Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-19
Il. W. Thayer,
Jay q. LamberSOn,
IN. B. Treat,
Frank A. Arson,
&C. c.. YaWkey."

L IlG ulluCI1Iy III It's 1CpOII GIu0CS
TO concur in and objected to the bill
prepared by the majority for the rea-
sons: First, in the few cases in which
said bill makes no change in the pres
ent districts it is unnecessary. Sec
Ond.. Said bill violates the cOnstitu-
tiOnal mandate that assembly districts
shall consist of contiguous territory
and be in as compact form as practi-
cable" and further violates the consti-
tutional mandate that senate districts
shall be made up of convenient con
tiguOus territory" Third The bill
is dictated by craftsmanship, and pro-
poses a gerrymander in the worst
sense of that term. Fourth. There
can be no regular session of the pres
ent session hereafter; no extra session
of the legislature can be convened to
pass said bill except there be some
thing in the present apportionment
that would be construed to be an eX-
traOrdlnary occasion within the mean
ing of the constitution. 1t is conf
IDENTIFY submitted that there is nothing
in the present diStricting of the state
that would justify the governor in
calling an extra session of the legisla-
ture. The only excuse set forth by
those of the party in power who ad-
vocate the calling of an extra session
for the purpose of redistricting the
state is that the present apportion-
ment gives too much power to the mi
nCrity party. At the election of 1894,
the last state election, the democratic
and republican parties together cast
33S, 400 votes for governor, of these,
142,25O, more than One-third of the
whole, were cast by the democratic
party and 1876, $50, or less than two
thirds of the whole, were cast by the
republican party. According to the
votes cast, the democratic party would
be entitled to more than 45 of the 1873
members of the legislature, while the
republican party would be entitled to
less than SO members. In the present
Legislature the democrats have but 80
members, or less than one-fourth of
the whole number, while the republi-
can party has 101 members, or more
than three-fOurths of the whole. To
claim that this presents an extra or
binary occasion would certainly be RI
diculOus. Fifth. The present appor-
tionment was made just after The most
bitter contests on apportionment this
state has ever experienced and yet ii
has been acquiesced in by all parties
1t is therefore a presumption, con-
cludes the minority report, that it is q
legal constitutional apportionment
The minority report was signed by
all the democratic NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
William Kennedy and Assemblymer
Herman Schellenburger and J. G. Con.
way.
A slight change was made in the ap-
portiOnment bill before it was adopt.
ed. The boundary lines of Waukeshe
county were restored to the same form
as under the democratic apportion.
ment. The proposed change in the
district as arranged by the new bill
was opposed by the residents of the
county. Three hundred maps of the
new districts were also ordered drawn
for the benefit o. the legislators.
The question of an extra session nov
rests wholly with the governor. VIVA
he intends to do about the matter tn,
public knows not.