Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-08
MARYLAND STATE CENSUS
POLITICAL CHANGES THAT WILL BE
BROUGHT ABOUT.
Old Combinations in Congressional
Districts Are Expected to
He Broken.

Under the Maryland state census act 1t
is required that full and complete tabulated
returns shall be delivered to the governor
before July %. 1891. Upon the basis
OF these returns the governor will be en-
ahled to announce the counties entitled to
extra delegates in the legislature. which
he will do by proclamation. Gov. John
Walter Smith IS expected to issue such no.
tificatiOn shortly after his return from
Buffalo. The state census it may be in
teresting To know. is final in Maryland for
such purpose. the federal census not
being considered in such connection. The
state census has been completed. and, ac-
cording TO the Baltimore American, the
counties which will be entitled to receive
an extra delegate each will be Montgom-
cry. Prince Georges. Dorchester and Wash
ington.
Each Of the counties receiving an extra
delegate will also be entitled to additional
representation on the state central COM
membership of all state, congressional and
judicial conventions.
Sixth District Changes.
The reapportionment will likely cause a
political shaking up in the first and sixth
congressional districts. Representation of
the counties in district conventions Is the
same as in the general assembly. and here
tofore two contradictory and Freder-
tck-have had exactly half the votes in
convention their six votes each. when
combined. balancing the five of Washing
ton. four of Montgomery and three of Gar
rett- Divisions in conventions of both par
ties have usually been on these lines Allie
gany and Frederick combining against
Washington. Montgomery and Garrett IN
I'll by some means one side could capture
votes from the other and break the dead
lock
Down In the First.
Under the reapportionment Washington
and Montgomery counties will each have
one additional vote in the convention. This
will give Washington. Montgomery and
Garrett counties IA out of q total of %
votes. So that in the lineup of the old
combinations Allegany and Frederick coun-
ties would be out In the cold. New combi-
nations among the politicians Of the dis
trict are. therefore, expected
Over on the eastern shore the power OF
the counties below the Choptank river will
be augmented instead of decreased Here
tofOre the natural combination there has
been Somerset, Worcester Wicomico and
dorchester. all of which comprise one judi
cial circuit. They went into congressional
conventions with IL votes- each. Against
them were only Il votes of the counties
above the Choptank. namely, four In Tai
bot. four from Queen Annes. three from
caroline anu three from Kent. When the
federal census gave Kent an extra repre-
sentative il placed the counties above the
Choptank on the same plane with the coun-
ties below The state census however, has
upset all calculations. The counties below
the Choptank will have a total of II votes
while the counties above will have their
old number-15 All these calculations will
however. be upset If. as Is proposed, Cecil
county is transferred to the first district
Then the counties north of the Choptank
which. like those south o. the Choptank
comprise judicial circuit will have 10
votes, against II votes south Of the Chop
tank.
By the new apportionment Maryland
neither gains nor loses in her representa-
ton at Washington II there had not been
a considerable growth in her popuIa ton
during the past decade. however there
might be different story to tell. The basis
of representation as fixed by the new bill
Is l94ls OF population The task which
confronts the next legislature will be the
division of the state into six districts, each
containing 1874. Isl. or approximately as near
these figures as is possible There can be
no gerrymanderfng as in the years gone by.
The bill expressly provides that the new
districts shall be compact and contigu-
GUS