Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-08-12
lis IT SATISFACTORY?
THE NEW SENATE AND HOUSE RE-
DiSTRlCTING BILLS.
Only Two Days Required for the State
Legislature to Settle on n Reap
portionment scheme.
The First Day.

The First Day. va,
In response 10 the call of Gov. Winans
both houses of the state legislature are
in session at Lansing to pass new
electoral apportionment to take the
place of the famous measure of 1891
which was knocked higher than Glide
roy's kite by the supreme court. The
opening day was quite lively.
In the Senate Lieut.. Gov. Strong rap
ped to order and Rev. ii. S. Jordan, of
Lansing, conducted the usual religious
services. Clerk Alfred j. Murphy
called the roll, emitting the names of
Senators Bastone and Wisner who had
resigned since the last adjournment.
The first fight came upon the motion to
adopt the rules of the last regular ses-
sion with the exception of Rule -,
which provides that:
Every bill shall be introduced by mo-
ton for leave or by standing or select
committee and one days notice at least
shall be given Of an intended motion for
leave TO bring in bill aud this rule shall
not be suspended in relation to bills amend
ing acts OF Incorporation
The Republican members desired to
have that rule adopted with the re-
mainder and a recess was finally taken.
\ committee was appointed COM
posed of six Democrats and five Repub-
! Leans and n conference was held 60
come To some amicable agreement in
the adoption OF a senatorial reappor-
tionment. The Republicans presented
| plea based upon the eleventh census,
giving as near as possible one senator
to each G5, l34 inhabitants.
When the Senate reassemblcd the
motion to adopt the rules of last SEES
sion was referred The House was
notified that the Senate was organized
and prepared for any business
before the joint session. The
House responded in the same
manner and Senate proceeded TO the
House. The governor was notified of
the organization and transmitted the
following message:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Repre-
EentatlYes:
The supreme Court Of the state has declared
unconstitutional and void tbs acts passed by
this Legislature and the Legislature OF 1855, for
the appOrtionment of Senators and Repre-
sensatives in the stase Le.islat are and has di-
rectcd that the coming elections be held n ac-
cordsnco with the appoItionmest acts or 1881,
unless you shall enact new measures.
The acts Of 1851, while they wcse not passed
upon b. the court. arC subject 20 the same
constitutional objections which were raised
against she acts OF 1855 end 1891 and, Conssd-
cred in connection with our present popula-
ton, arc wholly inadequate TO secure "A proper
representation OF the ditfe1ent sections OF tbs
state.
An election under the ac.s of 1881 vould now
involve far more Of inequality OF representa-
ton than would be possible under the acts OF
1891.
Moreovc-, since 1881 several new counties
have been organized, and in the larger cities
ward bound aries have been 50 changed that II
l. more than doubtful II elections cuald be
held in solnpof the districts.
l have therefore deemed IL IVY duty 70 con-
vene the Leg Stature in specia session Tor the
purpose OF considering the situation, Trusting
that your wisaom and your familiarity with
! the subject viii enable you 10 frame 6ppor-
tionment actssyhich will confom TO this re-
quirements of lhe Constitution and be acc Zpta-
bic to the supreme Court.
upon this important matter seems due TO your
having followed the presidents Sc by former
Legislatures, AID 10 y sur having accepted The
tbsory that the Legislature is an Independent
co-Oru mate branch OF the state government,
whose province i;i TO determine no political
divisions OF the state.
You have lust cause for concra yslation n
the fact that while much of your important
legislation has bssn contested in tbs Supreme
Court only two of the Go acts passed at your
first session have been held unconstitutional.
have confidence that your wisdom, abilitg
and patriotism wih!enabis yOu to dCthe work.
EDWIN Il. WINANS,
Governor.
The Senate iiourned for one hour.
The committee ON rules repo ted in
f;Eyor of the rulCsof last session and the
fight was renewed, hut nothing was
done except to tEbie an amendnlont to
rule - making tie required notice two
days instead of one. Recess.
The amendment rule % WIS re-
covered from the table by roundabout
way and lost, md the report of the
committee on rules was adopted. A
protest was filed 70 this action. After
a great deal of iEuitless maneuyering
the order of business was called for
land several bills yNere introduced
] In the House there were So members
presSnt-54 Democrats, 81 Republicans.
1After roll call TIE. Senate can,etoveT
! and the governor . message was read.
I Nothing more of Importance was tran
sacted outside of the appointing of a
committee on apportionment and a
1 conference committee.