The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-06

by the amendment is a most excellent
lieve the state of Ohio OF the disgrace
full gerrymandering that has been in
dulged in of late years by the politicians
OF that state. The first important feat
ure of the amendment is a provision for
an apportionment commission of four
members, two from each Of the two
leading political parties of the state.
These are to be selected by caucuses
of the members of the legislature, the
republican members selecting two re-
publicans and the democratic members
two democrats. The persons so selected
are then to be formally appointed by
the ultimate authorities and must of
course agree On the apportionment. This
insures reasonable fairness in the work
OF the commission, as neither party has
a majority.
The commission is limited in its work
by certain restrictions which remove
almost entirely the possibility of I'M
fairness The basis for apportionment
is the last national census. unless the
legislature shall provide some other
method for ascertaining the states pop
ulation. The total population is to be
divided by 100 for the representative
ratio. and by thirty-five for the sena-
torial ratio. Each county is to have one
representative: each county having one
and three-fourths of the ratio is to
have two representatives; and each
county having three times the ratio is
to have three representatives, and so on.
To this extent the duty of the commits
sion is purely clerical. but in addition
to this the commissioners are required
to divide counties having more than one
representative into the proper number
of representative districts. In making
this division the constitutional provision
proposed is: Each representative dis
trict, I'm counties entitled to more than
one representative. shall be composed of
compact territory bounded by election
ulation as practicable; and each of such
districts shall be numbered"
The division Of the senatorial districts
offers greater opportunities for the ex-
ercise of discretion" because it is nee
essary to join counties to form the dis
tricts. There is, however, some limita-
ton in the provisions as to large coun-
ties. Each county having a population
equal to three-fourths Of one senatorial
ratio shall constitute a senatorial dis
trict. Each county having a population
equal to one senatorial ratio, and one
half over, shall be divided into two sen
atorial districts. Each county having a
population equal TO two and one-half
ratios shall be divided into three SEN
atorial districts, and so on; but no
election precinct shall be divided I'm the
formation of a senatorial district" AS
to the smaller counties the provision is
that leach senatorial district shall be
composed of compact territory, as nearly
equal in population as practicable, and
except to districts in counties entitled
to two or more senators. shall be
bounded by county lines" These provis-
ions probably afford the best safeguards
against gerrymanders for legislative
purposes that have yet been devised,
in conjunction with the single district
system. The discretionary power of the
commission is reduced to the lowest
possible point. and the constitution OF
fair play. We venture the prediction
that If the amendment is adopted the
system will give general satisfaction.