The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-11-12

How They Have Been Chosen-Con-
 incidents Now ppOrtionmcnt-suS-
 gestions Concerning the Rcdistrict-
 ing.
 To the Editor of the Journal and Cour-
 fer:
 The method by which congressional
 delegations have been chosen has va
 ried in the past. In the early days of
 our national existence, in few in-
 stances, I believe, the matter was left
 with the State legislature, and that
 body elected the representatives to
 congress; this, however occurred in a
 comparatively few instances. A plan
 which prevailed to a somewhat greater
 extent was to elect the whole number
 on a general ticket or ''at large. This
 plan prevailed in our own State down
 to about 1885, and is partially used now
 in an occasional State, when by new census an additional number is gained, and 1t is not deemed advisable to dis turb the former district lines, this extra number is sometimes elected "at large" ' Tn Pennsylvania at the present time ' this is the case with two of the delega- 1 ton. Our own State left the "at large" ' plan in 1885, and the State was then d. | vided into five districts, remaining thus until after the results of the census of 1S40 was announced, when, looslng one congressman, the State was reappor- toned into four districts, the boun- daries of which wefe county lines ex- cept that each district contained two counties as follows; First, Hartford and Holland; Second New Haven and Middesex; Third, New London and 1 Windham; Fourth, Fairfield and Litch- field. At that time the population of the several districts was approximately alike, but sixty years of growth has materially changed the currents of population and increase, large cities now occupying the territory which six ty years ago was only farm plot. It now seems probable that Connecti- | cut will have five representatives in the congress which is to set in 1903. l Consequently there will, or should be, | a redistricting Of the State.
 In the matter of districting State so that there shall be no unfairness to any political body, certain general rules usually govern, viz: Equality in pop ulation, contiguous territory and gene ral affinities of the various sections in | interest. Wherever these rules are not | adhered to the work results in what is called a 'gerrymander." This word is of destinctlvely American coinage, coming out substantially as follows: Tn the early years of this country there lived In Massachusetts one Elbridge Berry, at one time vice-presdent of the United States, whose local residence was in town strongly opposed to him politically. He much wished to go to the legislature, and therefore got town annexed to a group strongly his own way, with result that the map of the new district (circulated for the campaign purpose of defeating MT. Gerry), resembled, somewhat, a serpent A gentleman remarked that Tt looked like salamander," to which an oppos- ing editor replied he thought it was Gerrymander."
 As matter of fairness, all such acts as would appear to be for an unjust or personal political advantage, should be avoided.
 In the redstrcting this State the first thing would be to take the popula- tion, sos, ,355, and divide by five. This would give 1S1671 as the approximate number which should be within the linn its of the several districts.
 County lines of necessity will not cut much of a figure, but there should be no breaking up of a town, unless such town should contain more population than would be required for district certain natural divisions or boundaries, together with prospects for future growth, however have and will con- tinue to be something of factor.
 In view of these considerations, let us commence at the eastern boundary of the State; we find that coming west we