The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-04-09

He Approves of the Acts of the Extra
Session of the Legislaturc-FIcased with
the Congressional Redistricting Measure
Cost Of the Session. 500. 900.
The st. Louis Republic of the 27th
contains an interview with Gov. Fran
els. When asked in regard to the spc-
cial session of the legislature he said he
was greatly pleased with the result. In
regard to the congressional rcdiSt"icting
measure, which became a law. and
which gives the democrats fourteen
congressman and the republicans one,
the governor is quoted as saying:
BY the congressional redistricting all doubt
has been removed as to the vote of Missouri
being properly counted in the electoral college.
The state has been divided into fifteen congress
sional districts of contiguous territory ard
homogeneous people. The dominant PARTY in
the state believes that the interests of the coun-
try will he most promoted by the supremacy Of
democratic principles i'll the national l~eaisla-
ture. The congressional offices are purely 20
htical. The division lines between the two
great parties are distinctly defined. and
that would he an unwiSc policy, which
would give undue representation to the
principles which democrats think detrimental
to the welfare of the majority and mcnacing to
the perpctuity of our government. There will
be one republican representative" in the Fifty
third congress for Missouri, and that is one
more than there would have been in all prob
ability if the state had not been redistricted. aS
the congressman t large would surely have
been democratic. | have approved the con
gressional redistficting bill aft T. having read it
twice. and having seen no r, aSon why | should
not approve il. Failure to do 50 or diSIsoval
would have neccSsitated another extra session
Of the Legislature.
The basis of representation under the last
apportiOnment act of congress is l7i.9Nl. Tut is
l1S.6l2 in Missouri. obtained nv dividing tn"
population by fifteen, The population in the
new districts ranges frcm liz. AZ in the Ninth
to a4,%l IN the third. In New York the p"pu-
lation of tn" different congressional districts
ranges from lO1 81 in the Sixth to 81, i1i in the
Thirteenth. In Pennsylvania it ranges from
In. 74 in the Third district to :an $50 in the
Fourth. That state will not redistrlct. but will
elect two congressman at -iarc" in November
next. Under the census of lsAl Minnesota had
one congressional district the First, with a ropu-
lation of l'l.2.l. and another. the Fourth, with
4l4,6S5 population.
On the university question the gov
ernor said:
The legislature after a hard fight made rr"-
vision for the re-eTrction of the buildings of
the STATE university at Columbia. ard
thereby obcycd the mandate of the stat,
constitution and left no Doubt as to the
validity Of its action. The effort to remove the
university FIR IN ColuInbil was. of course. malH
by those who did not think the faith of the state
pledged to continue it At that place, hut | b.
lievc that all now agree that the conc'u sion ar
rived at was wise and honorable. the alver-
tisement given the institution will prove Of
great benefit. and | confidently expect to 50" a
large increase in attendance at thu opening of
the scholastic year of ls?2- isgi. Rebuilding
will he well under way within sixty days and
some Of the structures will be ready for ocru
pancy by next October"
On the reduction of taxation for state
purpose. provided for in the state conati-
tuition whenever the total valuation in |
the state shall reach 5000. 900, 900. the
governor said:
One Of the most important acts OF the special
session was n reduction of - per cent, or )
cents on the Sl60. in thu tax levy for state rev
enue purposes. 1t means that SiJD M less will
be collected from the people 10y direct tax this
wear than would have been collected if til re
had been no special session. The Present tax
levy of Is cents on the SlG for state revenue
purposes will realize on the valuation Of about
SANDMAN an annual income of Sl.:;Jhc0 and
it is remarkable that there has been a total r.
duction in state taxes during the present ad-
ministration of just the present levy for state
revenue purposes. In other words on a basis
OF $500. q. 40 in valuation. the total reduction
Of 10 cents in the state levy fOr revenue and in.
terest that has taken place un Ter the present
administration amounts TO an annual saving TO
the people of 81 ,:S5D,.M.
The governor regrets the salaries of
the circuit judges We're not advanced. as
shown in the following:
What OF the judicial circuit bill" he was
asked.
Il have only read IT once. and am not pre-
pared to talk about it yet. 1t is to In regretted. |
however. that the salaries Of the circuit Judges
have not been advanced. The circuit judges
throughout the state are men If high character
and gre at legal a~ttainments, AMI SOM per an
mum is inadequate compensation for the services
they perform. especially in cases whore circuits
extend over four to nine counties and the
judges are compelled TO pay their own travel
ing expenses"
The governor said the cost of the Spe-
cial session would not exceed $50. 900.