcd by vote OF - 10 Il strict party vote.
Edwards. the Independent Republican. voted with
the other Republicans to adopt rules, although
his Signature was not appended TO the protest.
Private Secretary Williams :hcn brought in TIE
following message from Governor Flower, and il
was duly rcnd
state OF New.York Executive Chamber
Albany, April -. 1902.
To Legislature:
You have convened in extraordinary session pur-
,uant to the power vested In by Article t. section T. of
tho Constitution recommend hr your consi Grafton the
subject Of apporonnont Of Members Of Assembly among
the several counties Of the STATE and alteration of the
senate district, In conformity with The provisions Of the
Constitution. The organic law Of the state. recognizing
the right Of the people fair representation in IN"
Legislature. provides for enumeration Of the inhabitants
the end every years, and directs that reap
portonmcnt of and Assembly districts shall be-
Tho first. the eN
don" such enumeration although neglected In de-
Of constitutional Obligation for years has
at last been t0Acn and the return thcr Of mode
the LEGISLATURE at IT, session. 1t the duty
ot the lw.mang power to apporton Members OF ASSEM-
bly, among in proportion number Of the
respective inhabitants, excluding aliens. and alter
tho existing Senate districts that each VIII contain, as
nearly may b.. On equal number Of Inhabitants.
The performance Of that duty iu satisfactory
TO the people Of the STATE is not without difficulty;
personal and political considerations should b. subor-
dinatcd much possible 20 the purpose securing for
each locality It's fair proportion representation Tho
task Is rendered the difficult by reason the fact
that the existing appard6nmcnt was not ony unfair at
the tno Of its enactment but has and more
unfair with the changes OF population. Under q fair
division OF Members Of Assembly therefore counties
must make sacrifices and suffer In their repre-
s"natlon But such sacrifices should be made Willingly
and trust the Legislature Will approach It's task via,
Il concatofy disposition. determined to Discharge ts
duty mpartlay. ani 20 heed demand OF the ronIe
for fairer system OF legislative Representations
ROSWELL T. FLOWER
The Senate then, upon motion of senator Cantor
suddenly adjourned until IL o'clock and it was
whispered about that thc Democrats were not vet
agreed upon their Legislative Apportionmcnt bill
The cancns Of the Democratic Senators ended at
midnight Only sixteen were present, Senator
Walker refusing to attend it, At midnight the
Democratic Scnaiols entered the Senate Chamber
and Lieutenant Governor Shcchan called the A
scmbase TO order. Senator Cantor at once in
iroduced the Legislative Apportionment bill No
enc could fail to see that il an abomnablr
gcrrymander. The ratio Of representation to each
Senate district is supposed to bc lsO, 900; but
the Republican districts in the interior of the
State are to have many thousands nor
population than this figure On the other
hand. the Ncw-lork districts. of course, arr
close to the ratio. Ncw-lorI does not have
\ population emitting her to eight Senate dis
trcts. but she gets them. Moreover, although
entitled 10 twenty-ninc Assemblymcn, she re-
ceives thirty-one. Kinss County gets five Scna-
tors although, according to her present popula
tion. she is entitled 10 only four. Moreover
she is to have nineteen Asscmblymen. although
entitled to only eighteen.
In urdcr to give New-York and Kings
uhis inordina1e representation of Assembly
rlcn, the Republican counties in the in
terror are robbed Of their representatives.
Thus, St. Lawrence County is reduced from
three Assemblymcn 10 one although she
has population of S0,619; and the ratio Is
$1,000 to an Assembly district. The county OF
It Lawrence thus has excess of b. 200 popnia-
tion above the ratio. On the otter hand, the
Democratic county OF Albany vii have
four AZ. As.embymen although she has a popula-
ton of only l56,773, and is thus entitled
10 only three. Dutchess County. with $4,000
population, gets only one Assemblyman. Chau-
tauqua County, with 73,SsI, is reduced from two