Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-08

inc Dnestfpn Of touutv Representation.
We ars surprised TO find that our
esteemed contemporary. the Delaware
Dsmoeiat OF Georgetown, usually SO
fair and sound in its consideration Of
public questions isan uncompromising
advocate oil continued equal representa-
ton of the three counties OF delaware
IN the General Assembly, In its last
issue it editoriaily says:
The ghost OF increased representation
in the General Assembly for Now UaHtle
made its appearances 10 the Constitu-
tional Convention this week, and was
materialized by the committee of the
whole giving that county an increase of
live in the House and Two in the Senate.
Rural New Castle is to have the same
number as Kent and Sussex, and Will
mington is to have the additional ones.
Tho Senate Ia to consist of seventeen
members and the House OF thirty 1--WE.
We believe the people OF both Kent and
Sussex are opposed TO the measure and
would defeat it IL given vote upon it.
Whatever reason there may be for any
increase in the House there should be
no inequality in the Senate. The in
terests OF the different parts OF tine
State are not the same and there should
be u barrier to prevent tho most popn.
lous portion from infiicting wrongs upon
the other counties. The members from
Kent and Sussex should attend TO the
wishes OF the people from the lower
part OF tho State and not allow New
Castle to dominate in the Legislature.
Self defence, IL nothing else, calls for
this action on their part.
This is an antiquatcd. an extremely
bourbon, view OF what should be con-
sidered fairly and honestly in the light
OF public question. In very pleasing
contrast is the following expression
from another Sussex county paper, the
Delaware Pilot OF Lswes:
There is very interesting question
before the constitutional Convention
just now, that Of increased representa-
ton. 1t is proposed to give rural New
Castle five Senators and Wilmington
two, Kent and Sussex each five Sena-
tors In tho House, New Castle I5
Representatives and Kent and Sussex
10 each. The lower counties hars
always had dread Of giving New
Castle any advantage in representa-
tion. We have never been able to per-
ceiye any great danger IN such a pro.
position. because we cannot understand
, why one section of the State should
wish to legislate against the interest of
another portion. With all our State
life and social life so closely inter
woven, it seems hardly possible that
small increase according 10 population
as proposed would be used to the
detriment OF any section of the State.
The Pilot is right. There can be
nothing detrimental to any section of
the State in the proposed increase, nor
would there be, in our opinion, by
reason of the mutually of all our State
and social interests, in the event OF a
much larger measure OF representation
than that proposed being granted to
New Castle county.
But representation according to
population has long since ceased to be
a factor in the issue. The growth of
Wilmington in population and in
fiuence forms an insurmountable bar.
rier to the practical application OF this
principle in the State OF Delaware. 1t
is idle to even think about ii.
The measure,of increased representa-.
tion for the city OF Wilmington voted
for by the constitutional Convention
is simple matter Of justice to the city,
whose growing needs demand larger
and more stable representation in the
General Assembly than is secured at
present This is all there is about it.
The plan nov proposed will settle the
subject for years to come, and involves
not the slightest threat to the interests
of any section of the State.