New-York tribune., 1894-10-31

people have been largely limited TO county co"
Germs and representation By counties In respect
10 State affairs No one az yet has ever sug-
gested that in the distribution OF political power
| in the Legislature these county lines shoud p'
efaced. except possibly Senator Hill, VINO Is
believed to have intended, in the expectation
that he would carry and control majority ot
the members of this very Constitutional Con
ventiOn, to have wiped out the county INES IN
order TO make districts more suitable 10 MS
purposes. the idea Of the convention in tie ac,
tual distribution of the Increased NUMBERS OF
the members Of Assembly Is very simple.
The Increase from 12S to $50 members had TWO
marked advantages tending toward equality
IL resulted in ratio Of $4,000 in round mum
bers; by giving one member to each county
having less than ratio and half. or about
IS 00O they reduced the relative weight OF the
smallest counties from l-l2S II l-l5o. while pre-
serving intact the principle OF county repre-
sentation They then proceeded to give 10
counties of the second larger class, ranging
from 10000 to 100000 inhabitants. or An addi-
tiOnal ratio above the smallest counties two
members and then divided the balance among
the remaining large counties in exact proper
ton to population thus doing full and com
plete justice to every portion of the State with
out regard to party. This being practicable.
and to be accomplished by means of the num-
Der $50. II thought justihable to depart
from tho existing relation OF numbers between
Senate and Assembly OF one to four. making 1t
in lieu thereof TO three. three times as
many Assemblymen as Senators. which avoids
an inconvenient increase OF numbers In the
lower House and very serious addition to the
expense Of tho legislative body.
PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE.
SO much for the actual apportionment made
by the convention; but serious objections are
made to two rules laid down for future appor-
tonments
First the rule thai county shall have moro
than four Senators unless 1t shall have full
ratio for each Senator. But this rule is only In
the interest OF the great counties, such New
York and Kings which have respectively by the
new apportionment twelve and seven Senators
and is II anything. more favorable to them than
II ought t. be; for 1t permits them To- get an
additional Senator by pooling their surpluses in
several Senate distrcts-that is to say by adding
together all the surpluses in the districts within
the county for the obtaining OF new Senator's. by
which very rapid and large increase viii be
secured for them The rural Senate districts on
the other hand being made up ~ one or more
freble counties OF slow growth. cannot unite,
but each must stand upon its own increase. and
It is hardly TO be expected that any rural dis
trct could gain new senator by such an in
crease. Therefore, II may be pOss 'ble for them,
in the distribution OF Senator'S in a new enumera-
ton hereafter To be made. 10 claim a Senator
upon the ma tOrity part Of q ratiO-Just Ca
yuga and Seneca now do on r resident population
~ $1,000. because it was found impossible 10 add
10 them another county from any adjoining dis
trict without producing more serious inequality.
The rule that in the formation of Senate dis
trc,s no county shall be divided except to make
two or more Senate districts wholly in such
county is IN ancient one. In recognition of county
rights, and the Convention did not feel justified
In departing from II; and 50 the rule that in
future appointments zach Assembly district
shall ho wholly within a senate district formed
under the same apportionment was laid down.
because IL was found that 10 bring minute parts
Of single Assembly district into different Sem
ate districts conducive 10 confusion and
A REASONABLE RULE.
But the greatest v.rrlence Of Senator Hrs
attack IL directed against the rule laid down by
the Convention to future apportonment. that
no county shall have more than one-thrd OF all
the Senators. and no two counties. or the terri
tory thereof as now organized. which are adjoih-
ing counties which are separated only by
public waters. shall have more than one-half OF
all the Senators.
deem this, on the contrary. one OF the most
reasonable. Just and wholesome provisions ever
introduced into an apportionment. II has no
bering upon party politics: 1t Is not question
OF party but Is "A question OF the just and reason
able relations that should exist between dense ag-
gregations ot populations IL cities and the scat
tered Inhabitants Of rural districts In the distri
button o, political power in the law-making
branch of representative government. Repre-
sentative government Is not. never has been, and
by exact equality OK numbers II Is not possible
to divide the State into hfty districts Of ll556j
Inhabitants each. or into $50 Assembly districts
of - 80 each Besides territorial considerations
as a qualification OF exact numerical dis;ribu-
ton Of population have always been recognized
essential element OF apportionment. as
the cardinal rule In respect to the representation
OF counties already stated shows. Where a
densely packed population Is crowded into a
great city. 10 which by reason thereof s allotted
such proportion OF Senators 10 out of -. and
of Assembly 3j out Of $50. it Is unavoidable
that by the aggregation OF tho fore" Of numbers
immense advantage H. obtained by that local
lty over other portions OF the State that act
separately by single individual representatives.
New York County. FOX instance, with thirty
five Assemblymen and twelve Senators N the
new senate and Assembly. Will exercise in legis-
atiOn by the mere momentum OF thos" numbers
a vast excess Of power over the districts Of
sparse population having IN the aggregate the
same number OF Senators and representatives.
1t has. therefore, been adopted by all enlightened
States II cardinal rule OF apportioninent, nee
essary for the just preservation OF the proper
balance between the crowded urban districts
and the scattered rural districts. that some con-
sideration shall be paid 10 extent OF territory as
a qualification OF the rule OF numbers; nor mas
This ever been Regarded ~ departure from
Republican or DemOcratic principles or any IN
vaRion Of the rule OF the majority To test the
question whether this Is partisan RUE we
naturally turn 10 the pTlH'lpFS loil'"'u anu
the rules adopted in otner states OF the Union
pledged like ourselves 10 Democratic or Kepub-
iican principles. to ascertain just what Is the
best judgment OF mankind upon the subject; IL
we find that I'm States all Republican and IN
States all Democratic alike the rule oi recog-
milton Of territory has been accepted as the
rule best adapted to promote the welfare ana
nrescrve the liberties and rights Of the entire
ppople Of the State that such rule mas been
adopted and I'm operation for long series ot
years and never been complained Of or found To
york I'm iustice We may we'll conclude that II IL
a wise Just and reasonable rule which We ought
not to hesitate e. adopt.
WELL-SETTLED PRINCIPLE.
Turning then. to the constitutions Of our sister
States and examining each without regard to
partisan considerations. we find that the Demo-