Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-07-14

4
as is done in this bill. without gros:
violation of our duty as legislators. We
believe as our honorable supreme courl
has said. That perfect exactness in
the apportionment according TO the
number of inhabitants. is neither re.
quired nor possible, but there should be
as close an approximation to exactness
as possible, and this Is the utmost
limit for the exercises of legislative
discretion.
That there SIRE in this bill many gross
fragrant violations of the prov sions OF
the constitution above quoted, no intel
ligent person will deny. Lack of time
and space will permit references to
only 4 few OF them here Before max
ing these references, we wish to call to
mind the fact that the unit of represent
tatlon for senate districts is 81 III, and
for assembly district is 1865.
The 18th senate districts composed of
Rock and Green counties has popula-
ton of 65,952. excess above INIT of
representation, 1885, while the 4th
senate district has only population of
30,722, which is less than the unit by
2G,3S5, and the difference in population
in these two districts is 35, 220.
The 9th senate district has popula-
ton Of 62,356, and exceeds the 4th
district by 31,624.
The 3lst senate district has popula-
ton of 64,l19 which exceeds the popu-
lation Of the 4th district by 33, 3S7, and
that of the 14;h by &c, 792, and that of
the 30th by 26,987.
The eighth senate district with
population of 4,406, exceeds the 4th
district by 1854, and the 7th district
exceeds the 4th by 1884. and the 9TH
districts exceeds the 4th by 1891, the
four districts last named are all in
Milwaukee county.
There are many other instances of
senate districts showing nearly as great
disparity as the above.
From a hasty comparison of senate
districts it would seem that they are so
arranged as to give each district which
is deemed democratic senator for each
$4,000 inhabitants, while each district
considered republican is given a senator
for each 56,000-a difference of 5000
in favor of the dominant party of this
body.
10 regard to assembly districts we
iind Langlade county with population
OF 9,464, is made and assembly district,
while Green Lake county with a popu-
lation of 1913 and Marquette county
with population of 9,676 are united,
they having together population of
24,839. difference IN these two assem-
bly, districts of 1886.
Green county, with population of
22.732. is made an assembly district.
while the city of GAINESVILLE, with only
1885 is also made an assembly dis
trict; difference in population of II.
500; or in other words, the GAINESVILLE
district does not contain half the popu-
lation of the Green County district.
Vernon county, with a pop ilation of
25,l11, is given one member, while
Chippewa county (deducting for lndi.
ans not taxed) has only 25,009, is given
two members.
We respectfully submit in the lang
uage used by our supreme court in
passing upon the question of the
constitutionality of chapter 4S2 of the
laws of 1891 entitled an act to ''appor-
ton the state into senate and assembly
districts" That the ABOVE disparity
in the number of inhabitants in the
legislative districts is SO great that it
cannot be overlooked as mere careless
discrepancies or sight errors in calcula-
ton tie differences are to material.
great aud glaring, and deprive to
many of the people of the state of all
representation IN the legislature to be
allowed to pass as mere errors of iudg-
inert. They bear upon their face the
intrinsic evidence that no Judgment or
discretion was exercised and that they
were made Intentionally and wilfully
for some improper purpose or for some
private end foreign to constitutional
duty and obligation. 1t is not al
apportionment in any sense of the
word 1t is direct and palpable vio-
lation of the constitution.
We earnestly protest against the gross
and indecent haste with which this
measure is pressed for action, and the
utter want Of fairness and elaboration,
so essential to good legislation. which
denies to the minority. time to analize.
this important and complicated measure
aud to prepare anl present a fnU