The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-19
ooNNEorIcUrs CoNsrIrUrIoN.
A Proposed Amendment to It.


 in the house of representatives and the
 formation of representative districts.
 Resolved by this house:
 That the following be proposed as an amendment to the constitution of this state which, when approved and adopt ed in the manner provided by the con- stitution, shall. to all intents and pur- poses, become a part thereof
 Each town in the state shall send to the house of representatives one per son to represent it, who shall be an elector of the town from which he is elected.
 All towns having over five thousand population shall be entitled to two rep resentatives, both to be elected at large from the town in which they are elec- tors. All towns having over ten thou sand population shall be entitled to one extra representative for each ten thou sand of population over the first ten thousand, or for a fraction of more than half that number All towns hav- ing more than two representatives shall be divided into districts and the representatives chosen from the dis tricts. The present system of represen- tation shall continue until after the United States census of 1900 shall de- termine the population of the towns. The first session of the general assembly after the population of the towns have been determined shall designate the number of representatives to which each town Is entitled.
 And in case any town IS entitled to more than two representatives said gen eral assembly shall divide said town or towns into districts, allowing one rep resentative to each, which district shall always be composed of contiguous ter ritory and the population of each dis trict in any town shall be as nearly equal as possible; after which said dis tricts shall not be altered nor the num- Der of representatives be altered, ex- cept at a session of the general assem- bly, next after the completion of a cen sus of the United States, and then only according to the principles above pre- scribed.
 Resolved, That the foregoing propos- ed amendment to the constitution be continued to the next session. of the gen eral assembly, and be published with the laws passed at the present session.
 This amendment was drafted by At torney Mathewson and in commenting upon it he used the following argu- ments among others for it's adoption:
 It does not propose to make any change until after the census of 1900 because that is about as early as the amendment could be adopted. Some change must be made in the compost | ton of the house of representatives and it will be for the advantage of the republican party to take up some policy and make it a party measure. The democrats have advocated more ea1lita- | ole representation in their party plat forms and have even argued for the 1estructlon or town representation. | Ihe republicans have always stood by | the towns and even to-day believe that | every town in the state should have at l east one representative. While advo- | eating this it is plain that the great interest centered in the cities should nave more members in the house to them. The two representa- ives in the cities cannot make them selves sufficiently familiar with all +ha important bills affecting their contitu- 'nts to properly care for their inter- ,stS.
 The proposed amendment is very measure and if adonted VIII redound to the credit of the marty passing it. The feeling in the cities is hat they should have greater renre- and if our party will not 'fant It then another will find if for US advantage to do so. Now let us ooK at some of the reasons for hange. Ihe house is composed of 252 represen- atlves and of these 94 or considerably nore than one-third represent an ap- 'regate population of 61 1902. This makes an average of one represen+ative o every 652 people, while New Hay,on las only one representative to 43 o22 eople. ''-- one-half the representatives in the Iouse nave only a trifie gfeater popu- atlon Tn their towns than the popula- lon or New Haven. Union, with only opuiatlon of 431, has two representa- ives. Under the proposed amendment here would be 224 members in the house ased on the census of 1890 or. twenv- ight less than at present. The laqger ities would have representation as fol- 'ws New Haven 1O Hartford 6, Bridpa- ort 6, Meriden 4, Waterbury 4. New 'ritain 3, Norwich B. Danbury 2. Nor 'alk 3, Middletown 3, and Greenwich 'ristol, Enfield, Manchester Southinp. 1n, Torrington, Winchester. Ansonia 'erby, Naugatuck, WalIingford. Gro on, New London, Stonington, Vernon illingly, Putnam, Thompson and Vindham each and all the towns ii, ne state l. Under this system the eff IS could never obtain a controlIine- in. uence in the house, and yet the impor- mt interests of each city would be represented It would he ne of the greatest blows that could be eaH to corrupt lobby influences. New aVen's ten representatives would still ave an average of $500 people in each strict, while forty-four representatives
 the state would only have an average 700 people. This measure has been ery conservatively drawn and if adont- would give us a house that would .irly represent all interests in the ate. The towns would not be giving } their historical rights and if adonted 7 this legislature the democratic party ould lose the battle cry they have used