Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-02
AWAIT LEGAL ADVICE.
THO Apportionment Committee
Wants to be Sure Before
Going Ahead.

Madison. Wis, Nov. 26.-[Speciall i
The full quota of the legislative appor-
tionment committee was completed last
evening by the arrival of William Ken
nedy, the silver-haired senator from APP
pleton, who came in just after the brief
evening session had closed. The after
noon session, after Mr.. Turner finished
the reading of his report, was devoted
to hearing objections from persons out
side the committee to different portions
of the schedule. None of the objections
were of great Importance, being entirely
as to the construction of Assembly dis
tricts.
Senator Mills made an earnest plea for
two assemblymen for the district now
composed of the counties of Bayfield,,
Burnett, Sawyer and Washburn, with a
total population OF 26,494. These COM
prise one district under the present APP
portionment, and Mr.. Turner has not
changed them. Mr.. O'Neil of Bayfield,
county, who followed Senator Mills in
support of the proposition, raised laugh
at the senator's expense by saying mod
esty had prevented him from claiming
sufficient population for two districts,
but Senator Mills assurance that the
population would be increased to the re-
quired number in a very short time re-
moved all doubt from his mind.
The committee held a short session
this morning to listen to any further
objections which might be made to Mr..
Turner's construction of districts, and
then adjourned till this afternoon at 4
o'clock. ~
The committee proposes to move care
fully in it's work.
There are two questions troubling the
committee on which legal advice will be
sought before anything further is done.
One of these is as to whether county
lines can be broken in the formation OF
districts, a thing Mr.. Turner believes
cannot be done under the Supreme
courts decision. The other is as to
whether Mr.. Turner's theory of equaliz-
ing representation by senators and as
Semblymen is correct one. For In
stance, Mr.. Turner's idea has been that
where county making one senatorial
district has population above the SEN
atorial unity, it should be compensated
by giving it larger assembly representa-
ton than it would otherwise be entitled
to. Some members of the committee
believe that both of these propositions
are erroneous, and Col. Spooner has
been asked to enlighten the committee
as to the legal status of the question.
This it is expected he will do at the
afternoon session.
A member of the committee said that
by breaking county lines a much more
satisfactory apportionment, can be made.
The committee, however, is determined
to know it is right before going ahead
and make an apportiOnment which will
stand every test of fairness and legality.
1t is not determined yet whether the
apportionment committee will in it's re-
port to the governor make a recommen-
dation as to the ACCESSIBILITY of calling an
extra session of the Legislature to make
the new apportionment, but the prOba-
bility is that it may do so. Chairman
Thayer says the subject will come up
for discussion in the committee, but that
it is uncertain as to whether it will be
included in its report. There is. no
doubt that majority of the committee
is in favor of a special session and is
practically unit; no member has been
heard to speak a word in opposition.
Senators Putnam Of Brodhead and Off
Ger of Milwaukee, both Of whom are
here, are against it and are endeavoring
to impress their views on members of
the committee. Charles r. Pfster of
Milwaukee is also here, and in his quiet
and pleasant way is telling the members
Individually that an extra session would
be an unwise move.