The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-14
APPORTIONMENTBILL
REDIsTRICTING THE STATE FOR
LEGISLATIVE PURPOSES.
A plan To Keep watson and
Out of the Same CONGREGATIONAL
Territory.

Speaker Adams did not give out a list
of his committees yesterday as was ex-
pected ard will probably not complete it
until this afternoon. Two years ago Speak
er Curtis did not submit his committees to
the House until the Wednesday following
the converting of the assembly. Mr.. Adams
is anxious to have the committees begin
their work as soon as possible, but he is
equally as anxious to be sure that he has
men on the committees particularly quail
fled for their various places. Marshall
Newhouse, of Decatur. will be at the head
of the on legislative apportion-
ment and Mr.. Merritt on the committee
on corporations. DR.. Porter, of Loosootee,
will probably preside over the gentlemen
who will consider public improvements and
Mr.. Cardwill may be at the head of the
committee on Prison South
A legislative apportionment bill has al
ready been prepared and will no doubt be
in the hands of Mr.. Newhouse's committee
early this week. 1t is based on the vote
of 1894, and a summary shows that thirty
seven of the representative districts will be
Republican, thirty-six Democratic and
twenty-seven doubtful. Divided by congress
sional districts the apportionment would be
as follows: First district, Republicans ?,
Democrats 8, doubtful B.; Second district,
Republicans 3, Democrats 2, doubtful i;
Third, Republicans 1, Democrats 5, doubt
full /; Fourth, Republicans 2, Democrats 3,
doubtful 2; Fifth, Democrats 2, Republic
ans 5, doubtful 2; Sixth, Republicans z;
Seventh, Democrats /, doubtful .; Eighth,
Republicans 2, Democrats 1, doubtful );
Ninth, Republicans z, Democrats /: Tenth.
Republicans 2, Democrats 4. doubtful 2;
Eleventh., Republicans 4, Democrats 8,
doubtful L; Twelfth, Republicans 2, Demo-
Gratis 5. doubtful l; Thirteenth, Republicans
3, Democrats D..
Senator Wishard will have direction of
the work on the apportionment measures
in the Senate, as he has had much ex-
p~erience and has given much, atteation to
apportionment measures. He has a bill for
congressional apportionment which will
make Marion and some adjacent county,
probably Hendricks, a separate district.
Several of the congressman have BEEN in
the city during the last week displaying
tricts too solidly Democratic to encourage
a hope for Republican success, but the bill
fair. The friends of Congressman Hardy
have displayed some concern. They do not
cratic votes than it now has and are hope
full that the Congressman-elect will be
given a little better chance two years from
ming the campaign of 1894. 1t has been said
that Congressman-elect Tracewell has
asked that he be given a few more Repub-
lican votes, but a close friend of his stated
last night that Mr.. Tracewell recognized
the fact that there had to be some Demo-
cratic districts, and he would not complain
at any action that might be taken by the
Legislature.
The new division of the Fourth and Sixth
districts is causing more speculation than
any other, as there is much curiosity to
know whether Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. Wat
son are to be put in the same districts
or whether they are to remain apart. Rep
resentative Newhouse will have a congress
It become a law. would have johnson and
Watson in separate districts. Mr.. Watson
would be given a district including some
counties now in Overstreet's district, Hen
proposed district would include the following
counties: Henry, 500 votes in 1894; Han
cock, 4,108 votes; Rush, 5,1S6; Shelby, 6,72I,
Decatur, 5,147; Bartholomew, $50; Jen-
nlngs, 1855; jackson, 1928, and Brown, 1888.
This would make a total of more than A.
600 votes, which is within a thousand of the
unit. According to the vote of the recent
election the Republican pluralities in the
proposed district amounted to 1889 and the
Democratic pluralities 1928, or a net Re-
publican plurality for the district of 2,O6l.
AS the vote OF last year was abnormal,
this would mean a district very close at
an ordinary. election. The district planned
for Mr.. johnson by Mr.. includes
Fayette. 3.4S1; Union. 1891: Franklin, 4,464;
Dearborn, 1888; Ohio, !, 296; Switzerland, 3.267:
Ripley. zoos; jefferson. 1852; total, 40, 156.
The Republican pluralities in the district
Republican net. s,745. This would mean a
REDUCTION in the usual heavy majorities
which Mr.. Johnson has been receiving. 1t
has been claimed in behalf of this plan
that It would give the Republicans in the
Second and Third districts a little better
chance.
There will undoubtedly be a great deal
OF discussion over the various apportion-
ment bills and it would indeed be difficult
to outline the districts as they will prob
ably be fixed.