The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-12-14
FRIDAY, DECEMBER "a, 1894.
CONVENTION REPRESENTATION.


An examination and investigation
of the returns for this county at the
late general election very plainly show
the Justice and necessity of reforming
the representation of election districts
in county convention. The old rule
of representation, as established in
1870, which was suited to the condi-
ton of things which existed at that
time, is unsuited to the present time,
and in fact has become impracticable
of application, and has broken down
in practice. A large number of small
election districts have since been Great
ed, so that the original limitation of
the whole number of delegates in con-
vention to SERENITY cannot be kept up
or maintained; and the allowance of
two delegates each to the small dis
tricts has become unjust if not absurd.
The county committee for some
years past has been greatly embarrass-
ed in making out an apportionment of
delegates to the several districts. and
have been compelled to disregard the
old rule and allow the whole number
of delegates to swell to oS, by allow
ing two delegates to each of the small
districts. Thus the number has be-
come inconveniently large with in
creased expense and the process of
enlargement will go on, unless by
some new arrangement the principle
of limitation in the old rule shall be
preserved. But as the old rule was
not made for, or fairly applicable to,
the groups or single cases of little dis
tricts subsequently made by the
court for election purposes, great in
equality and injustice have resulted in
the representation of the people in
convention, as above mentioned.
Illustrations from the late election
returns in support Of this view might
be indefinitely multiplied. The FIVE
districts of Conyngham township, with
400 votes for Singerly, obtained ten
delegates, or 2oI votes to delegate ;
while Bloomsburg, with a Sirgeriy
vote of GA, or more than double that
Of Conyngham, will have but nine
delegates, or one delegate for each 60
voters. This comparison is between
two groups Of districts in localities
remote from each other, and is a
more fair and decisive one, than a
comparison between single districts.
Berwick, with a Singerly vote in
her four districts of I73, gets eight
delegates, or one delegate to each 21J
voters. While Madison, Mt. Pleasant,
Hemlock and Montour, with 4I3
Democratic votes, are entitled to the
same number, or to one delegate for
each 5Il votes, polled at light elec-
tion. If we compare Benton town
ship, with 73 votes to delegate, with
Southwest Conyngham, with Isl
votes to delegate, or Mifflin, with
So votes for delegate, with the
Northwest ward of Berwick, which
gets a delegate for each III votes,
we reach like results gross Unequal
ity and injustice in representation.
And it is most notable fact that
charges of unfairness and corruption
in the late election in this county, are
mainly confined to the very small
election districts above pointed out,
where unfair voting appears to follow
as necessary consequence upon un-
falr representation.
Having shown an existing mischief
and evil, the next thing to be done is
to point out an appropriate remedy
suited to the circumstances of the
case-in this case the allowance of
one delegate to each Of the small
districts, although but a partial, will
be an appropriate and useful remedy
for existing mischiefs; and, as the
creation of new townships, boIoughs
and election districts involves a very
considerable amount of public ex.
pense, we think that our county
court, as an agent of enlightened
public opinion should, at least for the
present and for some years to come,
refuse to increase their number. We
think it is general sentiment that
and electoral divisions of
the county are sufficiently numerous
Tor all present needs.