The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL LINES.
Changes in the Districts
to Be Made By Re-
apportionment.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IS, 1900-In dis
cussing the rearrangement of the Con-
gressional lines in the redistricting of New
Jersey, the natural result of the increase
of population as shown by the new census,
a man from that State. familiar with some
of the political conditions, has divided the
State into nine districts under the suppo-
sition that the basis of representation will
be 2oS,o00, 1t is understood of course, that
the Legislature viii perform the task
after Congressional action shall have been
take to determine just how many Con-
gressmen will be allotted to New Jersey.
but the figures arrived at in the hypotheti-
cal redistricting are none the less inter-
esting.
The problem is no small one, and the
three districts in the southern part of the
State may be arranged and the lines of
the present districts are not disturbed to
any great extent, the substitution of a
county in two instances being the only
change. Starting with Camden County
with 107,643 population, Salem with 25,530,
Cumberland with 51,103 and Gloucester
with 81 ,905 gives 216,1S1, as the total for
the First District. For the second Attain
tic with 46,402, Mercer with $685., Burling-
ton with 5s,24 and Cape May with 1S2O1,
gives total of 213, 209.
In the third district Ocean county could
be added to the present district to equal
ize it. Middlesex has 1872, Monmouth
S2057, Somerset 32,a4S and Ocean 1871,
making a total of 214,514. For the Fourth
district Sussex county with 24,134 Warren
with 81, 7S1, Hunterdon with "a 507 and Nor
ris with 65,156, gives total of ISL SIS. The
city of Newark has more than the re-
quired 20s,000 (supposing this to be the
basis of representation and could spare
10000, which added to the total of 161, SIS
would give 201.57S
Union county has 1888 population, and
the county of Essex outside of Newark
112, ,sS5. The sum of these two, 212, 1856 would
make the new fifth district. For the
sixth district the city of Newark with
population of 246,0I0, less 10000 to be al
lotted to the new Fourth district, would
make 2O6,0i0 for the new sixth district.
Bergen county with a population OF 7S Al
and Passaic with 155202, make a total of
z33,643. For equalization about 5000 could
be spared from this district the new Sew
enth, ana be transferred to the Eighth.
That would leave 2c764S.
In forming the new Eighth District the
city of Jersey City might be taken out
OF Hudson County and there would be
remaining a population of 179.615. Adding
TO this the number transferred from the
new Seventh and there would be a total
OF 205,6l5. Jersey City alone, with
population of 20s,43S would make the
Ninth District.
By the following recapftulation it is
readily shown thar such div sion would
be fair and equ.pabie, although it might
mean another Dtmocratic Congressman
First 216,1S1; Second, 21S, ,209; Third,
214,514; Fourth. 201 SIS; Fifth 212, 1856; Sixth,
206,070; Seventh, 2OI, 64S: Eighth, 205, ,615;
Ninth, POS, 4SS. According to the census
figures for 1900 the present division is
something like:-First. 229. 3S2; Second,
219,755; Third 1874, 767; Fourth, 161 SIS; F fth,
2S3, s4S; Sixth. 267,576; Seventh, S6l, Gas;
Eighth, 215 800.
The House Census Committee is con-
sidering the bill to MAKE the new House
have a membership of 357, as at present
Should this be enacted, the ratio of re-
presentation would be one Congressman
to each 20S,S6S inhabitants according to
a table prepared by the Director of the
Census.