The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-06-07


and hold their sca,s only by cperation
of the Constitution, which ordains
that the State shall he apportioned
into Senatorial and Representative
districts Immediately after each de.
cennial census. But the creature has
insolently set itself above its creator
in violating this solemn Injunction.
For the third regular session since the
census of 1899 the majority in the
Legislature has wantonly refused to
perform the constitutional duty of ap.
portloning representatives. among the
people of Pennsylvania. The man
date. is imperative, and legislative
body which exists in violation of the
orderly processes of the Constitution
for apportioning representatives is a
usurpation. Many members of the
present Legislature hold their seats
only through this violation of the
organic law.
Not only the Constitution Of Penn
sylvania but the Constitution of the
United States is violated by the State
Legislature in refusing to apportion
members Of Congress among the
people. The election Of two members
of Congress at large bears witness to
the continuous and persistent dis
obedience of bo,h Federal and State
Constitutions Whilst thousands Of
the voters of Pennsylvania are de-
prlved of just representation by gerry
Wandering fraud, two members Of
Congress are without immediate con.
stituencies.
In the sessions of 1901 and 1903,
during which Robert f. Patiison was
Governor, a show of obeying the
Constitution was made by passing
apportionment bills to which he could
not give his official approval. These
bills were, in fact, mere fraudulent
substitutes for the old partisan gerry.
manders, and Governor Pattison
could not sign them without violating
his oath to support the Constitution.
But the majority in the Legislature
satisfied their consciences by going
through the motions Of apportioning
representatives among the people.
They rightly judged at the same time
that the prevailing political majority
in Pennsylvania would readily condone
any gerrymandering frauds that they
might perpetrate against the Demo
cracy.
Now, however, there is not a sem
blance of decent pretext for refusing
to obey the provisions of the Ccnsti
tuition for securing just representation
to the people of Pennsylvania in the
State Legislature and in Congress
With overwhelming majorities in boil,
branches Of the Legislature, and with
an Executive in harmony with them
the Republicans had the power tc
cut and carve the representative dis
tricts at their will. With no fear O
the Democratic opposition, they hat
no excuse for resorting to customary
gerrymandering frauds. Yet notwth
standing the opportunity afforded ir
SO generous measure to Republi
can Legislature, the constitutional
OBLIGATION to apportion representative!
among the people has once more beer
trampled under foot. BY its charactel
the next Legislature, like the present
will be a usurpative body for the wan
OF the just representation which tht
organic law and political morality
alike enjoin.
Much partisan commentator i
bestowed upon the Republican factor
OF the Legislature who made parade
OF desire to pass apportionmen
bills, while the opposite faction whc
postponed their consideration art
lusti y denounced. But we hav,
evidence in the unanimous testimon,
OF the Democratic members and il
the bills themselves that these meas
ures were 70 better than the old
fashioned gerrymandcrs. Whereve
a partisan advantage could be gainet
Democratic districts were gerrymand
derd IN the same old way, and as
consequence there are no Democratic
tears over the failure of these bills
In their unscrupulous character
pretext was afforded for opposing an,
defeating them.
But this does not absolve tn
Republican majority in the Legisla
ture from their sworn obligation tC
apportion representatives among tn
people. The faction who had tn
power to postpone the bills unde
consideration had power also to pas
any apportionment bills they Nigh
desire. For partisan reasons of thei
own, they preferred existing gerry
mapders to any new experiments il
the same line. The plea that it is to-
late now to apportion the State il
accordance with the census of 1890
a rather shabby cover for persisten
violation of the Constitution. |
| imDlies that if the Repnhlicanc mrs